Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-10-09
NO HoST|L|T|ES.
Beers, However, Are Massing
Near Mafeking.
British Constantly Increasing Their
Forces Along Natal Border.
Beers Near Kimberley Excited With Religious
Fer7or and WaEt to Move.

London, Oct. S.-Whatever may be
the result Of Great Britain's contro-
versy with the South African republic
every department of the government,
today. Is as busy as though actual hos
| tllities had begun. The electric flash
that announced the mobilization of the
army reserves and the summoning of
parliament set every wheel Of the gov
ernment machinery in motion. An
hour after the Gazette appeared ex-
ecutiVe orders We're being dispatched
from the war office to every section of
the kingdom and the 10000 bulletins
which appeared posted throughout the
country, today. are said to have been
identical with the proclamation pre-
pared for use had the Fashoda Incl
dent required such step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Balfour We're issuing the necessary
orders for the reassemblirg of Parlia-
ment. and the admiralty was concen-
trating its transports, "a of which are
now secured at Liverpool alone. So
complete We're the preparations that
$4,000 reserves have already individu-
ally received coupon tickets which con-
tain instructions where each man shall
the place designated and money
order for three shillings for provisions
en- route.
At Woolwich. today, it was asserted
that 90 per cent. of the reserves would
be fully equipped within six days. In
the meantime the members of the two
houses Of Parliament are arranging to
return to London and force of men is
busily engaged in completing the i'm
provements at Westminster.
The most important news from South
Africa comes from Mafeking, where
twice on Saturday, the British camp
was aroused, the men stood to their
arms, guns were limbered and patrols
We're despatched in the direction of the
border. No hostlities have occurred as
yet. but the enemy has moved practi-
caIly to The border, eight miles from
MafekinG in force. estimated at least
5000. comprising five commands.
The garrisoning and fortifynG of the
town are practically completed. The
streets are barricaded and a perfect sys-
TEN Of mines has been laid. Two armored
trains have arrived at MafekinG. consist
inS Of three builct-proof cars, the first
Of which carries searchlight, while the
sides # the other ears are loopholed.
Each train is complete in itself and car
rics its own provisions. Experiments
with Iyddite in the mines prove that it s
an extremely powerful explosive.
Cul. Robert Stephenson Smith Baden
Powell. commanding the 5th Dragon
Guards. has issued a notice that the
Beers. Who are massed on the Natal and
Bechuanaland frontiers. have orders not
to fire until the British forces begin and
That the town il wei prepared for event.
ualitics; but, as the Beers may shell the
place, every cndcavor should BE- made to
the women ana children.
An armorcd train was inspected at
Kimberley, Saturday. y signal station
has been erected with Il coming tower at
the top 130 feet above the trucks. Com
munication by telephone is had with
central office and signals are given to the
troops by flags. By this means manoeu-
vres were successfully conducted, Satur
day. The troops number 1000, including
the bicycle corps.
A train was also successfully tested at
Mafeking. it patroled to the north and
practiced firing at targets.
\ dispatch from Kimberley to the Cape
Town Argus says that 5000 Beers are en-
camped midway between Boshof and
Kimberley. They are well armed and
great religious fervor is shown in the
camp. The Beers, however, are chatting
under the delay. The nightly patrol the
border ana have been ordered not to per-
init British uniform to approach the
frontier.
\ special order was gazetted. Saturday,
what British residents would
he allowed to remain in the Transvaal
ana under what conditions.