Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-24

OOIuc estimates place Lie DoOi iooo-
es at 500 men. but this is probably ex-
aggerated.
Col. Scott Chisholm, the only Brit
ism officer killed, was formerly at
tached to the Ninth Lancers. He
served with distinction in the Afghan
war and organized the present I'M
perial Light Horse, a majority OF
whom are refugees from the Rand.
The death of Gen. Viljoen is a Sc
death of Gen. Kock and the capture
of Gen. Pretorious will handicap the
further movement of this column.
According to advices from Durham,
Natal, the Beers have entered Zulu
land, a large column advancing to.
ward Melolh
The best opinions do not credit the
reports that the Beers are suing for
peace or that they are likely to yield
at present, though they think the
Beers will probably retreat to their
lines of defense in the mountain pass
es of Laings Mex and Drankensburg,
where they have blocked the passes
with great boulders and masses OF
rock blown upon either side, and
where, If they so desire, they would
be able to hold out until the advance
of Mai. Gen. Sir Redvers-Buller
through the Orange Free State should
compel them to leave the Natal side
to meet the invasion from the South.
The sensational rumors Of the de-
signs Of foreign powers inimical to
British interests meet with scant ere
dence, though it is admitted it is diff
cult 70 explain the immense forces on
land and sea which Great Britain is
now mobilizing. In Vienna it is re-
ported that the British naval move
ments are due to rumor shat Russia,
with the assent of France, is about to
acquire from Spain, Ceuta or some 9TH
err naval station on the African coast
Elsewhere it is stated that the move
ments of the French Mediterranean
fleet in the neighborhood Of the Lavant,
where it could easily be Joined by the
Russian Black sea fleet, via the straits
of the Dardanelles, is occasioning Sis
picion.
Lady Randolph Churchill and Mrs.
Arthur Paget are organizing fund
among American ladies in England with
the intention to completely equip hos
pital ship for service on the South At
rican coast at a cost of $4,000. Lady
Curzon and Mrs Bradley Martin have
been invited to join the committee.
The authorities in Australia are
much exercised at the reports that the
imperial government has ordered can
ned meat in America. though the war
office had promised to conserve Austria
lasian interests. Those in the best po-
sition to judge, however, predict that
the packers of the United States will
secure large orders, as the British coll
onies are unable to supply 1.-THE of the
necessary supplies.
The chancellor of the excaequer, Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach, made a state
ment in the House of Commons to-day
on the question of the expenditure en-
tailed by the Transvaal war. He said
the expenditure for the war had been
increased by the supplementary vote to
a total of &121, POS 600, but, he added,
the revenue had increased and he ex
pected there would be an increase of
G3,000,000 over his estimate of the
revenue. This would be a considerable
contribution toward the foreseen ex-
penditure and would leave about ST.
there should be no addition to the fixed
debt but that the money should be
raised by temporary addition to the
floating debt. The chancellor of the ex-
chequer, therefore, asked for power to
raise eS,000,000 by treasury bills, the
whole question of repayment and the
question of fresh taxation to left over
the next financial year.
Although there might be something
in to-day's news giving cause for anx-
iety, yet he saw no reason to anticipate
that the campaign would not be brought
to a successful conclusion within the
period for which the estimates were
framed. The Transvaal, he continued,
was wealthy in its gold fields, and il
the war is won by Great Britain, Trans
vaal should be made to bear part of the
cost Of the war.
Il shall not take any course which
will promote a division or prevent us
from presenting united front in this
crisis"
Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman,
leader of the opposition, agreed that
this was not the proper time to discuss
the financial question and that it was
not desirable to show sign of dis
union.
The proposal of Sir Michael Hicks
Beach were agreed to by vote of $50