Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-12-30

LONDON, December 29.--Afiserable
rain, fog and dirt made Christmas week
Of evil memory for England. Depress-
ing gloom in thorough harmony with
the weather settled over the country.
The coasts were strewn with wrecks.
commerce was out of joint and the pub
lie was bitterly digesting the criticism
of the British army The demand for
Major General Sir Henry E. Colviles
resignation, thrown as a sop. only sery-
ed to whet the ravenous appetites OF
those who are bowling for the respons-
Utility OF the reverses in South Africa
being brought home to individuals.
More heads are demanded. Where so
many must be blameable 1t Is felt that
the selection of General Colvile Is woe
fully inadequate If not unfair. Indeed,
it is already said that had not the Yeo-
many force at Lindley. which Colvils
failed to relieve, included some Of the
nobility and other influential persons,
Colvile would never have been recalled.
The bitterness felt by these Yeomanry
at being compelled TO surrender be-
cause. az they sllege. Colvile refused to
render the aid within his power, has
never died out and 1t will probably re-
suit in one of the most interesting
court -martials in the annals of tho
British army upon the result of which
will depend the fate OF several other
high officers who have proved unequal
to the occasion.
When he returned from South Afri-
ca, Gen. Colville says he fully acquaint-
ed the war Office with the facts. After
some time he was informed by General
Sir Evelyn Wood. the adjutant general,
that Lord Lansdowne, then secruEAfv
of State for war, had directed him To
say that Gen. Lord Wolseley, the com.
mander-in-chief, approved OF Gen. Col
vilIe's resuming his Gibraltar COM
mand. He learned unoffcially that an
army board OF FIVE OF the highest ON
Gals Of the war Office had considered
his statements and Lord Roberts dis
patches on the subject. His re-appoint-
ment was the result OF the inquiry.
To his intense surprise Adjutant-
General Wood, on December 2lst, no.
titled him that William st. John Brod-
rick the newly appointed Secretary OF
State for War, held him responsible
for the loss of the yeomanry and or
dered him 10 quit his command imme-
diateIy and hand over his resignation.
Gen. Colville, going into Official do
tails says he was ordered 20 concen-
trate his division at Heilbrun on May
18th. and names the various DISPOSE
lions of the other divisions which ex-
tended over the Orange Free State. He /
assumed that Lord Roberts intended /
to advance, sweeping all before him.
His orders were absolute and he had
to carry them out. Hence he could
not go 10 the relief Of the FIVE hundred
yeomanry without risking the success
Of the grand operation. Under any
circumstances, he says, he considered
Il his duty to push on. even II he were
sure it would entail the loss of the
yeomanry. Besides he had only food
enough for two days. He pushed on
and the yeomanry surrendered. Lord
Roberts broke up Gen. Colyille's d.
vision and expressed his dissatisfac-
ton.
"On my pointing out that had obey
ed his orders 10 the letter" declares {
Cen. Colville. he said his orders were
only intended as a guide"
Cen. Colyille alludes 70 some OF the
yeomanry being millionaires. and
quotes Lord Roberts as saying II was
his duty to sacrifice his force for the
yeomanry.
1T will be remembered" Gen. Coli
Vile says, that the corps delite num-
bered FIVE hundred and my force nearly
eight times that number.
Cen. ColYille cites two examples of
what he considers Lord Kitchener's
defective staff work"
The Liberal papers comment severe
" on the acceptance By the war ofsce
Of a contingent Of Maoris from New
Zealand. The Star says:
THE effect Of this stupid blunder on
the Dutch win be terrible. After de-
Ginning to employ Indian troops, We
are taking a paltry hundred AaoTis.
This will not only infuriate the Dutch.
but It will insult the indian troops.
who will regard IL as a declaration Of
their inferiority TO an inferior colored
race. co on, o. government Of mud
dlers, Even the gods could not save
you from your own invincible folly"
However, there are signs Of the dawn
Of that common sense, the lack OF
which the English critics so depiore in
the military system for the cavalry
now going out to South Africa Is dis
carding the lance and carbine and sub
stituting for these weapons rifles and
sabres after over a years fighting
the authorities have woke up 10 the
utter uselessDess of lances and car
bines, considering that thousands Of
British soldiers have never seen q
boer during the many engagements
While Breat Britain is tied hand and
foot TO South Africa. the navy. which IL
not escaping the wave of criticism, II
quietly increasing its strength and
morale. For months both men and
ships have been kept In an unusE&E
state Of readiness, and there are ncS~
building in British yards no fewer fhAm