The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-09
THE TRANSVAAL SITUATION
Strong Force OF MountQsv oops
Leave Estcou,S
DESTINATION IS Nozs EVEN OUT
Everything Looks Bright at Mafeking
Where the Beers Are Apparently
Disheartened at the Turn Af-
fairs Have Taken.

| London November 9.-To the eyes OF the
| military experts the darkest page of the
| war is now being written But even that
| is illuminated with bright passages, such
as General Whites victorious soraies. If
he can keep the British flag flying over
Ladysmith until he is relieved the cam-
paign will turn a fresh page, and with the
advance of Sir RedveEs Buffers force, the
British public Us promised more cheerful
reading.
This feeling of relief inspired by recent
good tidings is nevertheless tinged by
certain anxiety lest General White should
again make some fatal miscalculation in
volving repetition of the Nicfholsons mex
district Her majesty does not share this
anxiety, and apparently is sanguine of his
ability to pull through successfully. 1t Is
asserted that she has written to Lady
White, expressing sympathy with her hus-
band in the trials and difficulties he is now
experiencing and assuring Lady White of
her own undiminished confidence in his
generalship. The purpose off this letter has
been eabled to General White by the Mar
quis of Lansdowne. The most interesting
news tonight is a dispatch from Estcourt
announcing the departure of a strong force
| of mounted troops and artillery for dees-
| tination not given in the advGees. Another
| message announces the arrival at Estcour't
and Peitermaritzburg within the last few
days of refnforcements from Durham and
that 1900 are assembled ready for an adj
vance to Coenso when the opportunity
riyes. The latter dispatch throws light
upon the former and the force which left
4fstcourt Monday has doubtless re-occupied
Colenso and possibly is now advancing cau-
tiously up the railroad toward Ladysmith.
General Whites sortie of Friday, almost
to the banks of the Tugela river, encour-
aging its commander in THE hope of Joining
hands with him.
Joubert Drew In His Troops
General Joubert, the latest advices would
indicate, drew in his troops after Fridays
engagement, and has since withdrawn the
southern Boer contingents, leaving only
outposts on the line from Ladysmith to
Colenso The Beers who occupied Calenso
about the middle of last week, retired with
out damaging Bulwer bridge over the
1ugela river or the railroad as far north as
the village of Nelthrope, seven miles south
| of Ladysmth. Evidently they nurse hope
| of eventually utilizing both in their descent
on Pietermaritzburg. Meanwhile the Brit
ish also able to use both, as they all
ready have done, in running up armored
trains which may at the present moment
be covering the advance of the Estcourt
force.
AT Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg the de-
fensive works have been greatly strength
ened within the last few days. and they are
| now believed capable of holding their own
| against any Boer force which General Ion
| bert would at the present iuncture risk
| sending against either town Roth are Ike
| II, N ba strongtho,aa I>oearo a. -, =
| ont bv a f,,rtbor ,o,,a, foroa a,d 80, ~,
tba tirst datsnhn,a,t 80 So,ara, n,,,ioa, ~
arn,,, oorns u a A'''e'
' 'oP9 "
froopships Have Not Arrived
None of the troop ships have arrived.
,f,ne one which If was nredictad might
reach (apetown at the ga rIiest on Nopd,y
is as vet unannouncad ana eyar ,,,han :.
does arriya there - ,,5,, 49,, th
staa,,sna - ,aaat, D,,nh . ~ .niee uass
- -, -, -oo . ~ no iiaiiy % si1
4a,spo' - 20 WIN 1oVV tioops were e6Pecteo
- pe III Napelo"n naroor py thls time, DUE
the war once last night issued statement
TO the erect that the only arrivals at Cape
town We're the Sumatra, from Durham, with
wounded. the Southern Cross, from Gibrai-
tar, 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 Dur