Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-09

ClIEMENI ON The SOUIh AT
RICAN FRONTIERS SATURDAY,
AND BRITISH TROOPS CALLED
TO ARMS.
LONDON, October 8.-Whateyer may
be the result of Great Britain's contro-
versy with the South African republic,
every department of the government
to-day is as busy as though actual hos
Utilities had been begun. The electric
flash that announced the mobilization
of the army reserves and the sum-
moning of parliment set every wheel
of the government machinery in mo-
ton. An hour after the Gazette ap-
peared executive orders were being
dispatched from the war Office to every
section of the kingdom, and the 10000
bulletins which appeared posted
throughout the country to-day are said
to have been identical with the procla-
nation prepared for use had the Fash
oda incident required such step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Balfour were issuing the necessary
orders for the re-asemEbling of parli-
ment, and the admiralty was concen-
trating its transports, twenEy-four CT
which are now secured at Liverpool
alone. So complete were the prepara-
tions, that %, 1000 reserves have already
individually received coupon tickets
which contain instructions where each
man shall report for railway trans
portation TO the place designated, and
money order for three shillings for
provisions en- route.
At WoolWich to-day it was asserted
that IS per cent. of the reserves would
be fully equipped within six days. In
the meantime the members of the two
houses of Parliament are arranging to
return to London and a force of men
is busily engaged in completing the i'm
provements at Westminster
The most important news from South
twice On Saturday the British camp
was aroused. the men stood to their
arms, guns were limbered and patrols
were dispatched in the direction of the
border. No hostilities have occurred
as yet, but the enemy has moved prac-
tically to the border, eight miles from
Mafeking in force estimated at least
six thousand, comprising five comman-
does. The garrisoning and fortifying
CT the town are practically completed.
The streets are barricaded and a per-
feet 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 searchlight, while the sides of the
other cars are loop-holed. Each train
is complete in itself and carries it's
own provisions. Experiment with lyd-
dite in the mines proves that it is an
extremely powerful explosive.
Col Robert Stephenson Slmyth Ba
den-Fowell, commanding the Fifth dra
coon guards, has issued a notice that
the Beers who are massed on the Ma
tai and Bechuanaland frontiers have
orders not to fire until the British be-
gin and that the town is well prepared
for eventrtlities, but as the Beers
may shell the place, every endeavor
should be made to safeguard the wo-
men and children.
An armored train was inspected at
Kimberly Saturday. A signal station
has been erected with coming tower
at the top 1870 feet above the tracks.
Communication by telephone is had
with central Office and signals are
given to the troops by flag. By this
means manOeuvers were successfully
conducted Saturday. The troops num-
Der 5000, including the bicycle corps.
A train was also successfully tested
Rt Mafeking. 1t patrolled to the north
and practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberley to the
Cape Argus says that 5000 Beers are
encamped midway between Boshof and
Kimberley. The Beers, however, are
chatting under the delay. They patrol
the border nightly and have been or
dered not to permit a British uniform
to approach the frontier.
A special was gazetted on Saturday
announcing what British residents
would be allowed to remain in the
Transyaal and under what conditions.
BLOEMFONTEIN, ORANGE FREE
STATE, October S-President Steyn, in
letter dated October 8, to Sir Alfred
Miner, British High Commissioner in
South Africa and Governor of the Cape
Colony, just made public, says he does
not consider that there is even fair
grounds for the movements of British
troops, and he believes that the increas-
ing military preparations retarded the