Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-02-07

LONDON, February 6.-The hoping,
fearing, doubling nation remains at the
mercy of every wild rumor. The i'm
preston that Buffers forces are fight
ing viii not die out, in spite Of the con-
tinuous reservations Of the war Office
that it has no news to confirm that be-
lief.
From Cape Town, unders to-day's
date, comes the statement that UP to
this morning nothing has been heard
there regarding Gen. Butler re-crossing
the Tugela river, while Field Marshal
Lord Roberts in dispatch dated yes
terday reports no change in the situa-
tion. In view of the latter's dispatch
es, 1t seems hard to credit the circum-
stantial reports OF the engagement OF
Gen. Buffers troops. The common
sense now almost inclines toward the
decision that these are due to the wish
being father to be thought. SUPPOSE
ton upon such a basis is futile. The
complete silence from the front and
at home may be significant, as the wise
acres aver, but 1T more probably repre-
SCENTS that period of preparation which
precedes an important movement.
So sure does the public seem to be
that British arms will In the end tri-
umph, that even if Gen. Butler were
again unsuccessful there would be no
such cutlery as followed his previous
failures, tor any heavy loss inflicted on
the Beers is counted a decided British
gain. The tide of British opinion turn
ed with the report from Spearman's
Camp that Gen. Joubert had only 49,
900 men between Buffers army and
Iadysmith, and the statement by Mr..
Wyndham that the British would soon
have 213,000 troops in South Africa;
Gen. Butler has been heavily reinforced
with men and guns; additional regi-
ments have been sent to the forces OPP
Grating in Cape Colony and $4,000 men
are about to sail from England for the
Cape 1t is realized that the English
must win by sheer force of overwhelm-
ing numbers, IL not by superior fight
ing capacity.
Lately the German military critics
have not had so much to say about the
peril Of the British army. DR.. Leyds
is still being feted in Berlin, but the
center of antiBritish 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.
In other parts than the Tugela the
conditions Of information are scarcely
more satisfactory. There is a vague
ness regarding Gen. French's reported
intention to move on Norvals Point,
with an overwhelming force of infan-
try. While the news of sharp fight
ing in the neighborhood of Colesburg
can be fairly expected within a few
days, it is not likely that it will as
sumo greater proportions than recon-
noissances and skirmishes for the pur-
pose of holding the advanced position
of the forthcoming main advance by
way of Bloemfontein. Gen. French is
strategically prohibited from running
any serious risk.
From Kimberley and Mafeking there
is nothing new, SO it can be presumed
that the intermittent bombardment of
those places continues.
The London morning papers devote
much more space to speculation on
the impending campaign in Cape Col
ony 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 intentions which we know he
entertained on Friday morning. The
orders issued then contemplated no
possibility of delay. Nothing is known
in Aldershot or London of any change
In the plans. 1t is certain now that
the Beers at Coleshurg are so masked
that they cannot well take part in any
general operations, but must fight or
surrender"
The Morning Post military expert
says: "The tide is beginning to turn
in the western theater of the war. A
telegram dated yesterday afternoon
announces from Naaumpoort that an
overwhelming force of infantry has
been sent to seize Norvals Point, and
that the Beers at Colesburg are vir-
tually surrounded. This looks as
though Gen. French had been rein
forced, perhaps by Gen. Chermiside'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 Norvals Point,
where the railway crosses the stream.
It is most likely the point at which to
stop the march of reinforcements for
the Beers. or the retreat of any who
may be able to escape from Coles
berg. The reinforcement of Gen.
French is the beginning of a system
attic direction of thn carnroion