Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-01-28

BERLIN, january Zt.-Oouuo VI thO
papers here claim to have a telegram
from Pretoria stating that Gen. War
rem was enticed into Spion Kop, where
the Beers fell upon him, that seven
teen of his cannon were captured, and
that Buffers hasty retreat over the
Tugela River alone can save him.
The alleged Pretoria telegram adds
that the British losses were 800 men
killed and 1900 wounded. The dis
patch comes through Brussels and does
not receive much credit in this city.
LONDON, January 27.-The defense
committee of the cabinet met at the
war office this afternoon, Lord Sails
bury presiding. Lord Wolseley, the
commander-in-chief of the forces, was
also present at the meeting of the
committee.
In connection with the meeting of
the defense committee of the cabinet
to-day the rumor was reiterated that
the war office is c~oncealing the gravest
kind of news from the Upper Tugela
River. The reports even go SO far as
to say the forces Of Gen. Butler are
in full retreat.
1t is impossible to confirm or deny
the reports, as the officials maintain
silence as to the rumors. They say
they have nothing for publication. 1t
is evident, however, from The war Of
fee announcements, that the casual
ties reported by Gen. Butler occurred
in Gen. Lyttleton's brigade, which ap-
parently was not engaged at Spion
Kop, that there has been severe fight
ing not yet reported.
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, the chan
cellor of the exchequer, came to Lon
don purposely to attend the defense
committee meeting, and Joseph
Chamberlain, the secretary of state. for
the colonies, gave up other engage
ments for the same reason.
LONDON, January 27.-The war Of
fee has no news of the catastrophe to
Gen. Buffers force reported from Ber-
lin, and d~iscredits the story. Neither
has the war Office any explanation. at
least for publication, of the abandon
ment of Spion Kop, and there are no
advices in this connection from indie
pendent sources. The disposition to-
day is to regard the evacuation as not
so serious as at first thought, and
commentators are abusing the mill
tary authorities, both at the front and
at home, for publishing hasty accounts
OF an incomplete, half understood OPP
Grafton, thus alternately thrilling and
depressing the nation.
The afternoon papers describe the
generals dispatches as unpleasant
reading for the British people, intense
ly notifying to the national pride and
damaging to the %country's prestige.
and s~cathingly denounce the gazette
ing, at the present time, of reports
which the st. James Gazette says
displays academic ~frivolity not I'M
commonly found in combination with
considerable practical ~incapacity,
lapsing into sneering when they ought
to rebuke, and filled with the slang and
humor of kipling's subalterns."
The st. James Gazette sums up it's
opinion as follows: These dispatches
sweat the folly which has prevailed
throughout the period the campaign
has covered and which has eXacted it's
usual 1.-THE of lives and men,"
There are signs of important move
ments developing in the north of Cape
Colony. Gen. French has succeeded in
getting in touch with Gen. Gatacre,
possibly ~presaging a combination of the
two columns and the commencement of
a concentration of the forces which is
believed to be the groundwork of Lord
Roberts. plan of campaign.
The war Office announces that the
casualties reported by Gen. Butler yes
terday occurred in the battalions of
Gen. Lytleton's brigade, which so far
as known at the war Office, was not
engaged in the capture or defense of
Spion Kop. 1t appears, therefore that
they are additional to the considerable
casualties which Gen. Butler has re-
ported as having occurred at Spion
Kop.
BOER CAMP, MODDERSPRUIT.
UPPER TUGELA RIVER, January %.
The British are e~ndeavoring to force
with 5000 troops the Spion Kop route
to Ladysmith. The firing on Gen.
Botha's position yesterday was ter
rife. The grass was fired, rocks dis
lodged and trenches pierced, but the
hattie was practically oneAsided. the
!