The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-09
At Least Ninety-Five Per Cent. VIII
BE Ready for Transport Within
that short Space of Time.
ALARMS ON THE FRONTIER
BRITISH AND BOER oUTPOSTs WITH
IN EASY STRIKING DISTANCE.
Tests OF Armored Trains-Unrest at
Kimberly and Mafeking-News from
the Orange Free State.

LONDON. Oct. S-Whatever may be the
result of Great Britain's controversy with
the South African republic. every depart
nent Of the government to-day is as busy
though actual hostilities had begun. The
electric flash that announced the mobiliza-
tion of the army reserves and the summon
irg of Parliament set every wheel of the
government machinery in motion. An hour
after the Gazette appeared executive orders
were being dispatched from the War Office
TO every section of the kingdom and the ten
thousand bulletins which appeared posted
throughout the country to-day are said TO
have been Identical with the proclamation
prepared for use had the Fashoda incident
required such step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and Mr..
Balfour were issuing the necessary orders
for the reassembling of Parliament and the
Admiralty was concentrating its transports,
twenty-four of which are now secured at
Liverpool alone. So complete were the prep
erations that 5000 reserves have already
individually received coupon tickets which
contain instructions where each man shall
report for railway transportation TO the
place designated and a money order for
shillings for provisions en- route At Wool
wich to-day ii was asserted that % per cent.
OF the reserves would be fully equipped
bers OF the two houses of Parliament are
arranging to return to London and force
OF msn is husily- engaged in completing the
improvements at Westminster.
The most important news from South
Africa comes from Mafeking, where twice
on Saturday the British camp was aroused,
the men stood TO their arms. guns were Iim-
/. bered and patrols were dispatched in the
direction of the border. No hostilities have
occurred as yet, but the enemy has moved
TO the border, eight miles from Mafeking
In force. estimated at about six thousand.
comprising five commandos. The garrison
ing and fortifying of the town are prac-
tically completed. The streets gre barri-
caded ana a perfect system of mines has
been laid. Two armored trains have arrived
at Mafeking. consisting Of three bullet-proof
cars. the first of which carries a search
hsht. while the sides of the other cars are
loopholed. Each train is complete in it
self and carries its own provisions Expert
ments with lyddite in the mines prove that
1t Is an extremely powerful explosive.
Colonel Robert Stevenson Smith Eaden
Powell. commanding the Fifth Dragon
Guards. has issued a notice that the Beers
massed on the Natal and BechJanaland
frortiers have orders not to fire until the
British begin and that the town is well pre-
pared Tor eventualities; but, as the Beers
may shell the place, every endeavor should
be made to safeguard the women end cliI-
dren. An armored train was ipspe .etd at
Kimberley Saturday. A signal station has
been erected with a coming tower at the
top 80 feet above the tracks Communica-
ton by telephone is had with a central office
and signals are given to .he Troops by flag
BY this means maneuvers were success
fully conducted Saturday. The troops num-
Der three thousand, including the bicycle
corps. A train was also successfully tested
at Mafeking. 1t patrolled to the north and
practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberley To the Cane
Argus says that three thousand Boers are
encamped midway between Boshof and
Kimberley. They are well armed and great
religious feryor is, shown in the camp The
Beers. however. are chafng under the de-
lay They patrol the border nightly and
nave been ordered not to permit a British
uniform to approach the frontier A special
order was gazetted on Saturday announce
Ing what British residents would be allowed
TO remain In the Transvaal and under what
conditions.
The Prince Of Wales Saturday received
Gen. Sir Redvers Butler. 1t is again an
nounced that a Cabinet council will be
called shortly The steamers Aurania, ceph-
alonia and Catalonia, of the Cunard line.
have been engaged by the government as
transports, making six vessels of the Gu
nard Company which have been taken by
the government for the service The IA
nous fighting Fifth Northumberland Fusi-
leers have arrived at Cape Town, where
they were received with great enthusiasm.
In other respects the situation remains un-
changed Among the rumors coming from
South Africa Is one that the Beers plans
arc about TO show a startling development.
Another report has IL that the outIanders
fear that Cecil Rhodes. j. Rose Innes, under
secretary of the native affairs I'm South
Africa. and Mr.. Schreiner, the premier of
Cape Colony. are attempting TO patch up
some sort OF compromise.