The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-07

NEW YORK, Feb 6.-While London
had received not one word Of news from
Natal and NO direct news from Cape
Colony, the feeling Of confidence con.
tinues and grows stronger. No one
seems to doubt that Gen. Butler is max
ing third attempt to relieve Lady
smith. So sure does the public seem
to be that British arms viii in the end
triumph that even IL Gen. Butler were
again uhsuecessful there would be no
such outcry az followed his previous
failures, for any heavy loss inflicted on
the Beers is decided British gain.
The tide ot British opinion turned with
the report from spearman'S Camp that
Gen. Joubert had only 1900 men be-
tween Buffers army and Labyrinth
and the statement by Mr.. Wyndham
that the British would soon have $4,000
troops In South Africa. Gen. Butler has
been heavily reinforced with men and
guns; additional regiments have been
sent to the forces operating in Cape
Colony, and 1900 men are about to. sail
from England for the cape. It Is real
ICED that the English must win by
sheer force of Overwhelming numbers,
II not by superior aghtng capacity.
French Hostility.
Lately the German military critics
have not had So much to say about
the peril Of the British army. DR..
Leyds Is stilI being feted In Berlin, but
the centre Of anti.British feeling seems
to have moved to Paris. the British am
bassador having left the city owing to
the hostility Of the French press and
people.
The London morning papers devote
much more space to speculation on the
impending campaign in Cape Colony
than to Gen. Buffers operations. The
military 'expert of the Morning Leader
says.
"There is no news to show that Gen.
Butler has not carried out the inten-
lions which we know he entertained
on Friday morning.
"The orders issued then contemplated
the possibility to delay.
Nothing is known in Aldershot or
London of any change in the plans.
Beers hust Fight or Surrender.
at is certain now that the Beers at
colesberg have been so masked that
they cannot well take part in any gem
eral operations, but must fight or sur
render"
The Morning Post military expert
says;
Tide Turning.
'.The tide is beginning to turn in the
western theatre OF the war. A telegram,
dated yesterday afternoon, announces
from Naauw Poort that an overwhelm-
ing for Of infantry has been sent to
seize Norval's Point and that the Beers
at colesDerg are virtually surrounded.
This looks as though Gen. French
had been reinforced, perhaps by Gen.
chermlside's brigade. and now felt able
not only to complete the investment Of
the Boer force at Colesberg, but also
to attempt to seize and hold the passage
Of the Orange river at NOrval's Pont,
where the railway crosses the stream.
1t is the most likely point at which to
stop the march of reinforcements for
the Beers or the retreat of any who
may be able to escape from colesberg.
THE reinforcement of Gen. French
is the beginning of a systematic dIrec-
ton OF the campaign.
AS soon as he is strong enough Gen.
French will complete the circuit around
the Boer force and then close in on 1T.
ITO the southeast OF Gen. French
Gen. Kelly-Kenny is moving along the
railway by steynsburg towards Storm
berg.
HE thus presses on the right of the
Boer force. which Sir William eatacre
is observing from the south.
There ls now a prospect that in two
or three weeks the British forces will
be holding the passages of the Orange
river and collecting all requisites for an
advance nOrthward."