Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-06-17
fCopvright. Agsociated press.1

Copyright, Associated Press)
LONDON, June 16.-What with ex-
citing news from the war that was
supposed to be over in South Africa,
sensational reports in regard to the
war that Is said to be pending in China
and alarming dispatches relative TO
the rebellion against British rule in
Ashanti, to say nothing Of the gay
Ascot meeting, the death of Mrs. Glad
stone, and the death of the Duke of
Wellington, the week in England has
been one of considerable interest. In
fact, so genuinely absorbed has the ma
ton become in its own peculiar affairs
that those of other countries fail TO
elicit the slightest comment.
The war, as, it is learned, General
K~elly-Kenny said t General Tucker a
few weeks ago, is ~'the funniest
have ever seen. If we,' referring to
the Division Commanders, "do things
wrong, we are sent home in disgrace.
If we do them right Roberts gets all
the credit"
And the war is ''rummier' than even
General Kelly-Kenny had any idea of.
The spectacle presented this week of
a victorious British General, in com
mand Of the greatest army his country
ever put under one man, shut off from
all communication with the outer
world while units Of his forces. to the
number of some seven hundred men,
Were Annihiiated
by a supposedly paciied enemy whose
territory was annexed, stands almost
unique in military history. While
Lord Roberts is not blamed for those
disasters, there is a strong feeling
among the leading South Africans in
London that he or some one %blundered
at Pretoria. Those who know every
inch around the Transvaal capital
say Lord Roberts took the most ard
uous side to approach it, whereas with
easier means of access he might have
bility of General Botha's retreat. AS
it is the capture of Pretoria was prac-
tically an empty triumph, except for
its moral effect. What old South Afri-
can campaigners are asking is Why
did Roberts not get Botha and his e
and take Pretoria afterwards, instead
of occupying a deserted town and lett
ing the Beers calmly walk away under
the S of his overwhelming force?'
Yes. while this question is frequent
ly heard, there is such genuine admir-
alton for Lord Roberts and belief in
the efficacy of his tactics that even
those who ask it are loathe to criticise
him until they know all the details.
The Patent FaIIibiIities
Of the generals fighting at the front
have caused criticism since the war
began; but scarcely any blunder in
South Africa has drawn upon it SO
much condemnation as the recent AL
dershot manoeuvres, when 10000
troops engaged in a sham battle on
the hottest day of the year. The in
quest upon four of the enlisted men
who died from heat prostration re-
cords the fact that the troops started
early in the morning without an ade-
quate meal, and that the forage caps
they wore were utterly insufficient 10
protect their heads from the sun. A
more damning indictment of military
equipment was scarcely ever so quick
" and ~eficaciously secured than by
this simple verdict of a coroner's jury!
Besides the men who died, some four
hundred had TO go to the hospitals.
The result is that the obnoxious for
age cap is likely TO be done away with.
The death of the third Duke of We'll
lington removes one of the shyest and
least known peers In England. He
was a pronounced valetudinarian and
also suffered from a keen appreciation
of his own position. Once and only
once, he made an attempt TO speak in
public. 1t was on the yagTancy ques-
ton, in which he was greatly interest
ed. A profusion Of notes lay before
him as he sat in the House Of Lords.
He caught the Lord Chancellor's eye.
solemnly rose up, arranged his notes.
cleared his throat and sat down with
out even uttering a syllable.
He Never Tried Again.
A curious story is printed regarding
the Duke of York. II AYERS that in
January a bevy OF four beautiful. ORR
entail maidens arrived at York House
and announced themselves as a pres
ent from q certain dusky ~potentate.
The Prince Of Wales son did not de-
sire TO offend the glver yet be could
scarcely accept, so, in some way or
another, the maidens were returned
and there was N offenSe.
Not only theatrical circles but the
whole OF London is amused and inter-
ested by the exciting controversy be-
tween the celebrated dramatist, W. s.
! Gilbert and Janette Steer. the American
actress. Just before the latter produc-
ed two OF his plays az the Comedy
Theatre. Last week Mr.. Gilbert re-
tired from the stage management and
in a Gilbertan letter repudiated all re-
sponsibility for the forthcoming pro-
production The plays, however, were
produced June 18th, and proved most