The Van Buren press., 1899-10-14
B0ERS HAVE ndI WAITED.
Reports From Various Points that
the Beers Have Passed Over
the Border Line.
NO DECLARATION OF WAR is EXPECTED.
England Would Not Declare War on
Dependent State, and the Beers
are Expected to Commit the Overt
Act. the British Meanwhile Act
ing Upon the Defensive.

London, Oct. 12.-If the latest re-
ports, which are confirmed from va
rlous points in South Africa, are true,
the Beers have not waited for the ex-
piration of the time limit, but have
already crossed the border, as they
would be entitled to do both in virtue
of the notification contained in the
last paragraph of the altimatum and
also of the British acknowledgment
which reached Pretoria so speedily as
to justify belief, amounting almost
to certainty, that the war party in
Great Britain, while welcoming an
act which has deprived the country
of all peaceful alternatives, and given
1t the great superficial advantage to
be derived from the fact that the ad-
versary has voluntarily assumed the
stigma of virtually declaring war, was
eagerly awaiting its chance, and de-
spite newspaper attempts to veil the
real feeling, is in reality delighted
that diplomacy has said its last word,
and that action can now proceed.
A Period of Suspense.
There will inevitably be long pc
riod of suspense, together with a great
deal of chaiing at delay, as all indi-
cations &c to show that Great Britain
is so unprepared as to be compelled to
remain on the defensive for some
weeks. All the aggressiveness must
come from the Beers. 1t seems high
ly probably that the Tongue of Ma
tai" as far as Newcastle, will be in
the hands of the Beers before many
hours.
From that point, however, in the
event of further advance, they
would probably find British forces at
Ladysmith and Dundee capable of re-
pelling their attacks.
Ladysmith Garrison Reinforced.
At La1ysmith the garrison, which
has to guard against an onslaught
from the Orange Free State, was rein
forced Tuesday by the Gordon High.
landers and a strong contingent of
the Indian troops, and the authorities
ere now confident of their ability to
deal out an unpleasant surprise to the
Beers, in the event of an attempt to
rush the position.
The Force at Dundee.
At Dundee there are about 5000 men.
IL is force ought to be sufficient to
stem a Boer advance by way of Zulu
land, and to maintain the line of COM
hn
maritzburg. the headquarters of Gen.
Sir George Stewart White. On the
Bechuanaland border, the situation
seems to give the Beers a temporary
advantage There is considerable anx-
iety in the districts of Vryburg and
Mafeking, although it is hoped that
the achievements recently dispatched
there will be sufficient to protect the
rich town cf Kimberley.
No Declaration Expected.
So far as declaration of war is con-
cerned. the feeling in London is that
the Transvaal government will merely
invite the British diplomatic agent,
Ccryngham Greene, TO leave Pretoria
Ou lllc VI lnt
Such an act would preclude the nee
essity of any further declaration.
Certainly, Great Britain would not de-
clare war against what she considers
q dependent state.
Active hostilities, therefore, are ex-
pected to take the place of formal
declaration.
Continental Opinion.
Continental opinion, so far as it car
be ascertained, from to-day's dis
patches remains largely anti-British.
Popular sympathy with the Beers 10
being shown in various ways in Ger
many, where, however, oflicialdom
maintains an absolutely correct atti-
tude.
French opinion is well known. The
boulevard papers are especially viru-
lent in their attacks upon Great Bri-
tain since the ultimatum was an
nounced, and they gleefully anticipate
long and difficult war.
The lord mayor, Sir John Noce
Moore. has summoned a public meet
ing for two o'clock Friday afternoon
al the Guild hall to express confidence
in the South African policy of the gov.
ernment