The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-14
Every Day Lessons Their Chances Of
Occupying ANY Of the British
stronghOIds.
GENERAL SITUATION ONINPROyING
From a British Point Of visw-Rein-
sorcemsnts Hurrying to Aid Gen
eral White at 1adysmith

y
cation has been established with Lady
smith. but so far no news has been re-
celyed. the latest date being November
6 which shows that the occupants Of
1adysmIth had no news of the outside
world since General French reached
Pietermaritzburg, and that they were
puzzled nt the inactivity of the
Beers. Every one was confident and
cheerful, but all were suffering the in
convenience Of the siege, bread selling
at three shlllings per loaf
Colonel Baden Powell'S dashlng sor-
ties at MafekIng encourages the hope
that the British garrisons along the
western border are able to hold out.
Cecil Rhodes is employing 5000 men,
white and black, at Kimberley. in road
making, as a remedy for destItutlon.
According to dispatch from De Aar
the Beers at Kimberley have got the
exact range of the mines and are con-
stantly throwing shells at tho dyna-
mite huts. Several of the latter have
been blown up. and the damage done to
the mines already amounts to many
thousands of pounds Among the
stories from Brussels is one that Gen
eral Joubert and Sir George White
have been endeavorIng to negotiate for
the capltulation of Ladysmith. but
have failed to come to terms.
Lord Salisbury and Lord Wolseley
we're guests OF the queen at Windsor
Castle last night. Mrs. Rudyard Kip
ling has donated ego and some books
TO the fund for fitting out the hospital
ship Maine.
The story of Father Matthews, as ca
bled from Lorenzo Marques, regarding
the surrender at Nlcholson's Neck, is
too vague to be very convincing, but
in military circles 1t is considered
pleasant reading. and 1t will be impos-
sIble to learn the facts until the officer
concerned has been court-martialed.
The report that the British ship Mag
iclenne had fired on the French steamer
Cordoba raises the doubtful point
whether Great Britain has yet actually
declared war. 1t is believed, however.
that European nations have been made
acquainted with the severance Of rela-
tIons between Great Britain and the
two republics.
1t is understood that the admiralty,
on General Buffers advice. has ar
ranged that cruisers at the cape should
90 out to intercept all arriving trans
ports, and inform them OF the latest
orders respecting their destination,
which are to be kept secret.
The simultaneous attacks on Lady
smith, Mafeking and Kimberley which
were opened Thursday, manifest full
recognition by the Beers OF the fact
that every day lessons their chance Of
a successful onslaught on any OF the
three British stronghold. General
Joubert's chances of reaching Pleter-
harrisburg can be said to have van
ished. This is already reported to be
admitted by Colonel schiel, the German
officer commanding the Boer artillery,
who is supposed to have been largely
the author Of the Boer plan OF cam
paign, and who In an interview is al-
legged TO have said: "The Boer intention
was to have captured Pietermaritzburg
and then to dictate terms. But all
hope OF accomplishing this must now be
abandoned"
There is no doubt that, from the
British point of view, the general sit
uatlon in Natal is rapidly improving,
Nearly 5000 troops reached South AZ
rIca during the last forty-clght hours,
and by the end of the week from C,OOO
TO 1000 more will be added to the Brit
ish strength In Natal. These will
probably be pushed forward to Estcourt
bringing the British force there up to
10000 men, and making general at
tack on Ladysmlth by General Joubert
Very hazardous.
How Time Can be Made.
As the cavalry and artillery belong
Ing to General Methuen's division will
not have arrived by then, the advance
from Estcourt may be delayed. Rut II
deemed essential to open commuuica-
tIon with the belcagucred town n: the
earliest possible time General Meth
uen, 1t Is believed. may decide to re-
place the regular cavalry and artillery
by the Natal and Outlander mounted