The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-04

Great Britain will hold her own in
Natal. The Free State commanders ap-
pear to be moving slowly 1t is prob
able that the government has loaned a
roFtion of the Free State artillery to
TIE acansvaal. The only concentration
e. resent is at HarriSmith. in the
nc eastern section of the Free State
ana a. -3osEof northwest of BIoemfon-
tei., "a DOsl-icA- f4eaten1ng Kimberly
and at lille, where the burghers
expect the AID O. the dislOyal portion
of the farmers and at Anwal, north
in Cape Colony.
Lichtenburg is the base of Com
mandant Cronje's movement on the
western border. menacing the Mafezing
railway between Mafeking and Vry-
burg, in Bechuanaland-
There is a well authenticated report
that a large force of Beers is assem-
bIed at Selik. at the junction of Croco-
die and POngOla rivers, evidently with
the object of destroying the railway.
The northern commander whose base
is at Petersburg confronts Plummers
column which Will move nearer the
border today.
The report regarding the extent of
BOer artillery is probably exaggerated
as it is believed the burghers possess
few field guns; and 1t IS unlikely that
they would dismantle their forts in or
der to send garrison pieces to the front
The military authorities estimate
there are now y 600 Beers in the field.
Late adViCeS from Cape Town this af-
ternOOn indicate a widespread impress
sion there that unless the Beers begin
hostilities by Thursday they Will rot
fight but yield TO the imperial demands
when formulated.
The Cape house Of assembly last ev-
ening 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 States or the Transvaal-
A special dispatch from Johannes
burg says the Boer officials there con
tinue to urge the subjects who remain
to leave and it is believed all who do
not viii be marched. under escort, along
the railway until a train is reached, to
carry them off.
Orders have been issued from Pre-
tOria closing all the saloons in the gold
fields.
The Transvaal government has ia
ken over the Perreira mines and all the
mines in the gold fields. A group of five
OF the EckSte1n mines have been closed.
Additional transports with troops
from India arrived this morning at
Durham, Natal. and will proceed to the
front Immediately 1t is rumored there
that the Beers are Withdrawing from
the Natal border owing to lack of for
age.
Montague White, consul general of
the South African republic in London,
informed the Associated Press today
that the Transvaal and the Orange
Free State agreed some days ago to
present a joint demand to Great Brit
ain 10 hlLuQIaW nGE troops from the
frontier but he asserts that he advised
against its presentation and so far as
he knows the demand has never reach
ed the British foreign Office.
Gavin Brown Clark. Liberal member
of parliament. who telegraphed to Pre-
tOria, portions of the speech delivered
last Saturday by the lord president Of
the council, the Duke of Devonshire
which Mr- Clark thought afforded an
opening for a pacific settlement, has re
ceived the following reply from Pre-
tOria, under date of October 3: THE
government of the South African re-
public is gratified to learn that power
ful influences are at work to secure a
peaceful settlement Considering, how
ever, the manner in which their FIVE
year franchise proposals were rejected.
after the government had every reason
to believe that they would be accepted
considering also the abandonment Of
the joint commission proposed by Great
Britain as well as the declaration that
the British government regard all for
mer proposals as abandoned and are
formulating fresh proposals, the gov
ernment Of the South African republic
do not feel at liberty themselves to re
formulate the rejected proposals.
If the desire for peace be earnest
and sincere, an excellent opening is af-
fOrded by the TransvaaFs acceptance
of the joint commission. a proposition
emanating from the British govern
ment. which If carried out would un-
dOubtedly bring a satisfactory and hon
orable settlement"