The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-11
BOERS CROSS
THE BORDER.
Did Not Wait Expiration of
Time Limit.
Gen. CrOnje Is Threatening
Mafeking, In Natal.
IRISH FLAG FLIES
FLAG FLIES
Alongside Those of Transvaal
and Orange Free State.
The Entire First Draft of
Troops Now l. obilized.


London, Oct. 11.-If the latest reports
which are confirmed from various
points in South Africa, are true the
Beers have not waited far the expira-
ton of the time limit but have already
crossed the border. as they would be
entitled to do both in virtue OF the no.
tifcation contained in the last para
graph of the ultimatum and also of the
British acknowledgment which reach
ed Pretoria so speedily as to justify
belief, amounting almost to certainty
that the war party in Great Britain
while welcoming an act which has de-
prived the country of all peaceful al
ternatives and given it the great sup
erficiaI advantage to be derived from
the fact that the adversary has volun-
tarily assumed the stigma of virtually
declaring war, was eagerly awaiting It's
chance.
LAGER IS SHIFTED.
Volksrust, Transvaal, Oct. 1.-THE
entire first draft of Transvaal and Free
State Beers is now mObihzed. Ihe
Iaager has been shifted to a better po-
sitiOn for water and grazing. the gen
erals commandments and field cornetS
have inspected the various strateglcaI
positions on the border A man oSIen-
sibly coming from the Orange free
State has been detained here owing TO
his suspicious actions
"A r
Cape Town. Oct. IA dispatch from
Mafeking dated noon, says no alarm
was raised last night although every
preparation for defense was made The
excitement was increased by news that
the telegraph wires had been cut. 1t
had been found that the breaking of the
wire was due to the fighting top of the
armOred train which had not been low
cred. The telegraph staff by hard work
restored communication early thls
morning.
The strength of Gen. Cronje's Boer
force which threatens Mafeking, is es-
timated 1000. It appears not to be the
intention of the Beers to attack
A Buluwayo dispatch reports that the
town is dull, owing to the departure OF
the troops. Business is at standst1Il-
The utmost effort is being made to
keep the mines working. The railway
continues interrupted. Splendid rains
have again fallen.
FLYING IRISH FLAG.
Pretoria. Oct 1.-THE German de-
tachment has posted big gun on the
Free State-Natal border in position
to aid WakkerstrOOm. Five hundred
burghers assisted in hauling the gun up
a steep and almost inaccessible ACTIVITY
Some of the laagers are flying the
Irish flag with the flags of the Trans
vaal and the Orange Free State.
The ambulance corps has arrived.
Advices from BuluwayO says that the
| Gwelo- -Gwando railway il Rhodesia
| continues interrupted
ADVANCE ON LADYSMITH.
London, Oct. IA dispatch from
| Pietermaritzburg, Natal says intense
| excitement prevails there, owing to per-
| sistent reports that the Orange Free
State troops have already crossed the
border and are advancing upon Lady
smith,
A later dispatch from Pietermaritz-
| burg says the invaders entered Natal
| by the important pass of Cundy Clough
| 81 miles southwest of Newcastle.
1 IA
| London, Oct. 11.-There will inevita-
| bly, be a long period of suspense To-
| eether with a great deal of chafng at
| delay, as all indications go to snow thal
! Great Britain is so unprepared as to
| be compelled to remain on the defensive
| for some weeks. All the aggressive
ness must come from the Boers- II
| seems highly probably that he"Tongue
/ of Natal' as far as Newcastle will be in
| the hands of the Beers before many
! hours.
From that point however in the event
| of a further advance they would prOba-
| bly, find British forces at Ladysmith
and Dundee capable of repelling theil
| attacks.
| At Ladysmith the garrison which has
| to guard against an onslaught from the
| Orange Free State was reinforced yes
| terday by the Gordon Highlanders anc
| a strong contingent of the Indian troop:
| and the authorities are now conhden
! of their ability to deal out an unpleaS
| ant surprise to the Beers in the even
| of an attempt to rush the position. A
Dundee there are about 5000 men. Thi
| force ought to be sufficient to stem
BOer advance by way of Zululand ant
| to maintain the line of communicated
| with the base at Pietermaritzburg, tn
| HEADQUARTERS of Gen. Sir George Stew
art White On the BechuanaIand Dor
| der. the situation seems to give tn
/ Beers temporary advantage. There
| considerable anxiety in the districts o
| Vryburg and Mafeking, although 1t
| hoped that the reinfOrcementS recent.
dispatched there will be sufficient t
| protect the rich town of Kimberley.
CARGO OF MULES.
| New Orleans, Oct. 1.-THE British
steamship Prah, sailed for Cape Tow
today with 671 mules for cargo.
ROSEBERY'S SCHEME.
| London. Oct IA curious story is il
circulation regarding Lord Rosebery'
! silence unbrOken until today. It 1
said that the real object of his silenc
/ was to lead President Kruger to be
| lieve that Lord Rosebery and his fol
! lowers might come to the assistance o
the Transvaal thus stiffening Presiden
| Kruger's back to resist British de
mands. According to this explanation
| Lord Rosebery's fear had been tina
President Kruger would yield, whic
! from his lordship's point of view, woul
| have been fatal as he is fully convince
| that the only road to permanent peac
is the defeat of the Beers.
Continental opinion, so far as it ca
be aseertained from today's dispatche
remains largely anti British. Popula
| sympathy with the Beers is bein
shown in various ways in German
where, however, ofhcialdom maintain
an absolutely correct attitude
French opinion is we'll known. TIL
boulevard papers are especially viru