Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-10-02
TO-DAY'S TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Rumored Fighting in the ?ransvaal.
London, Oct. 2 1t is learned on the
highest authority that in the event OF
the war in the Transveal, tue British,
in order to avoid hostllities as long as
possible, will act purely on the deten'
sive. holding the frontier posts against
the Beers until December, when the
full British force OF $4,000 men will be-
pin to advance into the Transvaal. If
fighting be. les at once, the war ciiice
expects to near of Beer SUCCESSES, a;
thew outnumber the British three to
one. An invasion of the Transvaal l.
impossible before Christmas. Mean
while, Boer raids into Natal and Cape
Colony are unavoidable.
It is announced that Parliament will
meet October II. Parliament is sum-
moned by the government to share re-
sponsibility for events in South Africa
and to vote funds for the war. The
war and colonial offices are working
night and day. In addition to the over
wbelming detail to be mastered in con-
nec,ion with South African campaign,
a sharp eye must be kept on the Brit
ish defences in the Indian and Aslaiic
possessions. The war Office is meeting
Vi b obstacles in securing traDsporta
ton to South Africa of horses, mules
and supplies. Its heavy expenditure
is also exciting much criticism. The
opinion here is general that hostilities
will begin before the week is past ii
Il In n
no reply to England's last note is ex-
pected other than dash OF 10000
Beers into Natal.
The Pail Mall Gazette this afternoon
saws that the cabinet will not meet TO
morrow as was reported.
Capetowp, Oct 2.-Fighting between
the Beers and the British is momentarily
expected here. Tie dispatch OF troops
to guard the frontier to the south and
west of the Transvaal and Orange Free
State goes on day and night.
Pietermsrilzburg, Oct. 2.-lt Is
genel ally believed the Beers will be i'll
Natal tomorrow. Six hundred Orange
Free State burghers assembled at Al
bertha yesterday and started for the
Natal border. They probably intend
10 raid Ladysmith or cooperate with
the Boer raiders in the destruction oil
the railroad below that place. The Pc.
rition of British frontier posts in Natal
i. now most critical There are from
ten thousand to twenty thousand Boers
in the vicinity of Valksru3t awaiting
the word TO cross the frontier. The
strongest British positions are at New
castle ard Dundee, but they are not
strong enough to cope with the force
TIE Beers can put in Natal.
MapeKing, Cape Colony, Oct. "a
to meeting was held here last nigh.
at which an urgent appeal was made TO
Sir Alfred Miner, British High Com.
m ssioner of South Africa, to send help
to the town, as the British frontier &c
fe ses are utterly ina1equate.
Capetown. Oct. "A startling report
is to the fleet that Mr.. Conyngham
i Greene, British diplomatic agent a.
Pretoria, leaves here TO-DAY on a special
train for the Cape and that diplomatic
relations between England and tine
Transvaal have been severed. 1t is
also said that martial law will be de-
clared in Pretoria today.
Sir Alfred Miner, the British High
Commissioner, says that Greene has not
yet been recalled from Pretoria.
; Johannesburg, Oct. 2.-All the prin'
ciDal hotels and stores are closed here.
Business has been abandoned and the
city is given over to preparation Tor TIE
impending war. Intense excitement
prevails.
London, Oct. 2.-The Exchange Tel
egraph Company says an engagement
between the Beers and British is re-
ported to have taken place at Dundee.
The report says the Beers captured the
place killing thirty-seven OF the British.