Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07
England Wants $4,000 More Men
for the Transvaal.
PARLIAMENT TO MEET OCTOBER II
Situation in South Africa Still
Continues Very WarIike.
PRESIDENT KRUGER's REPLY

nounces that summonses will be issued to-
day for the number of reserves necessary
to bring every battalion ordered to South
Africa to its full strength of 1000 men. and
the men must present themselves before
October II.
This forward movement here is fully
counterbalanced by stories of military
preparations in the Transvaal and the
Orange Free State.
1t is rumored at Portsmouth that the
admiralty will organize flying squadron
for the Cape.
The war office announces that under the
proclamation calling out the reserves 2o,ooO
men will be summoned.
The field force for service in South Africa,
the war office announces, will commence
mobilizing next Monday.
Her majesty, in privy council at Balmoral
this morning. assented to the calling of
parliament the mobilization of the re-
serves. and the continuance In the army
of all soldiers now serving. who, in ordi-
nary circumstances would be entitled to
discharge or transfer, to the reserve.
So far as the facts go, the commencement
of actual hostiities between Great Britain
and the Transvaal seems no nearer, al
though 1t must be admitted that a new
element of danger has arisen in the eX-
asperation caused throughout the British
colonies In South Africa by the stories of
brutal treatment of refugees by Beers.
Whether these reports are correct or not,
the accounts of outrages upon women and
children are having their effect and being
accepted in many quarters hitherto incred-
ulous as confirming the anticipations of the
savagery that will mark the progress Of
the war.
Movements of Troops.
The dispatches from the front are mostly
concerned with the movements of troops.
There are several reports that the Beers
are increasingly restless 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 commanding the
exercise of restraint.
The British and the Beers are SO close
together on the western border Of the
Transvaal that their patrols meet nightly.
From Cape Town comes the curious
statement that many officials OF the Trans
yaal and the Orange Free State have sent
. their families into British territory for pro-
lection. F. w. Reitz. the Transvaal secre-
tary of state has sent his family to Natal
and the family of President Steyn of the
Orange Free State has gone to Cape Col
Ony.
Other Cape dispatches describe the indig
nation caused by insults heaped upon refu-
gees traversing the Transvaal and the
caused to passengers travelling in exposed
trucks by the jeers and insults of gangs of
armed burghers, who have prevented fam
fishing travellers from obtaining food,
Understanding the men and striking the
women. The appearance of many of the
sufferers is said to be deplorable.
Exodus of Cape Dutchmen.
The exodus of Cape Dutchmen toward the
TIansvaal continues All seem to be SNUG
CLING arms across the frontier. The report
of Harry Escombe's mission of peace to
Pretoria has apparently been incorrect.
The Natal statesman went instead to New
Castle, with view of quieting the alarm
of his friends Rumors are current there
that Commandant General Joubert's return
to Pretoria was occasioned by a petition of
the Beers to have Commandant Viljoen
made commander-in-chief.
Advices from Pretoria say that the Trans
yaal government has received a dispatch
from Secretary of State Col. John Hay, to
the effect that as Gen James o 'Beirne, re-
Gently designated by President Kruger to
represent the Transvaal in the United
States. is an American. he cannot hold a
diplomatic appointment from the South
African republic in the United States
State Secretary Reitz therefore has asked
Mr.. Bosnian to remain, and full powers
will be given him to act on behalf of the
TIansvaal In the interests Of peace
Pretoria. the dispatches say, presents
most deserted appearance. The govern
nient has ordered all the saloons CLOSED
throughout the republic.
Gen Cronje's forces, near Mafeking, NOV
ed closer to the border yesterday.
President kruRer's Reply.
A green book issued yesterday contain,
lain's dispatch referring to the petition o.
the outlanders to the queen.
The Transvaal objects to Great Britain!
Interference in its internal affairs. and ex
plains that II the outlanders had first ad
dressed the Transvaal instead of the Brit
ish government their complaints woult
have been Immediately needed. 1t ais
alleges that those complaints emanatet
wholly from u small body of British. VIII
are breeding race hatred and a revolution
ary movement, and whose membership an
newspapers openly boast of the infiuenc
exercised by them upon the policy of tn
imperial government.
The reply adds: The Transvaal is boun
to credit these boasts when it sees blu
books issued consisting of documents draw
up by these revolutionary members of tn
South African League and of lying article
and reports from newspapers which ar
organs of the league. If the real characte
of the league could be known it would soo
lose Its influence and the tension betWee
the two governments would speedily dis
appear.
The reply concludes as follows: 9TH
| Afrikanders would then no longer fear tha
the interests of the British empire neces
sarily implied the destruction Of the tw
republics and the enslavement of the Afrik
ander population. and the white races i
South Africa would return to the brotherl
harmony that had set In until the treachei
Gus compiot. at the end of 1895, revive
passion on both Sides
This dispatch was handed to ConynghaI
Greene on September %.
Count Muravie6 in Paris.
PARIS, October Count Muravieff, Rus
sian minister OF foreign affairs, who ha
been in conference in Spain with member
of the Spanish government, with a view
Ii said, of obtaining the adhesion of Spai
to a continental alliance against Englan,
arrived here today and will remain a weel
A dinner will be given at the Elysee Palac
In his honor
BERLIN, October THE Deutschevel
bund has arranged to hold monster NEE
ings in the principal German cities to pr,
test against war in the Transvaal 1t ha
sent greetings to Queen Wilhelmina. "a
the highest representative of that broth.
nation now 50 cruelty tried"