Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-11-05

strictly on the defensive he will be able
to hold his own. The British experts
smile at the BOer plan of campaign,
which contemplates Selling Durham in
order to prevent the landing of British
troops there.
They say it has one fatal defect,
namely, that it ignores the British feet
under whose guns, it is claimed, the
seizure OF Durham will be impossible.
The dispatches to-day show that the
forces Of the Orange Free State are at
length preparing to invade Cape Col
ony. These forces are not overwhelm-
ing, but the Dutch in the neighborhood
pf Colesburg and Burghersdorp are ex-
ceptionally pro-Boer and their support
is evidently expected. The objective
point of this force of Beers will prob
ably be Naauw Poort, one of the most
important strategic railroad points in
South Africa, and which will probably
be, it is said here, the first advanced
depot of the Second division of the
army corps. Naauw Poort is under
stood to be well garrisoned and able to
take care of itself Trains thence to
COlesburg have been almost suspended.
In spite of the optimism of the mill
tary men, there is feeling of general
anxiety at Cape Town. The Orange
river is reported to be so swollen that
the drifts are impossible, and the Beers
hold the wagon bridge of Philippolis,
which is the only means of crossing.
Gunnery Lieut. Edgerton. of the
British cruiser Powerful, who was
wounded by the explosion of a shell at
the bombardment of Ladysmith, has
been promoted to the rank of COM
mander for services in the field. His
legs have been amputated as a result
of his wounds.
The officer is nephew Of the Duke of
Devonshire.
The possibility of Lady Randolph
Churchill accompanying the American
hospital ship Maine to the Cape of Good
Hope has aroused much interest here.
Her ladyship said to a representative
of the Associated Press to-day:
THE question of my going is dependent
upon several contingencies. 1t is quite
possible that L may go, but the matter has
not yet been fully determined upon"
Lady Churchill has taken the most ac-
tive part in the scheme to fit out the
Maine, obtaining privileges from the war
office which otherwise would have been
impossible in favor of the American
nurses, etc, and her friends are now anx-
ious that she should see the matte
through personally.
CAPE TOWN. November A delayed
dispatch from Buluwayo dated October 26,
announces that in the event of reinforce
ments being needed the volunteers would
be Immediately called out
A Fort Tuli dispatch, daccd October 26,
says shots were exchanged between Col.
Plumers column and the Boers at Point
Drift. The British had one man wounded.
The enenys loss was unknown. A Brit
ish patrol accommodating Pom Drift Octo-
Der q captured five Beers. 1t was then
believed the bulk of the Boer a: my had re-
tired from Fort Tuli going south and leav-
ing an outpost. Two gunners were lost in
the bush and it is feared they died of
thirst. The natives are searching for
them.
Another British patrol October 2S STAN
peded number OF Boer horses, capturing
five. Col. Plumer was still sending recon
noitering parties up and down the river
and there was little doubt the enemy had
retired. Speckley's patrol exchanged a
few shots with the enemy October %.
CAPTAINS White and Giynn, with thirty
nine men, reconnoitered kople at Pont
Drift. Captain Glynn approached it on one
side and Captain White on the ether The
enemy's loss was unknown. The ECer rifle
fire wounded four of the British. The ma
tives say two Beers were Killed in the
skirmish of October Is at Fort Tul.