The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-07
Since it Gives Time for Further NegO-
tiatons.
TRANSyAAL REPORTS CONFLICT,
With the Conditions as Seen in Eng
Iand-Advices From Pretoria are
More and More Lurid-One
Rumor Has IL that the
Queen Will Abdicate
i'm Event OF War.

LONDON. oct. There has been al
most a complete dearth of news from
South Africa to-day. The few dispatches
received recording military movements
at various points all tend 10 confirm the
belief that President Kruger will re-
strain any forward movement by the
Beers unless they are fired upon or war
is actually declared.
IL is now practically certain that Par-
lament will meet October l1th.
Reserves will be summoned tomorrow
in sufficient numbers 10 bring up TO
war strength the regiments warned 10
hold themselves in readiness for service
in South Africa or about one-siXteenth Oh
the total reserve.
The Daily News asserts that an army
corps will be mobilized tomorrow.
4 oispatch from Mafeking announces
that Commandant CronJe, OF the Boer
forces, has been promoted 10 the rank OF
General and is massins SIX thousand
Beers, with artillery, near Ramathlaoama,
north of Mafeking. The dispatch adds that
General CrOLie has sent message 10 the
camp Of the Imperial troops that he will
cross the border at the first shot hFed IN
Natal.
FOR PEACE.
II is stated that the Right Hon. Harry
Escombe. former premier Of Natal, is
going TO Pretoria in the I'm terest Of peace.
II. NJ : PhiOmel suddenly left Durham
to-day from Delagoa Bay
LONDON. oct 6.-All the reliable in
telligence from South Africa points to a
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 a herd Of cattle were turned into n
general advance by both armies.
The delay is all % the good, inasmuch
as it gives time for further negotiations.
and to-day's Indications apparently show
a willingness on the part of the British
government 10 continue 10 utilize diplo-
macy.
A well defined conviction Is prevalent
that the foreign office is trying to dis
cover way out of the impasse which has
been created by admitted mistakes and
miscalculations; and 1t is evident that
peace advocates and peace counsels are
gaining ground
Mr. Chamberlain's refusal to seize the
chance given him by the petition of fifty
eight members Of the Cape House of As
sembly TO point out in his reply that the
Beers still have an opportunity Of ac-
cepting Great Britain previous offer as
long as her new proposals remain un-
formulated seems 10 show a personal de-
termination on the part Of the Secretary
OF State for the Colonies, not 10 yield an
iota in the interest of peace.
DOUBTFUL KUMORS.
While the distaste for war evidently in
creases in Great Britain, dispatches from
the scene of possible hostilities grow
more and more lurid. Advices from
Pretoria describe the Transvaal organs
as crying for impossible terms and Pres
Ident Kruger as referring to the pro-
spective struggle as a means of setting
the republic totally free of England"
Dispatches from Cape Town. of doubt
ful authenticity. allege that Boer organi-
zation in the field is already breaking
down and that there is friction between
the artillery who are regulars. and the
Burghers cOmmandOs.
In connection with the rumors that
Queen Victoria is liable TO intervese 10
prevent war, curious story is published
this morning by the Vienna Estrablatt,
which alleges that Her Majesty intends to
abdicate in the event Of an outbreak of
hOstilities, declaring that it has this in
formation from an excellent source
The statement unfayorably affected the
Vienna BOurse.
The British Foreign Office when shown
the Vienna story declared it "supremely
ridiculous" and utterly baseless"
SENSATIONAL REPC RT.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail. says: \ sensation has been
caused here by the report that the Free
State government has commandeered sO'
tons of coal belonging to the Cape gov
ernmen. which was traversing the Free
state. Such a seizure would naturally be
regarded az an act of war.
j. w. Saurer. the comissioner Of public
works. when questioned in the Assembly
regarding the matter professed ignorance
but I learned that the report was tele-
eraphed 10 the Cape ministry early in the
day.
EJFCTING MINERS.
JOHANNESBURG. oct 6.-The govern
ment is eiecting thousands OF Kafir min
ers from the Rand and sending them into
the northern districts Of the Transyaal IN
order 20 avoid the danger OF a collision
with the whites In the event or war.
The Irish corps supporting the Beers.