Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-08

Precautions Iakeh.
LONDON, January s, 4:30 a. m-The
British public is at last face to face with
a critical moment in the campaign. 1t
NAV safely be said that at no previous
time have there been such anxious
hours of suspense as will be passed
until the arrival of further
news regarding the fate of Ladysmith.
The week opens with only fresh ad-
ditions to the disasters that have be-
fallen British arms, and there Is no
longer any sustaining confidence to
buoy up public opinion The editor.
ials this morning fully reflect the ex-
IRENE gravity OF the situation, with a
painful undercurrent of ominious fore
boding, mainly caused by the fact that,
while the Beers have not changed their
tactics and assumed the offensive, Gen.
Butler is apparently unable to do more
to assist Gen. White than in making
demonstration.
The Morning Post says:
"He might as we'll have ordered a
disnIav of fireworks ,"
AS the heliograph ceased working
yesterday Sunday, it is presumed that
Gen. Whites last message was sent by
a pigeon or runner. Its purport
Is Serious Enough.
The Times publishes despatch from
Ladysmith dated January 1st, record
ing two night movements on the part
of the Beers to assault the town. These
had to be abandoned when the British
defences were reached, but the CORES
pendent says it was apparent that the
great attack would not be long delayed.
He adds:
Loyalty supported by the civilians,
the garrison can hold out for consid-
cradle period. We are not yet reduced
to half rations. The greatest difficulty
is proper accommodations for the
wounded and sick"
Little doubt remains as to the mean
ing of the Boer attack. A despatch
from the Boer camp at Colenso dated
Thursday last, and sent via. Lourenzo
Marques, centions that thunder storm
had turned the dry ravines into torrents
and flooded Tugela. Doubtless Gen.
Joubert felt sure he had secured a cou-
pie of days in which he could attack
Ladysmith without
Fear of Interference
from Gen. Butler, who, even if he
decided to attempt to relieve the town.
would probably occupy three days in
reaching it by even victorious ad-
vance.
Apparently on Saturday Gen. Butler
was not ready to attack. Probably
Gen. Joubert anticipated that Gen. Bull
Ter would shortly deliver an attack,
and in that case Gen. Butler may have
actually opened battle yesterday.
Great Britain has to face the terrible
possibility that the next news will be
the fall of Ladysmith. The disquiet-
ing feature is that the Beers seem to
have had sufficient forces to deter Gen.
Butler from attacking, while them
selves making strenuous efforts to re-
duee the town.
In the presence of this ominous sit
uatfon, even
GEN. French's Disaster,
of which apparently the worst has not
yet been heard, assumes quite minor
Importance in the eyes of the public
The war Office has already decided
upon immediate steamers for sending
an eighth infantry division to South
Africa. Some of the regiments for this
division will be taken from Gibraltar
and Malta. They will be replaced by
militia.
1t is asserted that the custom author
tiles on the river Thames have detained
two outgoing steamers and seized two
large guns and six maxims, packed in
piano cases, intended for the Transvaal.
1t is also said that a quantity of food
stuffs on another vessel have been
seized.
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