The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-06

LONDON, oct. 5.-The Daily Tele-
sr6ph published In its second edition
thia morning dispatch from New Cas-
tie. Natal. dated yesterday, announcing
that the BOer advance began yesterday
with a general movement of artillery.
The dispatch says: 1.-THE Boer adj
vance began to-day with a general
movement of artillery, The BoeFs are
occupying Laing's Mex and now hold
the mountains to the southwest OF
Volksrust. There are no British troops
nearer than Ladysmith, and prepara-
lions are being made to abandon Natal
from the frontier TO Glencoe.
The inhabltants OF New Castle met
to-day and decided not to attempt to
defend the town In the event of Boer
advance in force. General symons 10
prepared to evacuate within twenty
four hours. The people are crowding
the trains for LadysmIth."
Although to-day's news from South
Africa Is Enthusiastically grave, the adj
vocates of peace shll derive a glimpse
Of hope from some OF the dispatches
that the stage Of negotiations is not yet
AnaIly terminated.
The news is contradictory. Side tg
side with the announcement that the
Beers have occupied Laing's Mex Is
printed dispatch from Pretoria stat
ing that the Transvaal government has
Issued strict injunctions to the COM
mandants that British territory must
not be invaded. and that commandant
General Joubert has issued a proclama-
ton threatening to shoot any man who
crosses the border.
Scarcely had the advocates Of peace
exchanged congratulations over the an
nouncement from Pretoria that j. F.
Hotmeyer, the Alexander leader and
W: P. schreiner, the Cape premier, had
undertaken joint semi-officIal peace
mission and had actually started for
Pretoria, where they ought to have
arrived last evening. when later mes
sages from the Transvaal capital de-
.clared that the Boer government knew
nothing OF this alleged mission, and
that In any event nothing could pre-
serve peace but the withdrawal of the
British demands.
While II is not necessary to accept all
the sensational statements regarding
the advance of the Beers there is not o
lot Of evidence going to show that the
burghers contemplate receding.
Up 20 > O'Clock this afternoon nothing
had, arrived to confirm the dispatch
tro:a New Castle to the Daily Tele'
graph announcing that general ad'
vance Of the Boer forces began yester'
day. The war office and the colonial
Office profess entire ignorance in tht
matter but this is in corsonance witt
the attitude towards the press.
Another New Castle special forward
ed later than that to the Daily Tele'
graph contradicts the first and declares
that all was quiet on the border las
evening and that there was not slgi
Of Boer advance.
The next news regarding this al
legged invasion of Natal is awaited
with anxious interest. The statemen
in the Daily Telegraph's specia
that there were no British troops neare
New Castle than those at LadysmItl
Is obviously an error, as three thousand
British troops are encamped at Dundee
The alleged Boer advance coineidei
euriously with simultaneous telegram
from various quarters regarding Doe
ultmatum and the expiration of tn
time limit last evening.
A distinctly serious and ugly state
ment comes from New Castle to the ef
feet that armed Ramrs accompany tn
Boer commanders. This would be a
absolute breach Of the conditions sup
posed to govern warfare among civil
lied nations; and. II true, presage
scenes worse than even the sioom'es
forecasts.
From other New Castle adviees 1t ap
pears that the premier Of Natal hh
teieEraphed the military authorize
that they can render New Castle no ms
alstance adding, that Il the Beers in
tend to attack the town. resistant
would be futile, and that the wome
and children should be sent away an
the town surrendered.
An unconArmed report says that maj
tIal law has been proclaimed in tn
Transvaal.
Advlces from BloemfonteIp say thl
the town, the capital Of the Orange Ere
state presents most animated AZ
pearance. Armed burEhers go abo'
everywhere, although the govcrnmer
still processes hopes Of peace
A special dispatch from Johannes
burg says: As a natural result OF tt
panic, there IL considerable lawlessnes
The regular distribution Of letters he
ceased. The government has commai
dered nil dynamite and cyanIte supple
which have been removed and place
under strict guard at various depot
A strong guard has been stationed