Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1899-10-13
BLOW NOT YET STRUCK.
No Act of Hostility Developed In the
South African situntion-EnE-
lands Vast Force.

NIeuJ brltaln military preparations
seemingly out of all proportion to
the work in hand in South Africa--was
not fully realized by the public until
the war Office announced that $4,000
reserves had already been summoned
to rejoin the colors. AS a matter of
fact, Gen. Sir Redvers Butler will have
command of twice as many British SOL
diers as the duke of Wellington, the
conqueror of the first Napoleon, ever
saw collected on one battlefield.
The reasons back of this lavish dis
play are probably fear of a native ris-
ing and possibly a conviction of the
advisability of showing Europe that
Great Britain is prepared to resent any
reaction resulting from the prevailing
continental ill-will In this connec-
ton, the action of the American de-
partment of state and the friendly
statements of President Mckinley and
Secretary of State Hay published here
are heartily welcomed as a happy re-
turn for Great Britain's refusal to
sanction continental intervention in
the war between the United States
and Spain.
1t appears that although the war of
flee called upon $4,000 reservists only
the pick of them, some 5000. will be re-
tanned with the colors. The authorities
are pleased at the application of num-
Der of reservists belonging to the un-
mobolized classes who are volunteering
for foreign service. The war office an
nounces that wives of reservists will get
six pence and each child two pence
| nj xx,li 1,n
are retained with the colors.
Some indication of the war Office
estimate of the duration of the cam
paign is given by the fact that the au-
thorities have contracted for eight
months supply of bread and other mil
itary acquisitions rendered necessary
by the absence of the bulk of the army
service corps, whom the war Office thus
evidently calculates will be at home
again by the beginning of May.
All the published estimates of the
fighting strength of the Beers are ex-
aggerated. 1t does not exceed $4,000 at
the outside.
AS the Beers failed to attack Natal
when the colony was vulnerable, it
is beginning to be felt that they are
pursuing deliberate policy of waiting
for the British proposals, remaining
in the meantime on the defensive, in
!, the hope of thus winning the sympa-
thies of the world and perhaps the sup
port of other nations and leaving to
Great Britain the ignominy of start
ing hostilities. IF they wait the ad-
vance of Gen. Sir Redvers Butler it is
conceivable that peace will not be
: broken during the present year. Should
that prove the case and should the al
legged wastage in the Boer commanders
continue, the force confronting the
British commanding general will be
neither as numerous nor as efficient as
that now encamped along the Natal
border.
London, Oct 10.-According to the
latest advices from Johannesburg the
natives, who seem to have been reen,
: forced by the lawless element, are get.
ting out of hand and anarchy is threat
=, ened. From the continent comes an un.
y confirmed report that preparations are
being made for an organized attack
; upon the mines by natives and the de
, struction of the plants. A report is il
-. circulation here of an organization ot
;, a corps of volunteers to aid tn
n burghers, but it lacks confirmation.
Cape Town, Oct. 10.-The AfrikandeI
n bund has decided to call special con
J. gress in November. The members o.
n the bund are advised to refrain in the
meantime from taking part in loca
/ meetings.
: Advices from Pretoria say the Neither
4 lands railway management asserts thai
C over 500 carriages and trucks belonging
n to the Transvaal are now in the British
= colony. According to these advices tn,
y burghers are still arriving at Sand
II spruit and it is estimated that $4,000 ar
n now concentrated there. They are be
c. coming very much dissatisfied becaus,
lie of their inactivity and heavy rains ant
,et bitterly cold weather render the condi
l. tions very trying for horses and men,
t Lisbon, Oct. 10.-The papers here eX
II press rather anti-Boer feeling. TIL
l. Seculo declares that although Englan,
g. has not asked Portugal to abandon he
J. neutrality, the Portuguese war min
If lister, Gen. Telles, is prepared to sen,
al 5000 men to South Africa within
fortnight.
t. London, Oct. 1O.-The absence o
,e news from South Africa appears to b
10 due to heavy block on the telegrap
la lines, which may mean that the line
of are occupied by official dispatches an
u. that negotiations are being activel
~ carried on. From Fort Durham it is an
oil nounced that no code messages will b
ir accepted for any part of South Afric
:, without the production of the codes.
e. The Transvaal banks have been not
a: fed that no more gold will be permitte
"a to leave the country.
a. London, Oct. 1O.-The Daily New
publishes the report of an intervie,
at with Bertram Milford, the South Al
ne rican novelist, who spent 25 year
| nr,nn,n1r hn Cana n,,tnI, IL ;.I NJ,