The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-12
No News Received in London Since
Expiration Of UItImatum.
SOME STILL HOPE FOR PEACE.
Sir Alfred Miner Says His Object Has
Been TO Prevent Action hy the
Beers that Would Make Peace
full solution Impossible,
England still Pushing
War Preparations.

| the present hour no dispatches have ar
rived from the Cape. timed. since the ex-
| piration Of the ultimatum so II is not yet
known whether the hrst shot has been
| fired.
A telegram from Pretoria, time $50,
yesterday evening says:
'The situation is becoming more criti-
cal hourly. Numerous Americans. Ger
mans Frenchmen. Swedes Belgians. Nor
wegians, Danes Italians. putchmen. Swiss
ana Cape Afrikanders have gone TO the
border to fight for the Transvaal, al
| though they are not Burghers. while
many British residents also have taken
| the oath o. allegiance.
1.-THE hope is expressed by many that
war will yet be ayerted."
Nothing since this has been received
from Pretoria. and doubtless. telegraphic
communication with the Transvaal is now
| cut.
The absence OF news from the cape
| since early morning is not due 10 an in
| terruption OF the cable. but 10 the imme-
date pressure of work. the cables being
| probably nearly monopoized by British
| government dispatches which take preCe.
| dence OF all others. Only two cables run
| to Cape Town from Europe and the one
on the eastern coast Is very slow. so that
| practically all the work is thrown on one
Atlantic cable. which means that the pres
| ent eXasperating delay viii recur repeated
| ~ Curing the progress OF the war; and
| that the newspaper dispatches will prob
| ably be very meagre
MILNER'S NOTE.
a..
! srondence between President Steync. of
| the Orange Free State and Sir Alfred
| Miner, Governor Of Cape Colony ana
British High Commissioner: cabled from
Bl0emfontein, show that Sir Alfred on Oc-
| tober 7th stated that the Imperial govern
ment was reconsidering the situation in
view Of the grave fact that both repub-
| lies were on war footing. and was even
| then prepared to consider a definite sug-
| gestiOn for the termination OF the crisis.
In another dispatch he says: MY OBJ
ject in all communications since October
"a have been 10 leave nothing undone
10 prevent such action on the part OF the
Transvaal as is calculated TO make
pacific solution finally impossible. I cam
not however, ask the Imperial Govern
ment for a pledge either regarding tho
disposition of troops in British territory
in South Africa or their despatch from
other parts Of the Empire"
President Steyne replied: The reason
for arming the Transvaal were the pres
ence OF an alien. hostile population in
it's midst. which was always stirring up
hatred and endeavoring for political or
financial reasons 10 undermine the inde-
pendence Of the State. The Beers have
never taken the offensive, not even after
the Jameson raid when the Transvaal
was strongly armed and there was few
British troops there
Regarding the Free state army. II will
be remembered that the Free State al
ways lived at peace and IN harmony with
its neighbors. and has everything to lose
and nothing to gain by a rupture.
"The Burghers will certainly not be
called out unless the government is thor
oughly convinced that the British troops
on the borders OF both States are de-
cided menace to the independence of the
Transvaal. which the Free State is bound
to assist"
GEN. BULLER TO LEAVE.
Great preparations are being made at
Southampton for the departure on Satur-
day of General Sir Rcdvers Butler. and
a great demonstration is anticipated. The
Duke of Connaught. the Duke OF York.
Lord Landsdowne. General Wolseley and
General Sir Evlyn Wood are to accompany
him to southampton from London.
A large feet Of trasports conveying Gen
eral Sir Redvers Buffers army corps
will be escorted by warshlps, while fur
ther dispatch boats and gunboats will be
sent to South African waters.
The government has spent f5O00,O10 in
naval and military preparations the or
ders placed with contractors this week
alone amounting to 10000. The author
tiles anticipating a serious reduction in
the output of the coal mines. have ordered
5000 tons of egg steam coal to be sent to
the Cape for the use of the warships.
The outbreak OF the war has sent up
the price OF English wheat on various
country markets. the farmers refuse TO
sell wheat under 80 shilllngs per quarter
in some cases even holding out for still
higher price
A dispatch from Kimberley says Cecil
Rhodes Is expected there shortly
WILL ASK OUR FRIENDSHIP.
The Foreign Office confirms the report
from Washington that Great Britain has
asked the United States to empower the
United States Consular authorities in the
Transvaal TO represent British interests
there during the hostilities.
An important South African firm in
London has just received a telegram from
Cape Town, stating that revolution of
the Dutch I'm Cape Colony is regarded as
imminent.
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg says
Orange Free State troops have entered
Natal by the important pass of Cundy
Clough, 81 miles southwest OF Newcastle. |
and are advancing upon Ladysmith.
CONSUL DEPARTS.
Montague White. Consul-General Of the |
South African Republic In London. closed |
the consulate this afternoon and imme- |
diately left for the continent.
Mr.. Whites departure was not attended |
by any excitement. Before shaking of |
the dust OF England he said 10 repre- |
sentative OF the Associated Press:
THE expected has happened. l only |
hope the helshness OF this premedltated |
crushing out OF a hardy republic Is now |
apparent let me remind America that |
The cEas Of war lies not upon those who |