The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-07
GREAT ALARM
BEING FELT
BY ENGLAND.
Realize the Immense Difficulties to
be Overcome Before They Shall be
Able to whip the Beers.
HARD TO HOLD THE RAILWAYS.
steyn viii Command the Free State.
British Have No Intention OfPro-
posing Exchange of Prisoners

LONDON, April Z, 1880 a. m.-Not a
word regarding the disaster at Red
dersburg has been allowed to come
through except the dispatch of Lord
Roberts. 1t is therefore impossible to
form any notion as to what has hap
pened. Meanwhile the British public is
beginning to realize the immense ditil-
culties to be overcome even before Pre-
torIa is rached and is revlving prema-
ure ideas with respect TO the time
when the war viii be over. No one
now believes that 1t Will have ended by
the beginning of June.
The latest disaster more particularly
Illustrates the heavy task involved in
holding the railway. This body of
some FIVE hundred without guns which
disappeared as completely within thir-
ty-five miles OF the greatest British
army, had for It's business to guard a
section of nearly ninety miles of rail-
way between Bloemfontein and SPRING
fonteln. II It could thus be spirited
away, how Is Lord Roberts to ensure
his continually extending communica-
ton?
Why DON'T British Troops Entrenche
other pertinent questions are being
asked as reason Of these successive
unfortunate occurrences" The fore
most why don't the British troops en-
trench? 1t Is argued that II this had
been done even FIVE hundred men might
have held out until reInforcements ar
rived. 1t cannot be concealed that the
utmost alarm is beginning to be felt.
1t is said that the Beers who captur-
ed the British at Reddersburg belonged
10 oIlvier's commando, II so he has
not retired north and hopes are ex-
pressed that he may still be cut of.
1t is asserted that four thousand reb-
els surrendered during General Glenn
ent's northwnrd march. The Beers will
do their utmost to hold Ladybrand
and Thaba N'Chu, both being rich
graiu producing districts.
A correspondent of the Morning
Post at springfonteln, telegraphiug
Thursday, says he is glad to be able to
report that Increased precautions are
being taken in patrolling the railway.
1t is said that most of the prisoners
captured at Boshof are foreigners.
s+o,,n rol,ae Command of Free State.
The report that Mr.. steyn had been
appointed to the command of the Free
staters and the further report that the
Free state has arranged a loan from
the Transvaai for war purposes are
both confirmed.
Ten thousand re-mounts from South
America are due to arrive during the
coming week at ports of Natal and
Cape Colony.
Another Boer version Of the fighting
with Colonel Plumer's force say that
four officers and thirty men were taken
prisoners at Ramathlnbama, 1t ap-
pears that the names of Cecil and Gran
Vile, which were originally supposed to
Indicate two of the officers captured at
the time should have been read togeth-
er as the name of one officer,
AS numerous prisoners are now held
on both sides and the numbers are
about equal. the question of exchange
was mooted in the house of commons
last evening. This elIclted reply that
the government had no intention Of
proposing an exchange.