Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-05

Il - Di1 iI' u II ~ iADbl
former colleagues, Sir william Vernon Har-
court and John Morley.
Beers Probable Campaign.
The various announcements regarding Boer
movements seem to indicate their probable
plan Of campaign in the event of hosilities
Their chief force apparently would sur
round the narrow stretch of Natal territory
jutting into the Transvaal. thus threatening
Laings Mex. Charlestown and Dundee, while
the orange Free State commando from Har-
rismith is expected to operate near Van
Reenans pass and threaten Ladysmith.
Military critics are confident that Great
Britain Will hold her own in Natal. The
Free state commandos appear to be moving
slowly. 1t Is probable that the government
has loaned portion OF the rree State srtil
lery to the Transvaa1 The only concentration
at present is at Harrismith, in the north
eastern section Of the Free State, and at
Boshof, northwest Of Bloemfonten, a posi-
ton threatening Kimberly and fourteen
streams; at Rouxvile. where the burghers
expect the aid OF the disloyal portion OF the
farmers, and at Aliwal North, in Cape Col
ony.
Lichtenburg is the base of Commandant
menacing the Mafeklng railway. between
Mafeking and Nryburg, in Bechuanaland
There is well authenticated report that
large force Of Beers Is assembled at Selik.
at the junction of the Crocodile and Pongola
rivers, evidently with the object Of destroy
ing the railway. The northern commando,
whose base Is at Petersburg, confronts
Plummer's column, which will move nearer
the border today.
The report regarding the extent of Boer
artillery is probably exaggerated as 1t is
believed the burghers possess few field guns,
and 1t Is unlikely that they would dlsman-
tie their forts in order to send garrison
pieces to the front.
The military authorities estimate there are
now 12,0C0 Beers in the field.
Cape Advices More Peaceful.
Late advices from Capetown this after
noon indicate widespread impression there
that, unless the Beers begin hostillties by
Thursday, thy will not fight, but yield to the
imperial demands, when formulated
The Cape House of Assembly last evening
agreed TO a motion instructing the Cape
government to demand the speedy return to
Cape Colony OF any and all rolling stock now
in the Orange Free State or the Transvaal.
A special dispatch from Johannesburg
says the Boer officials there continue to urge
the British subjects who remain to leave
and it is believed that all who do not will
be marched under escort along the railway
until train is reached to carry them off.
Orders have been issued from Pretoria
closing all the saloons in the gold fields.
The Transvaal government has taken over
the Perreira mines and all the mines In the
gold fields. A group OF five of the Eckstein
mines have been closed.
Additional transports with troops from
India arrived this morning at Durham, Natal,
and will proceed to the front imm ediately.
1t is rumored there that the Beers are with
drawing from the Natal border owing to lack
of forage.
Montague White, consul general of the
South African republic in London, informed
the Associated Press today that the Trans
vaal and the orange Free State agreed some
days ago to present Joint demand to Great
Britain to withdraw its troops from the From
tier, but he asserts that he advised against
it's presentation and, so far as he knows,
the demand has never reached the British
foreign office.
Gavin Brown Clark, liberal member of
Parliament, who telegraphed to Pretoria por-
tions Of the speech, delivered last Saturday
by the president OF the council, the duke of
Devonshire, which Mr.. Clark thought af-
has received the following reply from Pre-
toria, under date of October 3:
Reply to u Peacemnker.
"The governInei.eof the South African re-
public are gratified to learn that powerful
infueces are at work to secure a peaceful
settlement. Considering however, the man
ner in which their five-year franchise pro-
posas were rejected after the government
had every reason to believe that they would
be accepted, considering also the abandon
ment Of the joint commission proposed by
Great Britain, as well as the ueclaration that
the British government regards all former
proposals as abandoned and s formulating
fresh proposals. the government OF the South
African republic does not feel at liberty it
self to reformulate the rejected proposals.
IF the desire for peace be earnest and
sincere an excellent opening is afforded by
the Transvaal's acceptance of the joint COM
mission, proposition emanating from the
British government, which, If carried out,
would undoubtedly bring a satisfactory and
honorable settlement"
A London news agency publishes a dis
patch from Paris saying 1t is rumored there
that a semi official exchange of views is
proceeding between Russia, France ana
Germany with reference to the Transvaai
nric