Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-12
DIFFICULT TO GET NEWS FROM
SOUTH AFRICA.
TO BE NO FORMAL DECLARATION
PRESIDENT KRUGER TELEGRAPHS
TO CHICAGO TRIBUNE.
Says War Is Certain and That eve
Must Now Make South Africa
Free or the White Mans
Grave"-White Leaves
London.

LONDON, Oct. PA dispatch to the
Wednesday. alone among the specials re-
ceived, declares that war has begun by
the Beers in Natal. The correspondent
says: Free State burghers have seized 4
train at Harrismth, which was the prop
erty OF the Natal government. Last night
a mounted patrolman was stoned by Beers.
The mems orders were not to fire unless
they We're fired upon"
DURHAM, oct. u.-Authentic informa-
ton from Ladysmith confirms the report
that it is the intention of the Beers to
occupy Newcastle immedia tely.
CHICAGO. Oct. 1.-THE following cable
gram was received tonight by the Chicago
Tribune from President Kruger, of the
Transvaal republic. 1t was sent in answer
to a message from the Tribune requesting
statement OF the position of the Trans
vaal in the present crisis:
Pretoria, Oct. II, 1883.
Tribune, Chicago.
Through the Tribune we wish to thank
our many American friends for sympathy
in the present crisis OF the republic. Last
hours' notice within which to give assur-
ance that the dispute Will be settled by ar
bltration or other peaceful means.
The notice expires at > to-day. The Brit
ish agent Is recalled. and war il certain.
This is the fitting end of The British policy
of force and fraud which has marked ali
South Africa with the blood of Afrikaud-
ers. We must now make South Africa
free the white mans grave. The re-
public's forces include all nationalities,
among them a strong American corps.
showing II is not a case Of BOer against
Uitlanders. but all nations against the
English. We have full faith in freedom
and republicansTn. and in the righteous
| ness which guides the destinies of nations.
PRESIDENT KRUGER
An answer of ten words from the Tribune
| to President Kruger giving the time of the
| receipt of the message in Chicago was pre-
| parei-the people IN Pretoria being evident
| ly somewhat apprehensve that the message
| might not get through.
| LONDON, Oct. LL-Up to midnight no
dispatches have arrived from the Cape
| timed since the expiration of the ultimat-
um. so it is not yet known whether the
! first shot has been fired.
telegram from Pretoria timed 40 yes
| terday evening says:
| The suituation is becoming hourly more
critical. Numerous Americans, Germans
| Italians, Frenchmen, Swedes, BeIgians,
| Norwegians, Danes, Italians, Dutchmen
Swiss and Cape Afrikauders have gone 10
the border to fight for the Transvaal. al
| though they are not burghers. while many
| British residents also have taken the OATH
| OF allegiance The hope IS expressed by
| many that war will yet De averteG' -
| Nothing since this has been received from
| Pretoria and doubtless telcgraphiC cOmmu-
| nication with the Transvaal is now cut
Thg ali nf frnF hn cg,,E
| early morning is not due to an interrupt
ton of the cable, but to the immense pres
sure of work, the cables probably being
nearly monopolized by British government
| dispatches, which take precedence 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 present sxasperating
| delay Will recur repeatedly during the pro-
gress Of the war and that the newspaper
| dispatches will probably be very meagre.
So far as a declaration Of war Is con-
cerned. the feeling in London is that the
| Transvaal government will merely invite
| the British diplomatic agent, COnyngAam
| Green. to leave Pretoria on the expiration
of the time limit OF the ultimatum. Such
an act would preclude the necessity Of
any further declaration. Certainly. Great
Britain will not declare war against what
she considers a dependent state.
Active hOstilitieS. therefore, are expected
to take the place OF formal declaration.
There will inevitably be a long period
| of suspense. together with a great deal
of chatting at delay, as all indications go
to show that Great Britain is so unpre-
pared as to be compelled to remain on
the defensive for some weeks. All the
aggressiveness must come from the Beers.
II seems highly probable that the Tongue
OF Natal far as Newcastle, Will be in
the hands of the Beers before many hours.
From that point however, in the event of
a further advance, they would probably
find British forces at Ladysmth and Dun
dee capable of repeIling their attacks.
At Ladysmith. the garrison, which has 10
guard against an onslaught from the
Orange Free State. was reinforced yester-
day by the Gordon Highlanders and a
strong contingent OF the Indian troops and
the authorities are now confident of their
ability to deal out unpleasant surprise
to the Beers in the event OF an attempt
to rush the position.
| At Dundee there are about 500 men This
: force ought to be sufficient to stem a
! Boer advance by way of Zululand ami to
| maintain the line of communication with
the base at Pietermaritzburg. the head
, quarters OF General Sir George Stewart
White. On the Beuchanaland border, the
| situation seems to give the Beers tenn
porary advantage. There IS considerable
anxiety in the districts Of Vrybu-S and