The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-09
B0ERS ON THE FRONTIER
Hostilities Expected to Begin at
Any Time.
RESERVES ARE MASTERING
Nearly Fifty Per Cent Will 30 Equipped
In Six Days-Thrse Thousand
Beers Encamped Near
Kimber.oJ.

London, Oct. S.-Whatever may be the
result of Great Britain's controversy
with the South African republic, every
department Of the government to-day
is as busy as though actual hostilities
had begun.
The electric flash that announced the
mobilization of the army reserves and
the summoning of parliament set every
wheel of the government machinery In
motion. An hour after the gazette ap-
peared executive orders were being
dispatched from the war office to every
section of the kingdom, and the 10000
bulletins which appeared posted
throughout the country to-day are said
| to have been Identical with the pro
clamation prepared for use had the
Fashoda incident required such a step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Balfour We're issuing the necessary
| orders for the reassembIing parliament
and the admiralty was concentrating
| it's transports. So complete were tile
preparations that $4,000 reserves have
already individually received coupon
| tickets which contain instructions
were each man shall report for railway
transportation to the place designated
| to the place designated and q money
! order for three shillinss for provisions
| en- route. At Woolwich to-day it was
asserted that As per cent. of the re-
serves would be fully equipped within
six days.
| In the meantime the members of the
| two houses of parliament are arrang-
| ing to return to London and force OF
men is busily engaged in completing
| the improvements at Westminster.
The important news from South At
rica comes from Mafeking, where twice
on Saturday the British camp was
| aroused, the men stood to their arms,
guns We're lin,bered and patrols We're
dispatched in the direction of the Dor
der No hostilities have occurred as
| yet, but the enemy has moved prac-
| tically to the border, eight miles from
| Mafeking, in force estimated at least
5000, comprising five commanders. The
garrisoning and fortifying of the town
are practically completed. The streets
are barricaded and perfect system OF
mines has been laid. Two armored
trains have arrived at Mafeking, con-
sisting of three 'bulletproof cars, the
I first of which carries a -searchlisht,
while the rest of the cars are loopholed:
Each train is complete in itself and
carries it's own provisions.
Colonel Robert Stephenson Smith
Baden-PoweIl, commanding the 9TH dra-
goon guards, has issued a notice that
the Beers who are massed on the Natal
and Bechuanaland frontiers have or
ders not to fire unless the British begin
and that town is well prepared for
eyentualities, but as the Beers may
shell the place. every endeavor shouid
be made to safeguard the women and
children.
An armored train was inspected at
Kimberley Saturday. A signal station
has been erected with coming tower
at the top. 100 feet above the tracks.
Communication by telephone is had
with a central office and signals are
given to the troops by flags. BY this
means maneuver- were successfully
conducted Saturday. The troops NUM-
Der 5000, including the bicycle corps.
A train was also successfully tested
at Mafeking. 1t patroled to the nortn
and practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberley to the
Cape Argus says that 3,e08 Beers are en-
canlped midway between Boshaf and
Kimberley. They are we'll armed and
great religious fervor is shown In the
camp The Beers, however, are chafing
under the delay They patrol the border
nightly and have been ordered not to
permit British uniform to appear on
the frontier. .5
A special order was gazetted on Sat
urday announcing what British resi-
dents would be allowed to remain IN
the Transvaal and under what condl-
tions.
Inc prince or Waies on SATURDAY ls
ceived Sir General Redyers Butler. IL
is again announced thatta, cabinet coun-
Gil will he called shortly.
The steamers Aurania, Cepalonia ani
Catalonia of the Cunard line have been
engaged by the government as trans
ports, making six vessels of the Cunard
company which have been taken by the
government for the service. The ia
nous fighting 5th Northumberland Flu
siers have arrived at Cape Town,
where they were received with great
enthuiasm. In other respects the sit
uation remains unchanged.
Another report has it that the out
landers fear that Cecil Rhodes. j. Ros
Innee. under secretary of native affairs
in South Africa, and Mr.. Schreiner. the
premier of Cape Colony. are attempting
to patch some sort of compromise.