Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-01-31

NEW YORK, January 30.-Advices
from London indicate that military as
sociates of Gen. White are of the opin-
ion that he will make a desperate at
tempt to break through the Boer lines
and escape from Ladysmith; that,
though such a movement would o a
tremendous sacrifice of life, it would be
preferable to surrender to the Beers.
The statement that Lord Roberts adj
vised the abandonment of Ladysmith
is not generally credited in London, but
in view of the fact that the supply of
provisions will 0 hold out for more
than a week longer, it is not probable
that any aid can be rendered to Gen.
White inside of that time, and he will
have but two courses open-surrender,
or cut his way out. Several military
experts in London are of the opinion
that the British in Kimberley, at Mod
der river and on the Tugela will also
be left to work out their own salvation.
One critic says: CAS- to an advance
northward, through the Free State, if,
as appears probable, the British com-
mander has to keep nearly all Of Bull
ler's army On the line of the Tugela, a
new army will have to make the adj
vance on Bloemfontein. There is no
use Disgusting the fact that the imperial
forces in South Africa are not strong
enough at present to undertake that
advance with safety"
The Daily Telegraph says: eft is a
terrible alternative when we have to
balance against each other the safety
of the brave men in the beleagured
camp and the only rathional policy of
carrying on the war. 1t has to be faced
without sentiment or unavailing re-
greet"
The Daily Mail says: "Such a move
could not be made with sufficient speed
TO save L~adysmith. 1t would seem
seem that the soundest military princi-
pies dictate the reinforcement of our
army in Natal and a fresh advance,
this time in ample force. There are
two dangers to be guarded against
foreign intervention and further mill
tary disaster in South Africa. To meet
the first the whole navy should be
modified and the naval reserves called
out. Our squadrons should be distrib-
uted in the proper position for war. The
and provided with transport and artil-
lery. The remnant of the militia
should be embodied. A force of al
least one hundred thousand men over
and above the volunteers and militia
is required to supply our generals needs
in South Africa. If it can not be raised
or terms Of voluntary service, we must
have drafting, as in the United States
during the civil war"
The London Post says: There is a
that Gen. Kitchener or Lord
Roberts has left Cape Town already to
take command of a movement by Gen.
Gatacre's and Gen. French's combined
forces, with heavy additions Of fresh
troops against the Orange Free State.
The defeat is bitter, but it is right t.
face it, while it is wrong to conceal it
from ourselves. The meeting Of the de-
Tense committee on Saturday probably
was caused by a knowledge of Gen. Bull
ler's retreat, though the fact was kept
from the public until Sunday. The
measures now urgently needed are de-
velopment of the military resources of
the country, with 100, 900 men in the
field and $4,000 to follow. The moment
has come to push on the training of all
the troops left at home"
The Leader says: THE enemy has
beaten us at the sticking game; he
has beaten us in strategy tactics and
he has induced us to give up the first
plan, where he would have hardly had
a show. and to conform to his plan,
where naturally everything is against
US. Is there a single soldier who can
justify what we have done on other
than political pleas? Not one. We
know from his own pen that Gen.
White was induced by n of Mr..
Chamberlain's deputies to disastrously
change his plan. We know that Gen.
Butler. after working up to the orig
inal plan of marching on Bloemfon-
tein, was persuaded by somebody to
give it up, and he was persuaded with
in three days. That is a pretty prob
lem for Parliament to whet its wits
on for the opening day"
The war Office continues to hold
back definite news in regard to the
casualties at Spion .Kop. resulting
from Wednesdays battle but reports
from various sources state that the
British losses were even greater than
indicated in the Boer dispatches of
Sunday night. One report states that
the British casualties exceeded 1900
dead and 1000 wounded. In view of