The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-02
The latter are understood to have been
sent by rail to Pretoria. The security
OF Ladysmtth is in no way affected.
OVERWHELMING ODDS
Were What the British Went up
Against, But They Upheld the Ira
ditions Of the English Army.

We're WhaE the brIClA went up
Against, But They Upheld the Ira
ditions of the English Army.
LONDON, Nov. 1.-The gloom caused
by the British disaster at Ladysmitn
YVES, in a measure. relieved by to-dny's
story, giving an account OF the heroic
stand made by the decimated battal-
ions until their last cartridges were
gone. The British nerve was momen-
tarIly shaken by General Whites use
Of the word "capitulate" in his first tel
egram; but now that 1t is known that
the Gloucesters and fuslllers fought
against overwhelming odds and upheld
the best traditions 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 accom-
plished by dishonor
The details to-day show the catas-
trophe in a brighter aspec, 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 defects In the plan of
action as to misfortune whereby the
column was deprived of It's ammunition
Still 1t seems IncomprehensIble why the
flight Of the iuckiess column was not
known at headquarters. as the scene OF
the surrender was only about three
miles northwest of LadysmIth, and
Lieut.. Col. Carlton must have expected
relief to reach him, or, instead of at
tempting to occupy defensive position
he would have retroced his steps to
| Ladysmith when he suffered the loss Of
his ammunition.
Apart from General Whites state
ment that the losses are very numer-
GUS there is nothing to indicate the ex.
tent Of them, except vague report to
the effect that the soldiers who brought
the news to LadysmIth said the British
dead and wounded were lying in heaps
and tina. 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 I.adysmlth was received here with a
6artaln reserve. in view Of the fact tina:
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 ofilcIai
dispatches.
The calamity has served to show the
British who are their friends. The pa
pers comment on the splendid reserve OF
patriotism existing in the far-away
colonies and the deep.seated feeling of
friendship and sympathy of the great
kindred nation ncross 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 en-
enlargement. But. that suflces. All
others are welcome to congratulate
themselves over the mIsEortunes OF
Great Britain"
The war Office has made a welcome
concession to the public desire for
news. Hereafter every postoflcc will
be open Sunday morning and VIII post
copies of all kilograms received by the
war ONCE up to a. M Sunday