The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-07
THE TROOPS SEE VISIONS
EVERY CLOUD OF DUST Be
COMES A SQUADRON.
DESTATE FOR WAR GROWS IN ENGLAND
Dispatches from the Scene Of Possible HostiIi-
ties Meanwhile Grow More and More
Lurid, Ridiculous" Story ofvic-
toria's Intended Rbdication.

London, Oct 6-The few dispatches
received recording military movements
Mt various points all tend to confirm the
belief that President Kruger will re-
strain any forward movement by the
Beers, unless they are fred upon or
war is actually declared. 1t is now
practically certain that Parliament will
meet on October 18th
Reserves will be summoned tomorrow
in sufficient number to bring up to
war strength the regiments warned to
hold themselves in readiness for service
in South Africa, or about one sixteenth
Of the total reserve.
A dispatch from Mafeking announces
that Commandant Cronje, of the Boer
forces, has been promoted to the rank
of General, and is massing six thousand
Beers, with artillery, near Ramathla-
bama, north of Mafeking. The dispatch
adds that General Cronie has sent Il
message to the camp of the imperial
troops that he will cross the border at
the first shot fred in Natal.
1t is stated that Right Honorable Har-
ry Escombe, former Premier Of Natal
is going to Pretoria in the interest of
peace.
III. NJ s. Philomel suddenly left Dur
ban today for Delagoa Bay.
All the reliable intelligence from South
Africa points to continuance of the
existing situation for some time, as both
sides are apparently diffident about
commencing an attack, although, from
the dispatches received here, it seems
as if every movement of a patrol, and
every cloud of dust raised by herd of
cattle were turned into a general adj
vance by both armies.
A well defined conviction is prevalent
that the Foreign Office is trying to dis
cover a way out of the impasse which
has been created by admitted mistakes
and miscalculations; and it is evident
that peace advocates and peace c0unsels
are gaining ground. However, Mr..
Chamberlain's refusal to seize the chance
given him by the petition of % members
of the Cape House Of Assembly to point
out, in his reply, that the Beers still
have an opportunity of accepting Great
Britain's previous Offer so long as her
new proposals remain unformulated,
seems to show personal determination
ON the part of Secretary of State for
the Colonies, not to yield an iota in the
interest of peace.
While the distaste for war evidently
increases in Great Britain, dispatches
from the scene of possible hostilities
grow more and more luid.
Advices from Pretoria describe the
Transyaal organs as crying for impossi
BILE terms and President Kruger as refer
ring to prospective struggle as Il means
Of setting the republic totally free of
England" ss
In connection with rumors that Queen
Victoria is liable to intervene TO prevent
war. curious story is published this
morning by the Vienna Estrablatt, which
alleges that Her Majesty intends to alb
dicate in the event of an outbreak Of
hostilities, declaring that it has this in
formation from ''an excellent source"
The statement unfayoraJly affected
the Vienna bourse.
The British Foreign Office when
shown the Vienna story, declared it ''su
premely ridiculous" and 'ntterly base
less"
SEIZED 5000 TONS OF COAL.
London. Oct. 6.-The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says:
"A sensation has been caused here Gy
the report That the Free State Govern
ment has communicated 5000 tons ri
coal belonging to the Cape Government
which was traversing the Free State
Such a seizure would naturally be re
garded as am act of war. j. w. Sauer.
the commissioner of Public Works. whe;
questioned in the assembly regarding the
matter, professed ignorance; hut | leln
that the report was telegraEhed to the
Cape Ministry early in the day"