Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-15
DR|Tb|N'S CRUCIAL MOMENT.
Europe Scanning Her Preparations for
War in Africa.
GREAT TEST or STRENGTH-TRE-
MENDOUS WAR PREPARATIONS
OFFERING AN ILLUSTRATION
OF EfyGLAND'S ABILITY TO
FIGHT ON LAND-TROOP SHIPS
PRESENT THE MOST SERIOUS
PROBLEM.
Copyright, Associated Press.)

watching Great Britain at this critical
moment In her military affairs. For
eign statesmen and military experts re-
gard tho result of the war with the
Beers as a foregone conclusion. What
they scan with such anxious interest is
her tremendous preparations for the
contest. By the result of these efforts
will her strength be gagged. In assem-
bling an army twice as large as that
which she sent to the Crimea and con-
siderably greater than Wellington S
force at Waterloo, England is offering
an illustration, for the first time in
many decades, of her ability to fight on
the land.
Although her naval strength has
often been demonstrated to advantage,
it has still been matter of doubt
whether her military arm would COM
pare favorably with that of continental
nations; and in the throes of such test
she has been engaged this week day
and night.
Gangs of men are working incessant-
ly at the ports on England's shores,
transforming liners into troop ships.
Largely augmented forces are ceaseless-
~ turning out ammunition and ord
nance stores. Some idea of the activity
in this branch can be gained from the
fact that three million rounds of small
ammunition left Woolwich last week.
Although the manufacture of the fa-
vorite new bullet, Mark g." has been
retarded by an
OUTBREAK OF LEAD-POISONING
among the employees, this department
is working day and night. Tons of
scrap zinc are being shipped to make
gas for the war balloons, which are be-
ing taken out on more extensive
scale and with a more complete equip
ment than ever before.
Meanwhile, the men for whom these
implements of war are being made are
pouring out of barracks to the ports
standing by to embark, drilling, man
noevring, and practicing at targets
every spare hour. The reserves are
swarming into Aldershot in unheralded
patches and reshouldering their rifles
as if the transformation from civil to
military life were merely an everyday
occurrence.
The huge mobilization at Aldershot
is now in charge of Major General Thos.
KellyKenney, InspectOr-General of
Auxiliary Forces and Recruiting, who
has succeeded General Sir Redvers
Butler. All the work is new. 1t is the
first time that anything Of the kind has
been attempted since the short service
system went into effect. A visit to Al
dershot produces the impression that
everything is going like clock-work;
but it is too early yet to DO express
a definite opinion regarding the British
mobilization.
For the reserves themselves, who are
obliged to leave their wives and fam
lilies on a pitiful pittance from the
government, much public sympathy has
been aroused, exemplifying the truth
of Mr. Rudyard Kipling's jeering, "a
special train for Atkins when the band
begins to play" number of reserves
who were not called out have asked to
be allowed to serve in South Africa;
and similar spirit of spontaneous,
PRACTICAL PATRIOTISM
is seen on all sides. Sir Redvers Bull
lers force includes the flower OF the
English nobility The excellent BOer
craftsmanship, combined with the fact
that it is an unwritten rule in the Brit
ish army that officers must always stand
under fire even though the men are ly-
ing down, makes mourning probable in
many a noble British house.
The admiralty is perhaps more On
trial than the army, especially as it is
we'll known that General Lord Garnet
Wolseley, the commander-in-chief does
not approve a system which gives the
navy such far-reaching power in trans
porting troops. In 1882 Great Britain
despatched fifteen thousand troops in
three weeks to Alexandria, Egypt, q
feat that ELECTED the intense admira-
ton OF Count Won Moltke; but the task
Of shipping more than flfty-thOusand
men has no parallel in the history OF
England. Already the two branches Of
the service are beginning to blame each
other for sNrious delays; but it IS
scarcely apparent that there has yet
been any seriGcs lack Of facilities The
ghip-brokers have undoubtedly worked
something like a corner on the adml-
falty. az they OLD duri1E, the hisDano-
American war. ard the recent break
down Of two tl,aaSports is still tie cause
OF considerable abuse OF the admiralty.
THE Associate Press understands
that these two vessels we're repeatedly
offered TO the Uaitaf States during the
war with Spain, but thas, owing to the
astuteness of tn A rserican. naval repre-
sentative they we're never purchased.
Tie most remarkable point in con-
nection with the transport arrange
ment- is that about eighty ships can be
taken into the government service with
out materially disturbing the shipping
trade.
THE WEAKEST JOINT
in tae whole 'rcoilizatioa seems 10 be
the army service eoras. corresponding
10 the Ua-e1 state ccmmissary. The
various stations have been Quilted 10
obtain the necessary officers and men,
yet many Inc officers assure the ASso-
cia.' TresA that the arrangements are
xravely Inadequate for such a corps.
In this connection the Naval and Mill
.ary Record says:
1T is quite clear that X England hal
to provide q second or third army
corps for foreign service, these, or
either OF them, would have to so out
without a full equipment. That this
unpleasant discovery Will form the sub
ject Of inquiry in Parliament gees with
out saying"
The new battleship Balwark will be
launched on October IS. She will have
been under construction less than seven