The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-19

at Sandringham.
Copyrighted, 1899. by Associated Press)
| LONDON, Nov. 1S.-The military fer
vor which has seized hold of the nation
shows no signs of abatement. This is
/ scarcely to be wondered at when it is
realized how many households of all
/ degrees throughout the United King
dom are affected and how deeply the
/ iron of war has entered into the happi
ness of the people. For instance,
Mrs. Prechell had three sons, officers.
ordered to the Cape and two of them
are now dead Sir Anthony Weldon CT
Kildare, when the war commenced, mad
four sons, three brothers and five nepn-
ews 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 Athol 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
! bound for or are in South Africa. Thus
! it will be seen that the case of the
! Irish Sergeant, whose seven sons are
! serving in the ranks at the Cape, which
Queen Victoria has recognized by a
kindly letter and gift, has parallels
| in the highest circles of socitey
The calling out of the militia also
/ takes many distinguished men from
! their regular duties, including A. A.
Kers- Douglas, the First Commission ar
of Works. Lord Salisbury loses his
/ Private Secretary in Viscount Newport
who belongs to the same regiment as
Aker Douglas While Joseph Chamber
lain and Sir Michael Hicks-Beach also
/ lose Secretary a piece. Titled officer 8
without end e,re nov called upon to do
home service. including the Duke of
Bucclewich's three sons. the Earl Of
of Kintore and the Earl of Cassilis The
latter is now in the United States
! The prominent part being played by
the armored train in the war has set
the service critics at work surmising its
place in warfare of the future The
Engineer" whose military critic is
the well-known Order Brown. says:
I'VE look to see some form of armor-
ed train much more generally used in
! Il
full field 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 a spade or a stone will not
protect an advancing one. We feel
that circumstances will eventually
come to 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."
large number of traction engines
manned by reservists chiefly drawn
from the railroad machine shops. were
recently shipped to the Cape after
steaming over the road from Aldershot
to Southampton, dragging trucks al
ready packed with stores which We're
embarked as they stood, so that no
transfer was needed. Upon their ar
rival in South Africa it is hoped these
engines and trucks will be able to make
good progress over the lines of com.
munication Independent of the rail-
roads
Criticism of the Intelligence Depart
ment of the War Office continues to ap-
pear in publications of all kinds Even
the conservative Times, makes it the
object to scathing denunciations saw
ing: 1--WE hope the War Office, having
learned by experience what might nave
been learned from cheaper sources Will
not omit to provide our troops with ar
tillery heavier and of longer range than
our excellent field guns
+ hos T =,
en- at least two years ago as an out
post in case Of war and it is pointed out
that the omission to provide it with
guns of equal caliber to those of the
Beers cannot be charged to the uncer-
tainty and political conditions which
| Immediately preceded the present aos-
tilities. 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 ex
hausted. Only ten lyddite shells per
gun are carried on each cruiser and
though it is believed the sailors took
an extra supply, secured from other
ships, it is felt that they must husband
their resources 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 requisi-
toned and sent out for the use of the
regulars in South Africa, there is little
likelihood of any serious scarcity for
these weapons, as the manufacture of
such ammunition is now being pushed
forward at a rate which insures an adj
equate supply.
Much criticism has been expended on
| the apparent lack of a proper recon-
naissance of cavalry in connection with
the armored train disaster near Est
court. This fact, it is claimed, goes to
prove that the reinforcements, espe-
x.alr1r althcs,crl,