The record-union., 1899-10-09

LONDON, Oct. S.-Whatever may be
the result OF Great Britain's contro-
versy with the South African republic,
the Government is as busy as though
actual hostilities had begun. The elec-
tric flash that announced the moDlh-
zation of the army reserves and the
summoning of Parliament set many
wheel of the Government machinery IN
motion. An hour after the Gazette"
appeared executive orders were being
dispatched from the War Office to ev-
cry section of the kingdom, and the H.
900 bulletins which appeared posted
throughout the country to-day are
said to have been Identical with the
proclamation prepared for use had the
Fashoda incident required such a step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Balfour were issuing the necessary
orders for the reassembling of Parlia-
ment, and the Admiralty was concen-
trating its transports, twenty-four of
which are now at Liverpool alone. So
complete were the preparations that
25,000 reserves have already individ
ually received coupon tickets which
contain instructions where each man
to the place designated, and money
order for provisions en- route.
At Woolwich to-day it was asserted
that % per cent. of the reserves would
be fully equipped within six days.
In the meantime the members of the
two houses of Parliament are arrang-
ing to return to London, and a force of
men is busily engaged in completing
the improvements at Westminster.
The important news from South
Africa comes from Mafeking, where
twice on Saturday the British camp
was aroused, the men stood to their
arms, guns were limbered and patrols
were dispatched in the direction of the
border No hostilities have occurred
assyet, but the enemy has moved prac-
tically to the border, eight miles from
Mafeking, in force estimated at least
5000, comprising five commandos. The
garrisoning and fortifying of the town
are practically completed. The streets
are barricaded, and a perfect system
Of mines has been laid. Two armored
trains have arrived at Mafeking, con-
sisting of three bullet-proof cars, the
first of which carries a searchlight
holed Each train is complete in itself
and carries its own provisions.
Experiments with lyddite in the
mines prove that it is an extremely
powerful explosive.
Colonel Robert Stephenson Smith
Baden-Powell, commanding the Fifth
Dragon Guards, has issued a notice
that the Beers who are massed on the
Natal and Bechuanaland frontiers have
orders not to fire until the British be-
gin, and that the town is we'll pre-
pared for eventualities, but as the
Beers may shell the place. every en-
deaVor should be made to safeguard
the women and children.
A train was successfully tested at
Mafeking. 1t patrolled to the north
and practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberly to the
Cape Argus" says that 5000 Beers
are encamped midway between Boshof
and Kimberly. They are well armed,
and great religious fervor is shown in
the camp. The Beers, however, are
chatting under the delay. They patrol
the border nightly, and have been or
dered not to permit a British uniform
to approach the frontier
A special order was gazetted on Sat
urday announcing that the British res
idents would be allowed to remain in
Transvaal.
STEXN MILNER CORRESPOND
ENCE.
BLOEMFONTEIN 90. F. s., Oct $.
The correspondence between Presi-
dent Steyn and Sir Alfred Milner, Brit
ish High Commissioner in South Africa
and Governor General of Cape Colony,
has been published
In communication, dated Septem-
Der 26th, President Steyn pointed out
that the tone of the British dispatches
was altered, and that the Imperial
Government had departed from the or
iginal basis of negotiations with the
Transvaal On his advice the Trans
vaal had agreed to the holding of an i'm
quiry, and the Free State was greatly