Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-17

BoER-BRITIsH WAR NOT YET ON
IN EARNEST.
SMALL BODIES OF BURG HERS IN NATAL
Entertainments Said TO Have Been
Thrown Up Mt Van Rcenan's Pass
Fortifying Laipe's Mex.

Fortifying Laine's Mex.
LONDON. october 1.-THE War Office
has issued the following note this eve
ming with respect to the situation In South
Africa:
THE dispatches received do not point
TO any material change in the military
situation. Small bodies of Beers are re-
ported to have crossed the Natal from
tier at various points, and Entertainments
are said to have been thrown up at Van
Reenen's Pass"
JOUBERT At LAING'S MEX.
DURHAM. October 1.-THE Beers who
occupied Newcastle after its abandon
ment by the British consist Of Transvaal
and Free State troops and 400 Hollandors.
General Joubert, commander-in-chief Of
the Transvaal forces, is believed 20 be at
Laing's Mex. which he Is terrifying.
Fifteen refugees from Hauismth have
| reached Ladysmith. Among them is the
guard Of the Natal train, which was COM
wandered by the Orange Free State lie
says that the engine-drver and fireman
were detained to work the train. which
Van Reenen's Pass, where earthworks
have been thrown up and two guns have
been placed in position.
EVERY CIVILITY TO GREENE.
| CAPE TOWN, October 15.-Evening)-
| Conyngham Greene, British agent at Pre-
| toria, received every civility on his jour
ney from the Transvaal capital. Six Of
! President Krugers bodyguard accom-
/ panied Mr.. Greene TO the border of the
! Free State, and he received the same
courteous treatment in the Free State
The news of fighting at Modder River
| Is not confirmed The statlOn-master at
! AIodder River telegraphs that Beers from
the north and south have taken CANCER
shat, which they are fortifying.
QUEENS SPEECH on THE WAR.
LONDON, October 1.-THE Queens
speech at the opening Of Parliament will
declare that Parliament has been sum
| moned at an unusual date for a specific
purpose. and that this course has been
rendered necessary by two circum-
stances First. her Majesty's proclama-
! ton calling out the reserves Is neces-
sarily followed by the summoning Of
| Parliament within ten days second the
position Of affairs in South Africa de-
mands the attention Of the Legislature.
Her Majesty will then declare that her
general relations with foreign Powers
are peaceful, a state of affairs which, UNI
| fortunately. does not apply to the Trans
/ vaal.
The House Of Commons will be invited
10 provide the way and means necessary
| TO prosecute the British policy in South
! Africa.
The speech will conclude with a pro-
mise that when the proper time arrives
| the legislative programme OF the govern
ment regarding matters Of international
interest will be submitted 70 the House
| OF Commons.
BOERS RETIRE.
! LONDON. October 16.-Dispatches from
the Cape are very meagre tonight, but
| they include an important message from
| Glencoe camp, dated 3.3j this Alonday)
| afternoon, announcing that the Boer
Commands which invaded Natal through
| Laing's Mex, and, after occupying New
castle. advanced 10 Pannhauser, retired
| on Ingagane yesterday evening, their
| transport service being reported defec-
| tive This will delay indefinitely the an
! ticipated and hoped-for assault on the
strong British position al Glencoe.
! Another dispatch reports activity on
/ the part of the Free State commando in
! the neighborhoOd Of Alwal North. on
/ the southern frontier. The Beers ad-
| vance patrol, the dispatch says, go 10
the frontier bridge nightly, firing shots
at intervals, as signals.
IL is believed the enemy intends short
| ly to try and rush the railway station,
with the help of artillery posted on u
ridge commanding the town.
RUMORED BOER REPULSE.
There are rumors that the Beers have
| been repulsed at Mafeking and are at
| lacking Vryburg.
A Cape Town paper has a dispatch
! from the Orange river, stating that the
| telegraph wires have been cut between
Vryburg and Kimberley, and IT is be-
lieved the Beers are taking advantage OK
the presence Of a large gathering of dis
| loyal farmers at Nryburg, celebrating
Nachtmaal to attack the town, hoping
I that the farmers will assist them against
| the British.
The same dispatch says that the British
force at Kimberley IL confident of its
| ability to hold out but urges the imme-
| date dispatch Of a relief force.
DITCH RISING IN CAPE COLONY.
The question Of a possible rising OF
Dutch farmers in the northern poruonS
of Cape Colony is very important
The Daily Malls correspondent at Coles
hug has been inquiring regarding the
matter. and on the whole thinks the
chances are against rising. Neverthe-
less. there is serious uneasiness and much
anti-British agitation in these Districts
srbile the Free state Beers threaten an
immediate invasion Of Colesburg
The Daily Nails correspondent asserts
that Sir Alfred Miner is worked 10 death
and that Cape Town is surging with bitter