The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-17
mo DECISIVE
BLOW HAS
BEEN STRUCK
1s the Opinion Of military Experts,
Based on Absence Of News
From the Front.
FORMATION OF BATTERIES
Has Been Ordered by the War De
partment = Nafeking Holds
Out Pluckily.

LONDON, Jan. II. 4 q. m.-Even ru-
mors are no longer telegraphed from
Natal. The conclusion deduced from
this silence by the military experts gem
orally is that no decisive blow has been
struck either way, as in such an event.
there would be no necessity for silence.
The South African Cancellation COM
mlttee. quietly formed to represent the
peace minority, Announces itself to the
country to-day and asks for support
Among the members are Lord and
Lady soleridge. Herbert Spencer. Sir
Robert Threshle Reid, George John
shaw-LeFevre, Frederick Harrison,
stephen Gladstone. the Countess OF
Carlisle and other notable persons.
Leonard Courtney, UnIonlst member Of
parliament for the Bodmin division OF
Cornwall, is president Of the committee.
This movement should be distinguished
from the "stop-the-war" group Of ex-
tremlsts, of which William Stead is the
most active member. It's programme,
summarized, is to walt until proper
opportunity arises for some peaceable
settlement. Meanwhile 1t will gather
and distribute current Information and
sound views. The manifesto afirms
that "as the war was begun amid mis-
understandings on both sides, a paci-
fic settlement Is possible"
There is no indication that such an
arrangement would be tolerated by any
considerable portion OF the public. Ma
tional emotion is now in state OF dis
uuietude over the reverses to British
arms; dissatisfaction with the conduct
of military business is Intense, and
there is an almost universal determin-
alton to see the thing through
Five New Batteries Ordered.
The war office has issued orders for
the formation Of five new batteries.
Some idea of the extent of the arttt-
Iery resources to be drawn upon may
be gained from the fact, according to
the statement OF a military expert this
morning, that an old practice howitzer
At Lydd, in Kent, with which It is Inn
possible to do accurate shooting, but
which for come time has been solely
used to test shells, has been laid under
requisItIon for the front. Orders have
been received at Lydd, to pack this
venerable relic with as much dispatch
as possible for embarkation.
Seventeen more militia battalions will
be embodied in the course Of a fort
night. All the regulars are now out OF
the country, except fourteen infantry
battaIlons and eleven cavalry battal-
ions. The war office has placed an or
der for 3s,OOO,O 900 cartridges in cases.
The yeomanry committee announces
that 1t has accepted 5000 out Of the 1o,-
900 which 1t wishes to rales and still
has 10000 applicants to be examined.
The Daily Chronicle asserts that the
committee was goaded into this state
ment by the reports that there was no
hope Of getting the full number.
The war office has wired to counter
mand the departure from Egypt of a
number of officers who were previously
ordered to South Africa. The Daily
Chronicle, commenting upon this and
upon other news, related to 1t, says;
"There are some curious reports in
circulation-appareRtly with some au-
thority behind them-which point to the
stoppage Of the despatch of further re-
Inducements when the troops now mob
iiized shall have embarked. The new
cavalry brigade is not to leave England
at present"
The civil authorities at the Cape
are In conflict over the treason cases.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
starkstroom says on this point:
"Reokomens and Mel. two Dutchmen
who we're tried by courtmartial during
Christmas week, with General Buffers
sanction, were committed on January
12, for civil trial, the courtmartial pro-
ceedings having been stopped by the In
terventlon OF the attorney general of
Cape Colony"
Heavy Firing Near Springfield.
The Times publishes the following
from Pietermaritzburg. dated Tuesday:
Very heavy artillery firing was
heard yesterday in the direction of
Springfield"
The correspondent Of the Times at
Lourenzo Marques teleBraphing Mon
day. January Is, says:
"I am informed on the best authority
that six days ago MafekIng was hold
ing out as pluckily as ever. There was
then no likelihood of the capltulatlon.
The garrison had a plentiful supply of
cattle and timed meats.
at is openly stated at johannesburg
that twenty field guns were recently
smuggled through DelRgoa Bay"
BoER RUSH REFUSED
By BayOnet Charge of YOrkshires