Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-05
TRAITORS AND SPIES
Keep the Beers Informed of What
Goes in In

Goes ON in Ladysmith.
Correspondence of the Associated Press)
LONDON, January 24.-The Stan
dard's correspondent at Ladysmith de-
votes the greater part of a two-col-
umn letter to the subject of spies. He
writes:
THAT there are traitors and spies,
white as well as black, in the garrison
of Ladysmith is certain. The enemy
never fails to receive notice of our
movements. Gen. Joubert, indeed, is
said to have been very angry because
on one occasion he had not heard of
the countermanding night attack.
He complained of Gen. Whites want
of consideration in keeping the burgh-
ers out of bed on mournful Monday
the name given by common consent to
the day of Nicholsen's Mex. The Beers
gave disastrous proof of acquaintance
with our plans by Withdrawing their
tack and by preparing an ambush for
the Gloucesters and Irish Fusiliers.
The reconnaissance under Col Brockle-
hurst also showed that they had been
warned in time to change their posi-
ton. In short, it is impossible to
avoid the reflection that we are in an
enemy's country. The loyalty of the
British colonists is beyond suspicion,
but the Dutch element in Natal is
very strong. Several farmers have
been caught red handed and many civ
ilians and volunteers have brothers
and cousins fighting on the other side.
Every project is known and discussed
in the volunteer lines long before the
regulars have any idea of it, and Off
GERS have received countermands of or
ders that have never reached them.
"Our horses and oxen have suffered,
the supply of fodder being exhausted
and the limited area of grazing ground
having been cropped to the last blade.
Groceries have run out; pure water is
scarce; whiskey sells at So cents a
bottle, and mich COWS are comman-
dered for beef. These are real and
trying discomforts, but more Cypress
i've than all the hardships we endure
is the dreadful monotony of the siege.
We have ceased to take any interest
in shells, and even the most timid no
longer walk up the street to see the
damage done by one of old Toms best
efforts. Ladysmith is afflicted with
plague of flies more terrible than any
that oppressed the Egyptians. They
descend upon us in clouds-noisy,v ora-
cious, singing pests, attacking every
exposed part of the body with cease
less energy, holiness and unfiinching
determination. Every dish on the
table is black with these torments, so
that it is often literally impossible to
see the food, or to carry it to the
mouth without the risk of swallowing
scores of the poisonous insects
British Recognize New Conditions.
CAPE TOWN, Saturday, February 8.
One of the principles that competent
military observers deduce from our as
saults on the Boer positions is that
with modern magazine rifles using
smokeless powder the defense is ten
to one as compared with the attack,
while formerly the rule was three to
one. The results at Mafeking and
Kimberley are evidence of this prin-
ciple, equally with British experience
at Magersfontein.
A wonderful change has taken place
in the army and the British are grasp
ing the new conditions of warfare.
Our scouts, mounted infantry ,Reming-
ton guides, Little's corps of Austral-
ians and New Zealanders are quite
able now to cope with the Beers.
Our infantry when moving into
action now instinctively seek cover
The depression caused in England
by the British reverses has not reached
the camps. where sthe men are tru1r.
anxious % mel t1