Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-12
BOERS ACROSS THE BORDER
Reports from Various Points lndi-
cate that They Are Not Waiting
for Time Limit to Expire.

DURHAM, Oct. n,-Morning.-There are
persistent rumors in Pietermaritzburg that
large party of Free State Beers have en-
tered Natal The rumor, however, lacks
confirmation.
LONDON Oct. 11.-If the latest reports,
which are confirmed from various points in
South Africa. are true, the Beers have not
waited for the expiration of the time limit,
but have already crossed the border, as
they would be entitled to do both in virtue
Of the notification contained in the last
paragraph of the ultimatum and also OF the
British Acknowledgment, which reached
Pretoria so speedily as to justify belief,
amounting almost to certainty, that the
, war party in Great Britain, while welcoming
an act which has deprived the country Of
all peaceful alternatives and given it the
great superficial advantage to be derived
from the fact that the adversary has volun-
tarily assumed the stigma of virtually de-
claring war, was eagerly awaiting its
chance.
dispatch from Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
says intense excitement prevails there
! owing to persistent reports that the Orange
Free State troops have already crossed the
, border and are advancing upon Ladysmith.
later dispatch from Pietermaritzburg
| says the invaders entered Natal by the i'm
! portant pass of Cundy Clough, thirty seven
miles southwest of Newcastle.
England Unprcpared.
There will inevitably, be long period OF
| suspense, together with great deal OF
| chatting at delay, as all indications go to
| show that Great Britain is so unprepared as
| to be compelled to remain on the defensive
| for some weeks. All the aggressiveness
must come from the Beers. 1t seems highly
probable that the tongue OF Natal" as far
! as Newcastle will be in the hands OF the
J Beers before many hours. From that point
| however, in the event Of further advance
they would probably find British forces al
Ladysmith and Dundee capable of repelling
| their attacks.
| At Ladysmith the garrison which has tC
guard against onslaught from the Orange
Free State, was reinforced yesterday by tht
Gordon Highlanders and a strong contingent
OF the Indian troops, and the authrities are
now confident of their ability to deal out al
unpleasant surprise to the Beers in the even
of an attempt to rush the position.
! At Dundee there are about 5000 men, Thi
force ought to be sufficient to stem a Boe
advance by way of Zululand and to maintain
the line OF communication with the base a
Pietermaritzburg the headquarters Of Gen
era Sir George Stewart White. On tn
Bechuanaland border the situation seems Il
give the Beers temporary advantage. Their
Is considerable anxiety in the districts o
Vryburg and Mafeking, although 1t Is hope
that the renforcements recently dspatche
there will be sufficient to protect the ric
town OF Kimberley.
| Montague White, consul general of tn
South African republic in London. closed tn
consulate this afternoon and immediatel
left for the continent.
White Would Remind America.
Mr. Whites departure was not attende
by any excitement. Before shaking of III
dust OF England he said to a representaty
of tho Associated Press:
The expected has happened. ! only hcI
the hellishness OF this premedtated crush
ing out of hardy republic is now apparen
Let me remind America that the onus of wa
lies not upon those who fire the first sho
but upon these who compel 1t to be fire.
Technically, we have temporarily put oul
| selves in the attitude OF an aggressor; b,
who would not have done so when he bt
lleved the existence OF his country was
stake?
II think we must look far ahead to Sc
the consequences OF this war. Instead
the pacihcstion OF South Africa, which
the alleged aim OF England we shall hay
perpetual unrest These very people Il
whom England is now fighting will tuI
against her in time to come and prote
against her rule as bitterly as they are no
protesting against ours.
For weeks / had seen England's dete
mination to force hostile issue, or rath
Nr. Chamberlain's, | am sure he is Il
only member of the cabinet whose mind WI
thoroughly made up throughout all the n
gotiations. What his intentions were
evident from the situation today. Had Il
franchise been the chief grievance, our nv
year proposition would certainly have be-
accepted. ! have reason 10 believe tn
England enters upon her warlke course
no means a unit Opposition to Mr.. Chan
berlain's policy exists to a greater exte
than is generally conceived"
Our evident desire TO concilate h
been much appreciated and our refusal
allow our affairs to be administered
another nation has not excited genuine 4
dignation here or in any quarter of d
globe, However, Mr., Chamberlain has a
complished his purpose, and all hope