Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-02

umn Tell INTO the enemyS nandS. Inc
enemy treated our wounded with hui
mainly, Gen. Joubert at once dispatch
ing letter to me Offering safe conduct
to doctors and amDu.ances to remove
the wounded. A medical officer and
parties to render first aid to tbs
wounded were dispatched to the scene
of action from Ladysmith last night
and the ambulances at dawn this morn
ing.
THE want of success of the column
was due to the misfortune Of the mules
stampeding and consequent loss OF
guns and small arm ammunition re
serve.
1.-THE official list of casualties and
prisoners will be reported shortly. The
latter are understood to have been sent
by rail to Pretoria.
"The security of Ladysmith Is in no
way affected
The gloom caused by the British dis
aster at Ladysmith was in a measure
relieved by to-day's story. giving an &C
count of the heroic stand made by the
decimated battalions until their last
cartridge was gone. The British nerve
was momentarily shaken by General
Whites use of the word ''capitulate"
in the first telegram; but now that it
is known that the Gloucesters and Flu
siliers fought against overwhelming
odds and upheld the best traditions and
honor Of the British army, the tension
has. been relieved since there is no
longer ground to dread that the loss of
life and men was accompanied by dis
honor.
The details to-day show the catas
trophe in brighter aspect. The full
battalions were not engaged, and,
therefore, the list of prisoners is mater
tally reduced, while the disaster now
appears to have been not so much the
consequence of defect in the plan of
action as to misfortune wherey the
column was deprived of it's ammunition.
Still it seems incomprehensible why
the plight of the luckless column was
not known at headquarters, as the
.cene of the surrender was only about
three miles northwest of Ladysmith,
and Lieut.. Col Carlton must have ex-
pected relief to reach him, or instead
OF attempting to occupy a defensive
position he would have retraced his
steps to Ladysmith when he suffered
the loss Of his ammunition.
Apart from Gen. Whites statement
that the losses are very numerous there
is nothing to indicate the extent of
them, except vague report to the eff
feet that the soldiere who brought the
news to Ladysmith said the British
dead and wounded were lying in heaps
and that hundreds needed doctors.
This, however, is hardly borne out by
the long list of captured officers.
The concluding sentence of General
Whites dispatch relative to the safety
of Ladysmith was received here with
certain reserve, in view of the fact that
similar official assurances were given
recently at Dundee and Glencoe, and
there is intense anxiety for further
news of the reported renewed attack,
which is not mentioned in the official
dispatches.
The calamity has served to show the
British who are their friends. The
papers comment on the splendid re-
serve Of patriotism existing in the far
away colonies ana the "deep-seated
feeling of friendship and sympathy of
the great kindred nation across the
Atlantic"
The Standard sums up the feeling
Of the nation, saying: From the
United States and our colonies alone
we hear the voice of friendly sorrow
and encouragement. But that sufices.
All others are welcome to congratulate
themselves over the misfortunes of
Great Britain"
The war Office has made a welcome
concession to the public desire for
news. Hereafter every postoffice will
be open Sunday morning and will post
copies of all kilograms received by the
war office at p. m. Sunday.