Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-12-31

Copyright, Associated Press.
LONDON, December 30.-The death
Of the Duke of Westminster, combined
with the mourning already prevalent
on accoun of the wal losses, left few
of the titled families of Great Britain
free to celebrate Christmas week with
the usual festivities. The Grosvenor
family has so many ramifcations
among the nobility, and such a large
number of other titled people have re-
Gently died, that one would almost
think the court was in mourning. To
this condition of affairs a pathetic
paradox is found in the society news
columns, which daily nou a long
list of forthcoming marriages, the
b~ridegrooms, in a majority Of the cases,
being soldiers. 1t is a season of short
engagements and sudden deaths. Mo-
mentarily expecting orders to sail for
South Africa, the British officers have
apparently taken the opportunity of
oSAlh4AS WHY IhC lOH IO AOI, dAo
Many "a Quiet Marriage
is now followed within a few days by
a farewell at Southampton. For in
stance, Major Maxse, who took part in
the recent defeat Of the Khalifa, re-
turned to England, married Lord
Beconfield's daughter, and is now or
his way to the Cape.
The martial spirit and universal de-
sire to serve the country at the front
shows no signs of abating. The action
of England's premier duke, the Duke of
Norfolk, who is postmaster general, and
by no means a young man, Che vas
born in 1847), in volunteering for ac-
tive service, is the latest example of
the spirit which pervades all classes.
The Duke of Norfolk's position in the
Cabinet and his tremendous business
interests, to say nothing of his power as
lay head of the Catholic Church in Eng
land, will probably prevent the accept
ance of his offer.
The Duke of Connaught, whose ar
dent requests to be allowed to go to
South Africa have been refused, is
mentioned as likely to succeed General
Roberts in command of the British
forces in Ireland.
No Little Comment
has been caused by the wal Offices
tardy recognition of the engineers and
artillery. Until Gen. Warren, of the
engineers, was sent out, all the general
officers in the field were cavalrymen Of
infantrymen. The country howled for
Gen. Warren's appointment, and at
last the man who knows South African
topography better than any other gen.
eral, received recognition. Then fol-
lowed in quick succession Gen. Roberts,
an artilleryman, and Gems. Kitchener
and Chermside, engineers, until the
campaign now bids fair to be chiefly
directed by the hitherto neglected
"gunners and sappers."
The impression continues to gain
ground that Gen. Butler and his sub
ordinates have been instructed to I'M
dertake no important movement until
the arrival of Gen. Roberts, and that
Roberts will amalgamate the divisions
under Gems. Gatacre, Warren and
French, subsequently marching upon
Bloemfontein, to capture that place
and draw off the Beers from Lady
smith. To accomplish this, it is believ-
ed that Kimberley and Mafeking may
be sacrificed. Whether Gen. Butler will
acquiesce to this arrangement is seri-
ously doubted by many who know him,
and they are rather inclined to believe
he will attempt to emulate Gen. Cough
who, under similar circumstances, re-
trieved his reverses in India while Sir
Charles Napier was coming out to su-
percede him.
The seizures of cargoes of American
flour off Delagoa Bay fail to excite
much popular interest in England. 1t
is generally looked upon as
A Fine Point
of international law that will be AMIGA
bly, settled. So far, no official steps in
the matter have been taken, owing to
the non-arrival of the necessary papers
from Washington. The military and
international law authorities are al
most unanimous in declaring that
Great Britain should not declare food
stuffs contraband of war. The Naval
and Military Record, under this head,
says to-day:
Fully fifty per cent. Of our food
comes from America. the colonies and
other countries. We have ceased TO
make any effort to be self-supporting.
This condition constitutes a danger
only bearable because of our confidence
in the strength of the British navy and
in the friendship and self-interest of
the United States. The States may be
counted on to fill our larder in both
peace and war, but so essential have
American supplies become TO our safe
ty that we must take no step likely to
lead to an interruption of the enorm-
GUS supply of foodstuffs. Our enemies
on the continent would rejoice II we
interrupted the foodstuns now passing
into the Transvaal via Delagoa Bay.