The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-02
OPTIMISTIC
FEELING
PREVAILS
Among British Troops Over the
Queens Message and Rulisr'h
BADEN POWELL HEARD FIRM.
Has Compelled the Beers to zvaeuats
Positions and Retire East Of

t8pAAa6a
LONDON, Feb. ?, 1880 a. m.-Mr.
Wyndham's remarkable declaration in
the house Of commons that Great Brit
ain will have in fortnight. 10000 reg
ulars in South Africa, 1000 Canadians
and Australians and 2s,Ooo South AfrI-
can volunteers, is received with Won
darment. OF this total Of 2tS,eSe troops,
with 452 guns, all are now there, with
the exception of about 1900 that are
aloat. Beyond comparison this is the
largest force Great Britain has ever
put into the field. At the end of the
crimean war she had scraped together
$4,000 men. Wellington at waterloo, had
25,OOO men.
Mr.. .wyndham's speech was the
strongest defense the government has
vet put forward as to what has been
done and is being done. The general
tone Of the morning papers Is that his
figures will astonish the country
Roughly speaking, only $4,000 men are
ut the front. Ten thousand others
have been lost and ten thousand are
shut up at Ladysmlth.
Excluding these, there are 10000
troops who have not yet been In action,
in addition to those at sea. Why SO
many electives have not yet been en-
gagged is explained by the lack of land
transport and the organization of sup
plies, to which Lord Roberts is devot-
ing his experience and Lord Kitchener
his genius for details.
1t seems as though the whole of these
masses must destroy the equilibrium
which now holds the British forces sta
tionary wherever they are in contact
with the Boer army.
Lack Of transport and organization
will not explain adequately why. when
generals at the front require reinforce
ments. they get them in rather small
numbers. knowledge is slowly pene-
tratlng TO London that large garrisons
must be kept in Cape Colony to hold
down the Cape Dutch, who, as every
one knows, outnumber the British resi-
dents three to one.
sPEARMAN's CAMP, Natal. Tues
day, Jan. sO.-There is an optimistic
feeling in all ranks. Tho troops are
confident of ultimate success. Great
enthuslasul was aroused by the queens
message and General Buller's speech,
expressing admiration for Gen. War
ren's and General Clery's divisions and
hoping they would reach Ladysmlth in
week.
The natives persist in asserting that
General Joubert was killed by shell
outside OF Ladysmlth.
BULUwAYo. Saturday, Jan, 2O.-A
message from Colonel Plumer, who was
at Gaberones with the Mnfeking relief
force, says he has received a message
from Colonel Baden-Powell, dated
Mafeklng, January II, saying.
IAN well during the past fortnight.
Have been pushing out the trenches to-
wards the enemy's big guns and. Janu-
ary ls. their s4-pounder and high velo-
city Krupp evacuated their positions
and retired eastward of the town,
whence they are capable of little dam
age.
Have thus pushed the enemy on
three sides well out of rife shot.
Have opened a new grazing ground
for cattle.
"The enemy still has two strong
positions on the east side, which we
hope to shift with dynamite"
Canon Farrar Criticisss Macrum.
LONDON, Feb. l.-canon Farmer
who was forced to leave Pretoria with
other British clergymen, has arrived
in London. With reference to Charles
Il. Macrum, the former United States
consul at pretoria, Canon Farmer said
TO a representative Of the Associated
Press:
"Mr. Macrum was one of the last men
1 saw before leaving. ] told him he
was taking the wrong side and did not
understand American feeling, His chief
care seemed to be for his personal safe
ty, and think 1t was chiefly on that
account that he left in the midst OF the
crisis. He is not strong man, and
President Kruger may have taken ad-
vantage OF this. But. when last saw
Mr.. Macrum, he wns patriot and loyal
American.
In regard to Blake's so-called vol
unteers, they are like Mr.. Blake, mostly
burghers who would have been obliged
to fight any way. Mr., Macrum told me
there were 5000 Americans in the
Transvanl. most Of whom the United
states was glad TO get rid Of"
Pretoria. Canon Farmer added, was
provisluned for two years.
The war ONCE, this evening completes
its list OF the British casualties at
spiun Kop, by announcing the names Of
ei5 missing men of various regiments,
including i27 members Of the Lam
cashlre fusiliers.
WAR TALK
a.. 49,. - a.