The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-02
Beers MobiIixing on the Frontier Tn
der Their Best Chiefs, and the En-
gIish Are Making Ready.
REFUGEES LEAVE THE WAL
THOUSANDS FLEEING FROM THE
PROBABLE SCENE OF CONFLICT.
border Towns of the British Colonies
Call Out Their Local Levics in
Readiness for n Raid.

LONDON. Oct. Alt Is now evident that
Buffalo river, the northeastern boundary or
Natal, Is TO be the Potomac of the war. In
view of it's strategic value, Generai
Joubert has taken personal of the
Boer forces there, establishing a strong
line of pickets along the river, and has or
dered the natives to drive in all the stock.
All the available burghers in the neighbor-
hood have been requisitioned. with the re-
suit that some 1900 have modified at
Wakkerstrcom, the chief point of mobiliza-
ton there.
From all points in the Transvaal, Natal
and Cape Colony come reports of continued
military activity on the frontiers; and,
while the movements Of individual COM
mands as yet do not show concerted plans.
IL Is evident that the narrow, wedge-like
strip of Natal. whose apex is crowned with
the on.inous name Of Majuba hill, will be
the center OF the coming storm.
Late yesterday the Beers established a
camp at Scheeper's Mex, near Vryheid.
and they will mobilize a great force on the
Buffalo river tomorrow. which the au-
thorities at Dundee expect will move across
the border to that point. probably at once.
1t Is believed that a conflict at ,his point
will certainly occur early i'm the week. At
the same time the Beers are collecting a
force OF 1000 men. under the notorious COM
mandant Cronje. in the Mulmani gold fields.
near Mafeking. where Colonel Baden
Powell is stationed.
RAIDS r THREATENED.
Dispatches from Tuli. Rhodesia, announce
that another force of ~burghers is massed
at Petersburg. fifty miles south. and that
outlying parties are posted at all the drifts
along the Limpopo river. In the meantime
Colonel Plummer's column is moving fifty
miles nearer the Transvaal frontier. and
has established telephone connections to
within six miles of Rhodesia drift, on the
Limpopo. Enthusiastic scenes at all the
railway stations have marked the advance
of the Natal volunteers.
Dispatches from Mafeking announce that
Commandant Cronje. commander of the
Transvaal border police. crossed the border
and visited Chief Baralolga. apparently with
the object of melting him to light. The
t"t NhA4CA
to stay and protect the women and chill
dren. telling him that he would not be al
lowed to fight.
The Beers openly threaten to raid vry-
burg. in British Bechuanaland, as soon as
hostilities open, and the Kimberley Adver-
tiser complains of the apathy of the Cape
Ministry in not taking steps to prevent
this. The Transvaal field comets are taxi
ing the names of colonial Beers who are
willing to cross the border in the event of
war.
Not the faintest hint is allowed to es-
cape as to what diplomatic communications,
II any. are passing between London and
South Africa. So far as the public Is con-
cerned matters have not advanced since
Friday. II is noticeable that not even the
Brussels agency of the Transval govern
ment has yet issued Mr.. Kruger's latest
note to the press. the silence maintained
OF both sides is regarded as ominous. From
South Africa the news is wholly concerned
with the feverish preparations for hostili-
ties. Commandant General Joubert is re-
ported to have said that he has 10000 men
on the Natal border. and that Comandant
Cronje has 1900 on the Bechuana side.
The British camp in the vicinity of Dun
dee consists Of 500 men. with twenty-four
guns. in a strong position. The Orange Free
State Is actively mobilizing. The Trans
vaal government has virtually taken over
the Netherlands railway for military pur-
poses and Natal trains are being turned
back Telegraph wires between Natal and
johannesburg have been cut since Friday.
According TO dispatches from Pretoria CON-
piete chaos reigns there. The government
has declared a moratorium ian emergency
act OF legislation. authorizing a govern
ment bank to suspend specie payments for a
given period. closed all the courts and sus-
pended the English papers. 1t is said that
there viii be nearly 5000 burghers along the
borders by Monday evening. In Johannes
burg warrants have been issued for the ar
rest OF some fifty prominent outlanders and
journalists. but all received timely warning
and got safel away.
An unconirmed rumor has reached To-
hannesburg that the first portion of the
Indian contingent has arrived at Durham
Natal.
BAsUToS ARE RESTLESS.
The special correspondent OF the Daily
Mail AT Pietermaritzburg. Natal, describing
train journey with a Boer saws:
The burghers were hilarious, insulted the
passengers and fired on the carriages of
two burshers. thus killing each other. Their
nring also broke the telegraph wire, thus
facilitating the escape of fugitives from
johannesburg. They are now preventing
the receipt OF kilograms by ordering their
detention At yolksrust- The Basutoland
natives have been engaged for a week or
90 In practicing witchcraft. preparing 10 GO
on the Warpath- The ceremonies consisted
o. slowly torturing to death oxen repre-
o4ltrg the 4eef> and the British. These