The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-05
PREPARATIONS
ARE PROCEEDING
The TransVaaI Matter Looks
More WaTIke.
ENGLAND SENDS TROOPS
Reported That Kruger Has Issued
an UItimatum.
SAYS THE BRITISH MUST GET OUT
The Beers Acquire 100000 Pounds of
Gold Which Was on Its Way to
Capetown from Johannes
burg-Story Confirmed
SAYS THE BRITISH MUST GET OUT

London, OCTOBER 4.-lne most interesting
announcement in connection with the
Transvaal crisis today is that the chan
oelor of the exchequer, Right Honorable
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, has already sane
toned the provisional expenditure of 3d.
100000 and the government will not eX-
ceed that limit without authority from par
lament, which will be asked to vote sum
not exceeding eS,0O0,000 meeting of the
war board today discussed and drew up ar
rangements to insure safety of the route
from Durham to Langsnek, so that large
bodies of troops may on Decentralization be
rapidly forwarded up the country to the
front without confusion or crowding.
1t is stated tonight that the war office has
decided that the army corps for service
in South Africa shall be much larger than
originally estimated, and that it now con-
sists of over 10000 men. The preparations
for the dispatching of this force, including
the chartering of big ocean liners, is stead
lily and satisfactorily proceeding.
British dispatch still Unsent
The Press association learns that the dis
patch drawn up by the cabinet on Friday
was still unsent up to this evening" On
the other hand, telegram from Brussels
gives from "a we'll informed source" the
news that Dr. Leyds the representa- tive in
Europe of the South African Republic, has
received confirmation of the report that
President Kruger had addressed an ulti-
matum to Great Britain demanding the
withdrawal of the British forces from the
frontier within forty-eight hours, and that
1t was delivered on Monday. The report,
however, still lacks official confirmation.
nOnfidpncn officials
Cape is shown by a dispatch received to-
night from Capetown which states that at
a conference between the military authori-
ties there and General Sir George White,
v. c., who will command the British forces
in Natal, and Leutenant-GeneralS Sir Fred
eriek Walker, held to consider the situa-
tion, General White expressed himself as
confident that the British would be able to
present a force sufficient to repel any
attack.
Durham ON board of a warship has now, in
order to save time, abandoned the idea and
will go by train tonight
steamer Crowded With Refugees
line steamer left Lourenza Marquee,
Delagoa bay today with 1900 rand refu-
gees Large numbers were left behind and
all trains are crowded with those taxing
part in the exodus from the Transvaal.
dispatch from Volksrust says the Boer
camp on the Natal border now comprises
5000 men and is growing daily. The camp
breathes religious fervor. The eomisarat,
the dispatch says, is defective. One of the
largest corps lay in the veldt without smell
ter during a heavy thunderstorm.
Commandant General Joubert is momen-
tarily expected to assume command of the
Boer forces.
Captured Gold
The most sensational news from South
Africa this morning is a reiteration or yes
terdays report of the acquisition by the
Transvaal authorities of 95OO,OOO pounds IN
gold which was on the way to CapetoWn
from Johannesburg The confirmation OF
the story comes from two sources.
The Cape Argus asserts that the Beers
made the seizure at Vareenigeng, tne
amount being the weeks shipment OF gold
on the way from the raad to Capetown and
forwarded treasure to Pretoria. The re-
port is also confirmed by cablegram re-
ceiyed today by mining company in Lon
don from their representative, when is 10
the effect that the train upon Wnicn ne
was travelling from Johannesburg to cape
town was held up and looted by Boers,
who secured a500,000 in gold, the amount
being considerably less than the original
estimate.
There ia nothing very tangible in today's
war news, but the situation remains as
strained as ever unless hope may be de-
rived from the apparent fact that the
forces on the frontier are regarded by both
sides as wholly defensive for the present
and from the statement that Mr.. j. II.
Toffmaier. the African leader in Cape Col
ony, is still prepared to endeavor to secure
the adhesion of the Transvaal government
to the 'irreducible minimum" proposed at
the Blomfontein conference to President
Kruger by Sir Alfred Miner, the British
high commissioner, If the imperial govern
ment will stand by the high commissioner
original proposal.
The stock exchange was Influenced dur
ing the opening hours today by vague ru-
mors that Queen Victoria had cabled Pres
fdent Kruger and President Steyn, holding
ont the olive branch, and by a report that
the Beers had been defeated in small en-
gagement.
Prices rose but there was a speedy re-
Ianse then both stories were discredited.
Hareourt Speaks
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the dis
tinguished liberal statesman, member of
parliament for West Monmouthshire, has
an attack in todays papers upon the policy
of the secretary of state of colonies, Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain.
He reiterates his original statement that
the Transvaal refused to redress the griev-
ances of the Uitlanders Is the reverse of
the case, and he insists that Great Britain
Is responsible for slamming the door in the
face of President Kruger just when ar