The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-19

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PeicheI has three sons, officers, ordered to
the Cape. and two of them are now dead.
Sir Anthony weldon, of kildare, when the
war commenced, had four sons, three broth
ers and five nephews in the service The list
is now one less, since Captain Weldon was
killed at Dundee. Lord George Hamilton,
the secretary of state for India, has one
son and thirteen nephews in the field. The
Duke of Atholl has three sons in the war
including Lord Tullibardine, his heir, while
three brothers of the Duchess of York
Princes Adolphus, Francis and Alexander
of Teck are all boupd for are in South Af-
rica. Thus il will be seen that the case of
the widow of the Irish sergeant, whose sew
en- sons are serving in the ranks at the
Cape, which Queen Victoria has recognized
by kindly letter and a gift. has parallels
in the highest circles Of society.
The calling out of the militia also takes
many distinguished men from their duties.
including Mr.. Akers-Douglas the first COM
missioner of works Lord Salisbury loses his
private secretary, in Viscount Newport,
who belongs to the same regiment Mr..
Akers-Douglas, while Mr.. Joseph Chamber
lain and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach also lose
a secretary apiece. Titled officers without
end are now called upon to do home SER
vice. including the Duke of Buccleuch's
three sons. the Earl of Kintore and the
Earl of Cassillis. The latter is now in the
United States.
WINSTON CHURCHILL.
Lady Randolph Churchill received the
news Of her sons capture by the Beers with
mingled sentiments of pride at his heroism,
about whose bravery every man in London
is talking to-day, and dread, lest evil had
befallen him, who is the pride of herself and
her entire family. Young Winston Leonard
Spencer Churchill is a most popular fellow
among the English people. OF course, So
ciety, of which he was a most prominent
member, is deeply interested He is the eld-
est son of the late Lord Randolph Churchill,
who married Miss Jennie Jerome. of New
York. He was born Nov. 80, 1S74, and was
educated at Eton, after which he entered
the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.
He entered the army in 1895 as subaltern
in the Fourth Queens Own) Hussars. The
same year he obtained leave and served
with the Spanish forces in Cuba. his gall
lantry securing for him the frst-class Span
ish order of Military Merit. Afterward. at
his own desire, he was attached to the Thir-
ty-first Punjab Infantry in order to take
| part in the Malakand field force. He was
present at the operations in Bajour. inclrd-
ing the decisive actions of Sept. 16 and 30,
and received a medal. with clasp. for his
bravery.
Not content with the amount Of service
he had seen, which was almost unparalleled
| in the British army of contemporary times
| for so young a man, Lieutenant Churchill
| next obtained permission TO serve in the
| Tirah expeditionary force, acting as orderly
officer TO Sir W. Lockhart He was again
decorated when he returned to England, and
| the same year QS9S became attached to
the Twenty-first Lancers in order to join
| the Nile expeditionary force under LORD
Kitchener. He was present at the battle or
| Khartum and received a medal with clasp.
Besides his activity as soldier, Lieutenant
| Churchill has found time for literary work.
| His first work was THE Story Of the Kala-
kand Field Force" published last year. fol-
| lowed by THE River War;" review of the
| Sudan campaign, in which he criticised Cen
| eral Kitchener severely.
ARMORED TRAINS IN WAR.
The prominent part being played by the
armored train IN the war has set the serv-
| ice critics at work surmising its place in
| warfare of the future. The Engineer. whose
| military critic is the well-known Order
Brown, says: 1--WE look to see some form
or armored train much more generally used
| in tho future than now. 1t may find full field
in motor cars, or it may take the form OF
armored screens, mounted on wheels. which
men can push before them. Very little will
shelter a prone man. But, spade or
stone will not protect an advancing one. We
feel that circumstances will eventually COM
| pei us to do on land what has long since
been forced on US to do at sea. in the way
of armor and the present war may be the
starting point, in spite Of the ridicule which
| fell on the bullet-proof cuirasS two or three
| years ago."
A large number Of traction engines man
ned by reservists, chiefly drawn from the
railroad machine shops, were recently ship
ped to the Cape, after steaming over the
roads from Aldershot to Southampton drag
| ing trucks already packed with stores
which were embarked as they stood, so that
no transfer was needed. Upon their arrival
in South Africa it is hoped these engines
and trucks will be able to make good prog
ress over the lines of communication, inde-
pendent of the railroads.
| Criticism of the intelligence department OF
| the War Office continue to appear in publi-
| cations of all kinds. Even the conserva-
| tive Times makes it the object of scathing
denuncations, saying: 1--WE hope the War
| Office, having learned by experience what
might have been learned from cheaper
sources, will not omit to provide our troops
with artillery, heavier and Of longer range
| than our excellent field guns
1t appears that Ladysmith was chosen at
least two years ago as an outpost in case of
war, and 1t is pointed out that the omission
to provide it with guns of equal calibre to
those Of the Beers cannot be charged to the
| uncertainty and political conditions which
Immediately preceded the present hostilities.
There is also considerable fear in British
circles that the ammunition of the naval
guns at Ladysmith will soon give out If it
is not already exhausted. Only ten Lyddite
shells per ton are carried on each cruiser
and, though it is believed the sailors took
an extra supply. secured from other ships
il is felt that they must husband their re-
sources in order to enable them to make the
artillery effective until the place is relieved.
Though part of the small arm ammunition
reserved for the British volunteers has been
| requisitioned and sent out for the use or
the regulars in South Africa, there Is little
| likelihood of any serious scarcity for these
weapons, as the manufacture of such am
munition is now being pushed forward at
a rate which ihsures an adequate supply.
LACKED CAVALRY.
Much criticism has been expended on the
apparent lack Of a proper reconnaissance