The Van Buren press., 1899-09-30
bUEPS WILL NOT RECEDE.
The Inference Drawn From Dis
patches Received in London From
Pretoria and Cape Town.
B0ERS BELIEVE ENGLAND WANTS WAR.
They Are Making Preparations TO Do
Their Share if War Comes-No
Definite Decision Reached as to
the Attitude of the Orange Free
State should War be Declared.

London, Sept. 2S.-The Tranesvaal
situation remains practically un-
changed, though, if anything, the feel
ing of gloom has deepened.
Beers VIII Not Recede.
Cablegrams from Pretoria and Cape
Town show that the general impress
sion there that the Beers will not re-
cede from their position, and that the
feeling of unrest at Pretoria has been
intensified. A dispatch announces
that the Transvaal government has be-
gun to appoint officers to go to the
front in case of hostilities.
The executive council of the Trans
vaal had a prolonged sitting, Tues
day, and has been in constant tel
egraphic communication with the
Orange Free State.
Orange Free State Undecided.
No decision it is now said, regarding
the attitude of the Free State, has yet
.aeen reached.
The Transyaafs reply TO the dispatch
of the secretary for the colonies, Mr..
Chamberlain, will be drafted immedi-
ately, and submitted to the raad in
secret session. The members appear
convinced that Great Britain is deter
mined on war. Being anxious not to
force Great Britain's hand, the Beers
will not take any definite steps until
the draft of their reply is considered;
but notice has been issued to the
l,
Wandering, which commences shortly.
A quantity of arms, chiefly Martini
rifles, have been distributed
The Orange Free State raad contin-
ues in secret session.
Raising mn American Corps.
A telegram from johannesburg says
an American named Blake is raising an
American corps of 500 men for the
Beers.
On the Cape side, the dispatches show
great military activity in the direction
of the frontier. The camp at Dundee
now consists of two regiments of in
fantry, Hussar regiment, two field
batteries, one mountain battery, and
detachment of engineers.
The Kings rifles are now encamped
at Ladysmith and the Fifth lancers
are arriving there.
Trouble With the Cape Drivers.
The authorities have been unable to
overcome the trouble with the Cape
drivers, who refuse to accompany the
mountain batteries to the front from
Ladysmith, which is one of the bases
of operations.
An armored train, hurriedly com
pleted at Cape Town, left there at mid
night with a "a inch boiler, a tender,
and 23-ton cars. The whole outfit is
painted Khaki color, is loopholed for
rifles and a machine gun, and is capa-
BILE of carrying 1870 men.
On the BechuanIand Border.
The Bechunaland border is closely
patrolled day and night.
Most of the British residents have
left Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and the
northern part of the Transvaal, whith-
er, it is announced, commands of 25O
burghers will shortly proceed.
1t is reported that the Boer agents
have made large purchases of grain at
Durham.
Want Military Protection.
The inhabitants of several town
ships on the frontier have appealed TO
Sir Alfred Miner, the British high
commissioner in South Africa, to send
them military protection.
A dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette
from Cape Town reports evidences of
unrest among the Criquas and Pondos,
and a section of the Bechuanas and
Matabeles. 1t is feared they will re-
volt in the event of war.
An Important order.
The war Office has ordered the whole
transport and supply for an army
corps to prepare to proceed to the
Cape. This is a very important order,
and implies the early dispatch of an
army corHs
The men of 2j companies are being
medically examined at Aldershot.