The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-17
SUCCESS OF THE Beers
Was a Repetition Of the Earliest Incident
Of the South African War;
DEATH OF GEN. JOl BERT IS NOT CONFIRMED
Hardly Possible It Could Have Been
Kept secret for Eight Days nv
suppcsted-Good Words.

| sensational dispatches respecting an au-
vance of a portion of General Joupert
force from Colenso and the investment oil
Estoourt have not been confirmed, the
poArs have repeated the earliest incl
dent of the war by attacking and destroy
ing an armored train which had been used
for accommodating.
The earliest accounts OF this affair dif-
fer in details, but it is evident that the
train was suddenly fred upon between
Estcourt and Colenso and probably deraii-
ed. The trains gun was disabled accord
ing to one account, and the men we're
forced into hard fight. in which there
were serious losses in killed and wound
ed. aud possibly prisoners as we'll. 1t
was good Boer trap and the British
force was apparently surprised. Estcourt
has already been reinforced and it is not
! likely that the Beers will attempt to in
/ YES; II,
I The Mohawk has arrived at the Cape
with the Twelfth Lancers cavalry and
will be available in three days for relief
/ column.
The embargo Oh news at the Cape has
been 50 prohibitive that anything may
have happened at Ladysmith during the
last eight days For this reason rnmor
from Pretoria by way of Lorenzo Mar
ouez that General Joubert had fallen in
action on Thursday week can neither be
accepted nor rejected. That was the day
on which the last of the official dispatches
with details of the bombardment was sent
through 10 Durham. The rumor OF his
death fits in with vague reports previous
ly received that gun firing that day was
unusually severe and that close approach
was made to the British lines of defence.
II is also exposed to the inheren, improo-
ability that an engagement could have
taken place and the Poer commander
been killei without the world knowing
something about it within eight days.
General Joubert's death would naturally
have produced an important effect upon
the Boer plan of attack. A younger ana
more impulsive general would have taken
the place of that wary and more cautious
commander, and some hotspur would have
been likely to order an assault upon Ger
eral Whites position. General JoIbert
has been at once a most resourceiul gen
eral and the most noble on the Boer side.
slim Pet' as he always has been known
among the South Africans, refused to
take office under Sir Theopilus Schen-
stones scheme of British annexation when
Kruger himself was less scrupulous. He
protested against that act of aggression
and was willing TO fight for the liberties
of the Transvaal when Kruger was not
equally staunch. Joubert while full of
craft and wiles as any old deer stalker
was no match for Kruger in the subletes
of politics. He lacked Kruger s.grlt and
and inflexble will.
Reports OF recoissance from Orange
river to Belmont accompany accounts OF
the attack on the armored train above
Estcourt and serve to indicate that Kim
berley as we'll as Ladysmith will be re-
lieved before a general advance is made
through the Orange Free State. The Mil
tary experts now agree that the two eX-
posed garrisons on each flank will be
delivered from attack by the enemy in
superior strength before the original plan
Invasion OF the two republics and the
occupation OF their capitalists carried
out.
You can trust Butler" said one of his
warmest friends, Ito choose his own
time and field of operations. He is not a
man to allow the Beers to force him 10
night where they will have n strong de-
lenslVe position in mountain passes. He
VIII not be drawn away from the open
country where the British troops will be
iree TO operate in their own wcy with
Irresistible force"
A similar view was expressed by a
prominent diplomatic chief who smoke of
'he necessity OF overrunning both re-
punlics before the Dutch population could
De impressed with the hopelessness of the /
struggle and induced to surrender uncon-
ditionally.
The admiralty reports Captain Lambton
OF the powerful at Ladysmith. Under the |
rules OF the service he had no right Ia |
iea"e MS ship, and 1t is singular. there |
lore that he has been for weeks 1so mtIes
tnlsnd; Lambton formerly was Mr. 4
1oscnens private secretary in the adj. !
niralty and is possibly privileged.
totn onhpIoh narrow escape as can
.alh OF the Ninth Lancers from cantura
IN reconnaissance above belmont sends
thrill through the west end. whore Tho
sNpioi's ana adventures of the titled sal
1relS are followed with intense lnterest
ihere IS an honorable competition in biab
circles Tor the prestige of having the larrl
South Africa. N''e' arms IN
LORD George Hamilton seems n ba,.
the best record with one son ana naYe
nephews' The queen has one prandson ,h'
puchess OF York two brothers Lord sai ine
oury one SON. Lord Lansdowne t,yo 80
anu LORDS Tweedmouth and Ribhlasdaio
his eiaest son In the campnlgn ana
tne iist OF titled soldiers could he n rnu
longed indefinitely. pe pro-
Women of high rank and fasb,o, 49,.
taking the liyeiest interest in tbe are
many OF them drive from theaters or S,l,
ner parties to the war office night a ",n
nisht 10 inquire for the latest news Mr.
Neeld' whose husband will command MIS- .,.
regiment OF Household coyalry vii, ' mo
with few other offcerS wives ~ ra, ~
town. Lady Sykes and other wnmen ~
decided to sail for the Cape as nmrsas 'a'e
AZ the leaders OF the smart sets
working for war charities. Mrs Ar,bu e
lager IS organizing military theatricais
numerous royalties and duches SEES ar, i,rs
ing social support to a proposed m,,,tar,,
concert at Albert Hail. arI the conca.,
lor tne American hospital shin tomorro,,'
promises TO be the event of the season ="
me Prince OF Wales will 20 10 Winds..
tomorrow TO visit the queen ana setua ~
details OF the entertainment of tha c sne
man emperor While the emneror'. ,',s,,
mas mas oeen shortened. there is reason n ha
leVe .hat important diplomatic work will
pe zone, as he viii be atteded nv a s ~,
qualihed 10 discuss many ouestiors a a'i.,
Loru salisbury. including Herr Klehrnat
W. Mna nas me reputation OF being an exnert
~ Aslalie auairs The Impression &c gan
tTdI In diplomatic circles a.. hSH-