The record-union., 1899-10-08

LONDON, Oct. IA royal proclama-
ton summoning Parliament to meet on
October 18th and authorizing the call
ing out of the reserves was signed this
morning. The Gazette" announces
that summons will be issued for the
number of reserves necessary to bring
every battalion ordered to South AT
rica to it's full strength of 1000 men,
and the men must present themselves
before October 18th. This formal
movement here is counterbalanced by
stories of military preparations in the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State.
SO far as the facts go, the commence
ment of actual hostilities between
Great Britain and the Transvaa1 seems
no nearer, although it must be admit
ted that a new element of difficulty has
arisen in the evaporation caused
throughout the British colonies in
South Africa by the stories of brutal
treatment of refugees by the Beers.
Whether correct or not, the reports OF
outrages upon women and children are
being accepted in many quarters, hith-
erto incredulous, as confirming the an
ticipations of the savagery that will
The dispatches from the front are
mostly concerned with the movements
of troops. There are several reports
that the Beers are increasingly rest
less under restraint and because OF
the imperfect provision made for their
welfare. 1t is said that they have
threatened either to raid or to return
to their homes.
President Kruger, however, appears
to have reiterated his orders command
ing the exercise Of restraint.
The British and Beers are so close
together along the western frontier of
the Transvaal that their patrols meet
nightly.
From Cape Town comes the curious
statement that many officials of the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State
have sent their families into British
territory for protection.
f. w Reitz, the Transvaal Secretary
of State, has sent his family to Natal
and the family of President Steyn of
the Orange Free State have gone TO
Cape Colony.
Other Cape Town dispatches describe
the Indignation caused by insults
heaped upon refugees traversing the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State,
and the sufferings caused to passen-
gers travelling in exposed trucks by
the jeers and insults by gangs OF
armed Burghers, who have prevented
famishing travellers from obtaining
food. blacksnaking the men and strik-
ing the women. The appearance OF
many of the sufferers is said to be
deplorable.
The exodus of Cape Dutchman to-
ward the Transvaal continues. All
seem to be smuggling arms across the
frontier The report of Harry Es-
combes mission of peace to Pretoria
is apparently incorrect. The Natal
statesman went instead to Newcastle,
with view of quieting the alarm OF
his friends.
Rumors are current there that Com
mandant General Joubert's return to
Pretoria was occasioned by a petition
of the Beers to have Commandant Vii
joen made Chief
Advices from Pretoria say that the
Transvaal Government has received a
dispatch from the United States Sec
retary of State, Colonel John Hay, to
the effect that as James r. OBeirne,
recently designated by President kru-
ger to represent the Transvaal in the
United States, is an American, he can
not hold a diplomatic appointment
from the South African Republic IN
the United States. State Secretary
Reitz has therefore asked Mr., Bort
man TO remain, and full powers VIII
be given him to act on behalf Of the
Transvaal in the interests of peace.
Pretoria, the dispatches say, pre-