Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-18
TRANSVAAL FRONTIERS.
POINTS that Now Attract Attention rs
Probable Scenes of Hostilitics.

SIX points along the frontiers of the South
African Republic and Orangs Free State are
now or special interest either because they
are the centers where the Beers are massing
their forces or because they are strategic
positions where the British may advance into
the territory of their enemy with the least
bloodshed and difficulty. The chief center of
activity at present is near the apex of the
acute northern angle Of Natal where it
pushes its mountain walled tongue OF land
up into the plateau on which the South
African Republic is situated. Nearly all the
Boer towns on the plateau around this gate
way and the Natal towns on the plain to the
south and along the railroad leading up
through the valley TO the plateau are men
toned daily in the dispatches.
The Boer towns are the merest hamlets in
region, partly of farms on the plateau and
of mountains in the little strip where the
Transvaal frontier includes some high hills
Most of these Boer hamlets have sprung up
since the railroad from Durham to Pretoria
was built and the most important among
them Is the administrative town Of the
district, WakkerstroOm some miles to the
east Of the railroad where the Beers are
said to have mounted a big gun to defend
the place, with its county building and
its few stores and churches and hundred
or SO houses, against attack. Volksrust
right on the railroad, where is now encamped
the first large force the Beers sent to the
frontier, is railroad station and so is Sand
spruit, which Is on the road about fifteen
miles to the northwest and the Boer camps
are now scattered along between this place
and VOlksrust. This last named place is
right on the frontier and is confronted by
Charlestown on the other side OF Ile border,
and their chief Importance comes from the
fact that they are places where the customs
arc collected by the respective governments
Newcastle, about twenty-five miles south
Of Charlestown, 10 the headquarters OF Sir
George White, who has about 1000 British
troops in that neIghborhood to oppose any
attempt OF the Beers TO advance on Durham
II is a town of considerable Importance
with hotels, banks and newspapers. Almost
all the Newcastles in the world are centers
of the coal trade and this is the case with
Natal's Newcastle, for all around It is the
carboniferous district of the colony. about
/ 400 square miles in extent with some
seams over ten feet thick. It is estimate ed
that 1000 600, 600 tons OF good coal are stored
up in these hills for future use. There are
perhaps 1000 Europeans in Newcastle Be
tween 1t and Charestown are the battle
fields that proved so fatal to the British in
the war of 1SS0-Sl, at Ingogo, Majuha hill
and Laing's Mex, as the British are now
spelling the name, though Greswell and
other authoritative writers spell ii Lang Mex
The British forces thus far have been
rendezvousing at Newcastle, Dundee and
Ladysmith, all on the line OF the railroad.
Dundee is the nearest Of these towns 10
Zuluand and 6OOo soldiers are stationed
there to guard against the Boer invasion OF
Nata! from that district Of Zululand which
became a part of the South African republic
few years ago Dundee is a small mining
town and hourishing coal mining center.
Ladysmith, on the other hand is bustling
commercial town, the center Of trade for all
that northern part OF Natal and the junction