The record-union., 1899-10-06

would be an absolute preach OF the con-
ditions supposed to govern warfare
among civilized nations, and IL true
presages scenes worse than even the
gloomiest forecasts.
From other Newcastle advices it ap-
pears that the Premier of Natal has
telegraphed the military authorities
that they can render Newcastle no as
sistance, adding that If the Beers in
tend to attack the town, resistance
would be futile and that the women
and children should be sent away and
the town surrendered.
An unconfirmed report says that mar
tial law has been proclaimed in the
Transvaal.
Advices from Bloemfontein say that
the town, the capital of the Orange
Free State, presents most animated
appearance. Armed Burghers go about
everywhere, although the Government
still processes hopes OF peace.
A special dispatch from johannesburg
says: AS g. natural result of the panic
there is considerable lawlessness. The
regular distribution of letters has
ceased.
The Government has commandeered
all dynamite and cyanide supplies,
which have been removed and placed
under strict guard at various depots. A
strong guard has been stationed at the
reservoir to prevent tampering with the
water.
An enthusiastic meeting of Irishmen
was held last evening in Kimberly un-
der the Presidency of a former Mayor
of the town, at which resolutions were
unanimously adopted expressing disap-
proyal of the conduct of Irishmen who
sympathized with the Beers, and of the
course of the Irish Parliamentary party
extending sympathy and support to the
Transvaal in the present crisis.
Intelligence from Cape Town includes
an official denial of the rumor that the
British have crossed the Transvaal
frontier near Kimberly. There is a
very definite feeling throughout the
Cape that the delay in forwarding rein
forcements is very dangerous. The ut
most enthusiasm prevails, and many
are anxious to place their services at
the disposal of the Government.
Some of the refugees from Johannes
burg now in Cape Town are resorting
+, to acts Of violence, smashing windows
and thieving. 1t is expected that al
likely to remain quiet in ordinary cir
cumstances, they will join their breth-
rem of the Orange Free State in case the
Basutos commence hoStilitieS.
| 1t is reported that another shipment
of Rand bullion to the value of f1,0OO,-
600 is in danger of confiscation by the
Transvaal authorities.
| A petition to Queen Victoria, signed
by f1fty-eight members of the Cape
House of Assembly, has been forwarded
through the British High Commis-
sioner, Sir Alfred Milner, pointing out
that the petitioners, who are related by
blood and through marriage to residents
of the Transvaal, are materially inter-
ested in the maintenance Of peace. urg-
| ing the abandonment of warlike meas
ures, .'as the TransYaal is now fully
awakened to the wisdom Of liberal con-
cessions," and praying her majesty to
appoint commission forthwith to con-
fer with the Beers. as the petitioners
are convinced that IL the present fran
schise act is Inadequate the Transvaal
Government is prepared to make fur
! ther concessions to Uitlanders. The Pc
| titioners, in closing, declare their local
devotion to the throne and person of
the Queen.
To-day the Secretary of State for the
| Colonies Mr.. Chamberlain, sent the
following reply:
''The Imperial Government is not un-
mindful of the sympathy and interest
| of British subjects of Dutch descent in
! South Africa. One Of the main objects
| of the imperial policy is to secure for
/ the non-Dutch inhabitants of the
/ Transvaal rights and privileges similar
| to those enjoyed by the Dutch in Cape
Colony. The Imperial Government has
| shown the Transvaal every considera-
| ton consistent with this object, and
! deeply regrets that the efforts for a
/ peaceful settlement have hitherto been
unsuccessful
/ THE Imperial authorities are unable
4 to adopt the suggestion of the petit
| TONERS, for the reason stated in the
/ note to the Transvaal of September
18th. In view of the refusal of the
/ Transvaal to entertain that moderate
and conciliatory offer, athe Imperial au-
thorities have been compelled to form
ulate their own proposals regarding a
| final settlement, which viii shortly be
| communicated to the Transvaal."
The Times in it's second edition to-
! day, publishes the following dispatch
! from Pietermaritzburg dated October
i 4th:
| The wild statements emanating from
| Ladysmith and Newcastle that the
! Beers have crossed the frontier are
without foundation. The British mill
taries in Natal do not expect the Beers
! to cross the border at present unless
their leaders lose control of the men.
The London edition of the STANDARD
and Diggers' News" a Boer organ, pub
fishes the following dispatch from Jo-
| hannesburg, dated yesterday:
! 1t is expected that 10000 Burghers
from the Transvaal and the Orange
4 Free State will be on their respective
i borders this evening wednesday,
Should the hostilities be protracted
| there is much fear that the Zulus
Matabeles and Basutos will rise against
the whites, and that massacres and dis
asters will follow. The Zulu chiefs
have been summoning their tribesmer
from the Rand for weeks past
Stories of outrages committed by the
Beers upon refugees from the Trans
vaal continue to pour in. A bad in
| cident occurred at Kroonstadt, where
deputation from trainload of 1900
| refugees attempted to buy provisions
but were driven out by Beers armed
with blacksnakes.
Lieutenant Winston Leonard Spencer
7! Churchill, son of the late Lord Ran
dolph Churchill, will accompany Gen.
eral Sir Redvers Butler. who is in su.