Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
British and Boer Forces MasSing on
the Frontier.
SITUATION GROWS MORE ACUTE
Expected Blow May Be Struck at
Any Moment.
EXCITEMENT AT PRETORIA

crisis news, which monopolizes all the lead
ing columns of the afternoon newspapers, is
now we'll nourished by dispatches from the
cape from which copious particulars OF the
movements of troops on both sides ana
other war preparations are coming. "A olS-
patch from Cape Town says:
The alarmist reports from Pretoria OF
the movements of burghers must be re-
celyed with caution. The strict Boer CEN
sorship renders it unlikely that important
movements could be teIegraphed unless the
Transvaal has good reason for it. 1t is said
here that the highly colored reports are
either sent to arouse the enthusiasm OF the
Afrikanders OF to produce alarm in the
British camps
The Cape Town Times says: 1T is inn
possible to say what are the real grounds
for the Transva military activity until
the ma ture of tie dispatches OF the imperial
government, Orange Free State and the
Transvaal is known; therefore it is use
less to speculate On the chances of an early
recourse to hostilities.
Commenting upon the apathy of Premier
Schreiners colleagues, the paper quoted
'If the premier possesses Information
leading him to believe there is no necessity
for the precautions which others believe are
urgently demanded it is Mr.. Schreiners
duty to set the public mind at rest
According to advices from Pretoria, it APP
pears that the authorities there are serving
out no more Mausers, but are giving the
burghers Martins instead. This IS mainly
due to the defective Mauser cartridge,
which is constantly bursting in the barrels
and destroying the bolt action.
a telegram from Pretoria dated yeste"-
day says the widest excitement prevails
there, and that the VIZ: preparations are
fol. faI4
graphs, burghers. munitions of war and
provisions are being hurried off to Nolks-
rust, the projected base of the Boer opera
Jions against Natal. Crowds gather Ut the
stations to witness the dispatch of the mill
tary trains. Gen. Joub=rt gees to Vo!!,i-
rust tomorrow. The 15oer VIZ Office IS
working night and day, ind Communicating
Is actively proceeding. The raad, IN urocr
to secure the support of many OutlanGers,
has decided that Outlanders who he!r the
Beers will receive the franchise.
Several of the Transvaai government de-
partments close tomorrow, including the
high court. Immediately after martial law
j. proclaimed outside postal communca
tiOn will be stopped. The secret session
which the raad is holding this afternoon
Will probably adjourn until Wednesday for
the result of the British cabinet meeting.
The Transvaal is concentrating artillery
along the Natal border, and its reserve ar
tillery has been dispatched to Standerston
and Wakkerstroom, and also to Rustem-
burg, which will probably form the base of
attack on Secnudndidnd, IN the dlrectlOn
OF Mafeking. where British counter force
is assembling and fortifcations being
raised.
Beers Insult Travellers.
The occupants of the trains from the
Transvaal arriving at Ladysmth confirm
the movement of the burghers in the di-
rection of the frontier. They also declare
that the Beers insulted them when passing
the station and that one Boer assaulted
passenger without provocation.
About 1,s00 Boer artillerymen, including
the reserves, are enCamped at Nolksrust,
where the field Cornet has now issued 925
rifles and $1,000 cartridges.
1t is reported that down train due at
Durham tomorrow. has been stopped at
Nolksrust for the purpose of seizing prom
inent OutlanderS.
From Vrybersh it is said that native
laborer has sworn an affidavit before a
magistrate that he saw troops, between
twelve and twenty armed Beers. enter the
co.ony from the Trdnsvaal and visit far
mer named Haasbruck. They remained in
the house a considerable time, and crept
back across the frontier by dry water
course.
\ telegram from Aliwal. in the north
says the Orange Free State is stopping wa
eons, produce and live stock route to
Cape Colony The burghers. it is further
said, allowed to cross the frontier for
business, but are expected to return i'm
mediately.
From Bloemfontein come advices which
say the town is beginning to present de-
serted appearance. Numbers of the inhab-
itants, chiefly women, have left. The gov
eminent has issued q circular to the rail-
road employees, who are mostly British sub
jects. notifying them that in of war
they will all be dismissed and paid in full.
According to agreement, those volunteer
ing 10 bear arms viii be allowed to do so,
and those resigning will be allowed to
main in the country without being com
mandeered. but they will be expected to
serve the state Loyalty.
Movements on British Side.
on the British side the forces are steadily
moving nearer to the frontier. Hussar
scouts have advanced to Dannbranse, be
yond Glencoe. in the direction of Lalngs
Mex on the main railroad. The British
camp at Glencoe is situated on a stony
hoppje, with strong breastworks of stones
erected on top. All the railroad bridges
from Colenso to Newcastle are guarded day
and night by a mixed force of police and
infantry. Two men are allotted to each
small bridge and four to the larger bridges.
The batteries of artillery which left Glen
coe ostspsibIy for Dundee. a few miles dis
tant have suddenly been ordered to New
castle, which is in advance Of the British
base. The farmers of this northernmost
part Of Natal, which enters the Transvaal
like a wedge, are leaving their farms and
coming down the country.
In Rhodesia, which is exposed to a Boer
attack the British colonists are actively
Bulawayo has informed the chamber OF
mines that the forces will be doubled and
the forts strengthened and machiue guns
mounted. There are constant patrols in the
country districts Water is scarce in Rho
desia but there is enough if it rains soon
A dispatch from Pietermartzburg an
nounces that the governor of Natal has
ISSUED q proclamation in view of the i'm
pressioh that many of the Dutch farmers
may lon the Beers. The proclamation
warns "wickedly disposed persons that
the punishment of treason Is death and
confiscation of the rebels property. The
mounted Natal volunteers, including the re.
serves, have been warned TO be in readi
ness.
Malls from Durham for Cape Town are
now sent by sea, instead of across the
Transvaal.
Cape Town Outlanders Indignant.
The outlanders at Cape Town are great
ly indignant at the Transvaals confiscatior
law, which practically places at the dis
posal of the Transvaal their whole prop
erty, the nature and definition of the of
fenses being such as to embrace ever,
possible contingency and render them liabl,
to confscation whatever they do, even il
claiming their rights.