Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-01
Beers RalIying to Stay Adj
vance of Roberts.
Cronje Still Holding Dogged=
ly His Position.
Butler Yet Unable to Raise
Ladysmith Siege.

Churchill then proceeds to describe
the heavy fighting last Friday in which
the Inniskillings approached within
500 yards of the summit of the rocky
boer position and then CALAMITY
charged in the face of hail of bullets.
He says: After repeated attempts,
however, and having lost heavily,
they recognized they were unable to
prevail. Nevertheless they refused to
hind the shelter of the walls. The
Connaughts and Dublin fusiliers were
sent to their support but night closed
in before the main attack developed"
Enormous Naval Increase Planned.
London, Feb. 27.-In Introducing the
naval estimates in the house of COM
mons yesterday George ]. Goschen,
first lord of the admiralty, said there
was nothing spssmodic or sensational
therein. The total, with the expected
additions, he added, would be 6 30, 000,-
900. There had been complaints that
the estimates would be sensational but
the government fully realized the sit
uation and knew the nation expected
the navy to be prepared for all emer-
gencies and the estimates were framed
on that footing. Goschen said Great
Britain was not menaced by any naval
power. Europe knew her strength and
the number of ships she possessed.
There were times when a demonstra-
ton was advisable, but the government
did not think it advisable upon this
occasion. Regarding the export of
coal, Goschen announced that the gov
eminent could not prohibit it unless at
war with a foreign power, or IN an
emergency very different from the
present. The admiralty, he further as
serted, was considering how it could
| organize in conjunction with
the colonies for the construc-
| ton of fresh ironclads, Goshen
remarked that the Hague convention
already seemed thing of the dim past
Great Britain alone, he added, suggest
ed the reduction of ornaments but
nothing had been done and in six
months since the conference more gil
gantic programs are stretching forward
! tO-eight, sixteen, eighteen years
! than ever before had entered the minds
! of the powers. Great Britain proposed
, to spend in 1900 and 1901 ES,46O, 900;
Russia E 300 600 and France G4,154.-
| 900. Material he said was 40 per cent
and labor 10 per cent. higher in France
/ than in England. He therefore Judged
the cost of shipbuilding in France and
Russia averaged 20 per cent dearer
than in Great Britain. Therefore, .
he explained. our expenditure OF
&S,460,0 900 gives Great Britain an ad
vantage of G1,700,00O or enough to
build an additional ironclad and
cruiser These large foreign programs
must not alarm the country, but we
must keep abreast of these great de-
velOpments of naval power which have
occurred not only in Europe but in the
United States and Japan"
Brave Irish Troops.
London, Feb. PA dispatch from
Paardeberg, dated Friday, says several
thousand beers are now lowering in
that neighborhood. The Times has
! the following from Pietermaritzburg,
dated Feb. %: The Dublin fusiliers
have again distinguished themselves
by volunteering to take Grobler's
kloof, which they did. This gallant
battalion, which began the campaign
$50 strong, can today muster on parade