Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-25


PRECCCUPIED IN SOUTH AFR1-
CA-GERMANY AND GREAT
BRITAIN HAVE A COMPLETE
UNDERSTANDING.
NEW YORK, October PA dis
patch to the Tribune from London
says:
The sailing of the channel squadron
| to-day for Gibraltar is now regarded
by the honest observers as an indica-
ton that some unexpected attack up
on British interests is possible. The
magnitude of the preparations for the
war which are out of all proportion to
the requirements of the military stu
alton, can be adequately explained on
the ground that the government sus-
pected some great power would be
tempted to seize the opportunity for
striking a sudden blow or carrying
out deeply cherished policy.
The quarter from which an attack
of this kind may come is unmistakable.
The Russian press has had license to
criticize the English policy in South
Africa in the most acrid way and ru-
NOR that Herat may be Occupied is al
ready in the air. British commercial
interests in Persia are so large that
Russian seizure of the commanding
position in Western Afghanistan would
be a serious stroke, aimed directly
against free trade. 1t seems a more
likely menace than the forcing of the
Dardanelles by the Russian Black sea
fleet.
The movement of a powerful French
feet to the Levant comedies with the
circulation of a rumor that the Rus
sian advance may be resumed in Asia
while England is preoccupied at war
in South Africa 1t also fits in with
the explanation of secret agreement
between England and Germany. This
was that England, in return for free
hand in South Africa in settling the
Transvaal question has agreed not to
make any hostile use of her fleet if
the German Emperor were to decide
to follow up his visit to Jerusalem with
a serious attempt to Colonize any por-
ton of Asia Minor and to bring it I'M
der German influence.
A prominent diplomat whom l con-
suited yesterday remarked that the ma
ture of the Anglo-German agreement
was the closest secret in European di-
plomacy, but that the foregoing state
ment was the most reasonable explana-
ton which he had ever heard. Denials
may be expected as a matter of course,
but l do not hesitate to repeat on high
authority that the British navy VIII
not be used against Germany in the
Levant and that this is the secret I'M
derstanding which has released Eng
land from all risk of German interyen-
ton in South Africa.
Certainly Germany is not the quarter
from which England has suspected
that some sudden attack might be made
and consequently has ordered prepara-
tons for war on a larger scale than
the campaign with the Dutch burghers
has justified.
The channel squadron will not sail
to the Mediterranean on account of any
German menace. The relations of Eng
land and Germany are most cordial and
the Emperor's visit next month is a
plain indication that for practical rea-
son he is reconciled to a policy which
enables the British government to re-
construct the Dutch republics and to
bring them under the authority of the
crown.
NEW YORK, October PA dis
patch to the Herald from Berlin says:
kilograms from Brussels announce that
in the TranSvaal legation circles it IS
stated that France and Russia win not
permit the annexation of the TransvaaI
and Orange Free State to England.
NEW YORK. October PA dispatch
to the World from London says:
The ministers and their supporters
are now realizing that they plunged
into the war with reckless haste and
the Queens messages-in which she
speaks of Dearly bought victories"
and dreadful loss of life" indicate
with a plainness which she has never
before permitted herself to indulge in
under like circumstances her disap-
proval of the war.
The British forces in Natal have al
ready lost in killed or wounded nearly
500 men in three days fighting.
The squadron of Hussars and the
section of mounted infantry which pur-
sued the Beers after the first fight at
Glencoe Cast Friday are still miss
ing.
Prolongation of the war beyond Brit
ish expectation IS now regarded as
certain.