The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-09
THE QUEEN HAS
CONFIDENCE In
GEN. WHITE.
Firm Belief That the Worst IS Over
in the Great Transvaal
Struggle.
TROOPSHIPS NOT HEARD FROM
A Fresh Page in the War will Be.
Turned When ReinfoFco-
ments Arrive.

military experts the darkest page of the
war is now being written. But even
that is illuminated with bright pas
sages, such as General Whites vIctOrt-
Gus sOrties. II he can keep the British
flag flying over LadysmIth until he is
relieved, the campaign will turn fresh
page, and with the advance Of Sir Red
vers Bullver's force. the British public
is promised more cheerful reading.
This feeling OF belief inspired by re-
cent good tidings is nevertheless :iuged
by a certain anxiety lest General White
should again make some fatal miscal-
culation involving a repetition of the
NlchoIson's Mex disaster. Her majesty
does not share this anxiety, and appar-
entity is sanguine Of his ability to pull
through successfully. 1t is asserted
that she has written to Lady White ex-
pressing sympathy with her husband
in the trials and difficulties he Is now
experiencing and assuring Lady White
OF her own undlmInished confidence in
his generalship. The purport of this
letter has been cabled to General White
by the Marquis Of Lausdowne.
The most Interesting news tonight is
a dispatch from Estcourt announcing
the departure Of a strong force OF
mounted troops and artillery for des-
tinatIon not given in the advices. AM
other message announces the arrival at
Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg within
the last few days OF reinforcements
from Durham and that $500 troops are
assembled ready for an advance to Col
enso when the opportune moment ar
rlves.
The latter dispatch throws light upon
the former, and the force which left
Estcourt Monday has doubtless re-
occupied colenso and possibly is now
advancing cautiously UP the railroad
toward Ladysmlth. General Whites
sortle Of Friday, almost to the banks OF
the Tugela river, encouraging It's COM
mander in the hope8ot joining hands
with him.
General Joubert, the i6fest advtceS
would indicate, drew in hts horns after
Fridays engagement and has since
withdrawn the southern Boer contln-
gents, leaving only outposts on the line
from LadysmIth to colenso. The Beers
who occupied CoIenso about the middle
Of last week retired without damaging
Bulwer bridge over the TugelH river,
or the railroad as far south as the viii
lage of Nelthorpe, seven miles south Of
Ladysmlth. Evidently they nurse
hope Of eventually utilizing both In
their descent on PlteTmaritzburg.
Meanwhile the British are also able to
use both. as they have already done, in
runnIg up an armored train which may
at the present moment be covering the
advance OF the Estcourt force.
At Estcourt and PIetermarltzburg
the defensive works have been greatly
strengthened within the last few days
and they are now believed capable Of
holding their own against any Boer
force which General Joubert would at
the present juncture, risk sending
against either town. Both are likely to
be strengthened before the week Is out
by further naval force and even by
the first detachment OF General Buffers
army corps.
None Of the truopshIps has arrived.
The one which It was predicted might
reach Cape Town at the earliest on
Monday, Is as yet unannOunced, and
even when 1t does arrive there, 1t viii
have three days stea1ning to reach Dur
ban. AS many as six transports with
$500 troops were expected to be in Cape
Town harbor by this time, but the war
office last evening Issued statement
to the effect that the only arrivals at
Cape Town were the sumatra, from
Durham, with wounded, the Southern
Cross from Gibraltar. with mules, and
the collier wenvoe.
OF course It Is possible that dispatch
boats have been sent 10 meet the troop
ships with instructions to proceed d.
rect to Durham, and in that event, the
war Office statement that not one has
arrived ut Cape Town would be literal
ly accurate, even though several should
be half way between Cape Town and
Durham.
The situation looks brighter at Mafe-
king, where the Boers are apparently
dlsheartened at the unexpected resist
ance, a large body 6f their force having
been detached to the south to nsIst in
the investment of Kimberly. around
which the Gordon is drawing tighter.
Evidently the Beers intend to make a
concentrated effort to capture Klmber-
ley and their arch enemy Cecil Rhodes.
The reported departure OF n BoGr con-
,lngent from Pretoria with German ar-
tlllery Eunners, moving In a Southerly
direction, is taken to mean corporation
in the invasion OF the northern portions
of Cape Colony, an undertaking. which
thus far, has not progressed very rap
IDLY.
Reports Of tTehcherous use Of the
white flag by the Beers coming from
native sources, are not received with
complete credullty, but Mt the same
time. their rcitcratlou ls making an un-
favorable Impression, ono paper asks
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