The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-11-07
ADVICES ARE
DISTINCTLY
UNPALAIABLE
Everything Points to a Critical Com
dition In Natal and Adjacent
Vicinity.
THE GORDON ABOUT LADYSMlTH
Vague Rumors Point to BOer Rein
fOrcements Of Heavy Artil-
leTy from Johannesburg.

46AJ eSSAAA ASAANHeAt-'A - ~
LONDON. Nov. 1.-THE war once an
nounced at midnight that no dispatches
had been received beyond those already
made public, and that nothing further
would be issued before noon to-day.
Thus not a solitary official item Of news
has been posted for nearly twenty-four
hours. This has given rise to crop Of
rumors that Ladysmith's ammunition
is exhausted; that Sir George Stewart
White is mortally wounded; that both
facts are being concealed and that other
unlucky happenings have taken place.
For all these reports there is absolutely
no foundation. At the same time the
BrltIsher has had little to stimulate him
within the last twenty-tOpr hours ex-
cept the news Of the confident attitude
of the I.adysmith garrison and It's slight
successes last Thursday and Friday.
Advices from other parts Of South Az
RIGA are distinctly unpalatable and
everything points to q critical situation
in Natal and the northern portions Of
Cape Colony, likely to grow more acute
until General White is either relieved
or declsively defeated. Nobody dares
to think Of capltulatlon. Rather than
that he is expected. In last resort, II
LadysmIth becomes untenable to make
desperate effort to cut his way
through the Beers back Into lower Ma
tai and to Join hands with the garrison
there, which is now almost certain to
be reinforced by the first arrivals of the
army corps from England and to be
pressed forward to renew touch With
him.
Ladysmith saf>.
1t is generally assumed. however. that
General White with the aid of the naval
guns will be able to cope with any
bombardment, and the idea that the
Beers could take Ladysmith by assault
is secuted as absurd, The defense thus
depends upon the uninterrupted work.
ing OF the naval guns. Right here
arises the important QuestIon-upon
which the dispatches have thrown no
llShtxwhether the naval guns, which
Themselves only arrived at the last lno-
ment. have with them sufficient ammu-
milton to reply to bombardment last
ing possibly several weeks. II not, It
is hardly likely that works exist in a
small town like LadysmIth for casting
the special shell needed for the a. gun;
and, moreover. there is no mention of
stores OF lyddite at Ladysmith for re-
charging these shells.
Meanwhile vague remarks in the dis
patches point to the impending arrival
OF further big Boer guns from Johan-
nesburg, to be mounted among the
hills within range of LadysmIth. Such
considerations explain the anxiety felt
regarding Gen. Whites movements and
position not only by the public but in
Official circles.
The British retirement to Estcourt
has given the impression that 1t Is In
tended to make stand there. Est
court Is the last important town be-
tween the Beers and the capital Of Ma
tai, and il the Beers sweep past Este
court nothing can stop them from lay
Ing seiGe to PIetermar1taburg, which
cannot be expected to make protract-
ed defense, while Its fall would be
tremendous blow to British prestige
throughout South Africa.
Dutch Colonists Remain Quiet.
Already the British retirement south
Of Colenso has given the Beers an op-
portunlty to make bid for the active
support of the disafrected Dutch in Ma
tai by proclaimIng the annexation Of
the upper Tugela section. Thus far the
Dutch colonIsts seem to have confined
their sympathy with the invading Beers
to a platonc emotion, Except for sur
reptEtIous assistance, there is no eYi-
dence that they have yet Joined the
Beers openly in any uppreclable NUM-
bers.
The reported British retirement from
Stormborg Junction, however, wifi be
followed doubtless by n similar Boer
pTOEluIIlhllUu hlllS4lAb kHG pSA hAVHo Va
Cape Colony lying directly south Of the
Orange Free State. These proclama-
lions, as in the case OF BechuanOland,
have been and will be Immediately fol-
lowed by British counter proclama-
tIons, but to the eyes OF the Dutch
farmers, the presence OF one BOer COM
mando Is probably more impressive
than the expectation of arrival Of the
whole British army In the more or less
distant future.
The British newspapers publish list
Of the transports due to arrive At Cape
Town from to-day. According to this
some 10000 men should reach the Cape
by the end of next week, but the ad-
mlralty lssued a chilling warning last
evening to the effect that no dIsappoint-
ment must be felt by the public II the
transports should not arrive at the
dates mentioned. dates which the war
office says, are biased In many cases
upon too sanEuine expectations"
The French press has been cheerful
ly announcing the Issue OF letters of
marQue by the Transvaat government
aud predict the havoc which priVRteers
may work among British merchantmen
and even transports.