The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-04
VERY SLOW
1t Will Be Weeks Before England
Can Strike.
GREAT BRITAIN NOT READY
Transvaal Is Being Given Every Oppor-
tunity to Accept England's Pro-
posals - Beers Occupying
Strategic Positions.

tfon. Arrangements for the dispatch
of war stores and men continue. A
quantity of balloon material has been
sent to South Africa, the war office
considering that military balooning
will prove of the greatest value in the
kind of warfare expected in South
Africa. The chartering of transports is
still going on One result Of the war
3 scare is an advance of one shilling to
rs pence in the price asked for wheat
offered in the market to-day.
A telegram from Paris announces
that NJ. Aranaud, president Of the in
ternational arbitration and peace
league, has sent an appeal to Lord
Salisbury entreating him to choose a
power to act with a power chosen by
the Transvaal with the object of avert
ing war.
While all the dispatches from South
Africa dwell upon the condition Of wild
excitement there and the expected i'm
minence of Boer attack. there is in
reality little change in the situation.
although the massing of the Beers in
all directions inevitably increases the
tension.
While constant military orders are
being issued here, progress seems very
slow, and it must still be weeks before
Great Britain will be in a position to
strike, although it is believed the Brit
ish troops now at the front or near it
are sufficient to protect British terri
tory. The government is certainly not
showing any signs of haste in sending
an ultimatum.
This Is probably due to recognition
that Great Britain is not ready to sub
stftute force for negotiation, and the
cabinet therefore is giving the Trans
vaal every chance to accept the latest
proposals.
Montague White, consul general for
the South African republic in London,
told the associated press correspondent
that he telegraphed President Kruger
yesterday, urging him to make a per-
Sonal appeal to Lord Salisbury dwell
ing upon the iniquity of the war and
proposing a scheme as a basis of fur
ther negotiations. He said he was mo-
mentarily expecting to hear that the
Transyaal government was sending an
ultmatum to Great Britain declaring
the dispatch of troops a casus belli, in
which event he would be compelled to
close his offices
Mr.. White added a curious statement
to the effect that a representative of
the capitalists of the Rand had called
on him this morning and asserted that
it was known in capitalistic circles
that Lord Salisbury had determined
that there should not be war and had
instructed the secretary of state for
the colonies Mr.. Chamberlain, to wire
to South Africa further assurances
with regard to the British desire to
respect the complete independence of
the Transvaal. No confirmation of this
is obtainable in official circles.
The dispatches from New Castle, Ma
tai, report that telegraphic communi-
cation is interrupted beyond Charles
town. where the stores have been placed
by the natives since the departure OF
the whites.
Stories of the movements of the Beers
and British and of the hurried muster
and dispatch Of troops on both sides
have come from other points. A tele-
BRAN from Ladysmth, Natal. says that
the Orange Free State StroopS have &C.
cupied and closed Bothas Pass, on the
Free State border and that Commander
Allech, chief of the Free State artillery,
is proceeding in the direction of Kim
berly with a considerable force of artil-
lery. Another force of artillery, under
Commander Boning has gone to Har-
rsmith, while Commandant Smith
commands a force of artillery en- route
for KrOonStadt.
The latest news received from johann
nesburg, filed there yesterday, indicates
that the last rush of Europeans to leave
the town has occurred. They crowded
every possible inch on the trucks. There
is considerable anxiety with regard to
the few who remain behind, as cOmmu-
ncation seems to be cut off. The min
ing commissioner stated officially that
the proclamation of Sept. 20. relating
to the protection of miners. had been
withdrawn and he therefore advised
all Britishers to leave as soon as pos
sible. The British steamer LalpOora
now in transport service, arrived last
evening at Durham, Natal, with field
artillery, a hospital corps and commits
sarist stores from India. The troops
We're promptly disembarked and sent by
train up the country.
The Natal authorities have announced
that no more mails will be dispatched
to the Transvaal until further notice.
Last Fridays mail was sent back from
the frontier.
A Bloemfontein dispatch says that
the Orange Free State government has
gaZetted an alien expulsion law and
also a law forbidding the export of
grain, stock and other necessares with
out permit. Communicating is pro-
ceeding there at lively rate. According
8 to a dispatch from Lourcnco Marques
of Portuguese East Africa a crowd N
Beers who We're assembled at the Mach
Rdrop station forced the refugee burgh
ers to uncover during the singing of
Boer song and severely maltreated sew
eral EngiShmen, StaDblng one ant
kicking another and trampling on 9th
ers It is reported there also that tWt
ladies were outrageously assaulted i
Raardokop station by Beers. one bein!
struck in the face by a rife shove
through the railway carriage window
,The other was struck by the assailant
fists.
The war office, it Is reported, has re
ceived an offer from 1000 officers an
men of the Cuban army for service /
the TranSvaal.
Among the steamers chartered by III
British government to-day for transpol
purposes is the Nomadic.
Lloyds publishes a report that gol
valued at f6G0 600 in transit has bee
+ seized by the Transvaal authorities.
Left for Washington.
San Francisco. Oct. G.-IuStice Mckenn
left for Washington tonight.