Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-09
A MORE HOPEFUL FEELING
Has Taken Possession Of London the
Last Few Days.
WHILE MILITARY EXPERTS Be
LIEVE THE DARKEST PAGE OF
THE WAR IS BEING WRITTEN,
IT is ILLUMINED WITH BRIGHT
PASSAGES = STILL THERE IS
ANXIETY LEST GENERAL
WHITE MAKE SOME FATAL Err
RoR-THE QUEEN WRITES SYM
PATHETICALLY.


of military experts the darkest page of
the war is now being written. But
even that is illuminated with bright
passages, such as General Whites vic
torious sorties. If he can keep the
British flag flying over Ladysmith I'M
til he is relieved, the campaign will
turn fresh page, and with the adj
vance of Sir Redvers Buffers force.
the British public is promised more
cheerful reading.
This feeling of relief inspired by re-
cent good tidings is nevertheless Hinged
by a certain anxiety lest Gen. White
should again make some fatal mlscal-
culation involving q repetition OF the
Nicholsons Mex disaster. Her Majesty
does not share this anxiety, and appar-
emily 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 undiminished confidence in
his generalship. The purport of this let
ter has been cabled to Gen. White by
the Marquis of Lansdowne.
The most interesting news tonight
is a dispatch from Estcourt announcing
the departure of strong force OF
mounted troops and artillery for des-
tination not given in the advices An
other message announces the arrival
at Estcourt and Pietermaritzsburg
within the last few days of reinforce
ments from Durham and that 3,5OO
troops are assembled ready for an adj
vance to Colenso when the opportune
moment arrives.
The later dispatch throws light upon
the former. and the force which lett
Estcourt Monday has doubtless re-oc-
cupied Colenso and possibly is now ad-
vancing cautiously up the railroad to-
ward I4adysmith, Gen. Whites sortie
Of Friday, almost to the banks OF the
Tugela river, encouraging it's COM
mander in the hope of joining hands
with him.
Gen. Joubert, the latest advices
would indicate, drew in his horns after
Fridays engagement and has since
withdrawn the southern Boer contin-
gents, leaving only outposts on the
line from Ladysmith to Colenso. The
Beers who occupied Colenso about the
middle of last week retired without
damaging Bulwer bridge over the Tu-
gela river or the railroad as far north
as the village of Nelthorpe, seven
miles south Of Ladysmith. Evidently
they nurse hope of eventually util-
izing both in their descent on PETER
maritzburg. Meanwhile the British are
also able to use both, as they have al
ready done. in running up an armored
train which may at the present mo-
ment be covering the advance of the
Estcourt force.
At Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg
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 Gen. Joubert would at the
present juncture, risk sending against
either town. Both are likely to be
strengthened before the week is ont bv
a further naval force and even by the
first detachment of Gen. Buffers army
corps.
None of the troopships has arrived.
The one which it was predicted might
reach Cape Town at the earliest on
Monday, is as yet unannounced. and
even when it does arrive there it will
have three days steaming to reach
Durham. 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 a
statement to the effect that the only
arrivals at Cape Town were the Suma-
ira, 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 to meet the
troopships with instructions to proceed
direct to Durham, and in that event the
war Office statement that not one has
arrived at Cape Town would be literal
ly accurate, even though several should
be half way between Cape Town and
Durham
The situation locks brighter at Mafe-
king, where the Beers are apparently
disheartened at the unexpected resist
anee, large body of their force having
been detached to the south TO assist in
the investment of Kimberley, around
which the Gordon is drawing tighter.
Evidently the Beers intend to make
a concentrated effort TO capture Kim
berley and their arch enemy. Cecil
Rhodes.
The rano~fpd denartf1rr AZ Pear