The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-05
Another RumOr Current to the Effect
that President Kruger Has
Forwarded an Ultimatum.
SCENES In THE BOER CAMP
SIX OR EIGHT THOUSAND MEN IN TIE
SAND RIVER LAGER.
General Joubert in COmmand-His
Soldiers Afraid of Lyddite Shells
and Dum-Dum Bullets.

LONDON, Oct. 5.-The Transvaal repub-
lie has seized SAL, 100000 in gold at Johannes
morning press as an act of war. Rumors
are also current that the Transvaal ulti-
matum has been presented. The situation
is hourly growing more critical.
A dispatch from Bloemfontein says: The
government published a telegram from
Boshof stating that the British forces nave
crossed the border and that fighting has
commenced. Another telegram says the
troops nave crossed the border, but that no
fighting has occurred. The government dis
credits the report.
The following dispatch from a corre-
spondent who has been at Bloemfontein
and Pretoria has been telegraphed to the
Chronicle. 1t is dater Charlestown, under
Majuba hill, Tuesday:
II have just crossed the frontier in a
truck which was placed at my disposal by
Commandant General Joubert. who reached
the frontier to-day and is staying in the
main Boer camp. on the Sand river. 1 had
a long talk with General Jouber in the
train. He said he deeply regretted the i'm
pending war, which he had done his utmost
to avoid. He wonders that Queen Victoria
never answered the letter he addressed to
her on the situation.
81 notice everywhere a general devotion
to the Queen and a pathetic belief that she
will stop the war. General Joubert still be-
lieves in a South African Confederacy UNI
J4r o. EV,olieh 49, ;l
the present crisis to Cecil Rhodes and Mr..
Chamberlain His last words to me were:
L leave it now to God. 1t may be His will
Transvaal shall perish. / can only do my
part
The general was enthusiastically wei
coined at the Boer camp. The Beers are
undisciplined and unorganized and their
ambulance arrangement are very defective,
but the commissariat is fairly good. A ma
jority of the Beers are unwilling to fight,
but are quietly confident. They will over
run Natal, attacking it from both sides In
the neighborhood of Ingogo or Lady Smith.
AFRAID OF THE DUM-DUM BULLETS.
1.-THE Beers are much afraid of Lyddite
shells and dum-dum bullets. All the un-
trained men are mounted They maintain
a high reputation for shooting. They have
no uniform. All complain bitterly at being
compelled to leave their wives and children
and farms at the mercy of the Kaffirs.
There is much confusion at the camp.
Heavy rains have deluged the land and
blocked the roads, and horses. oxen and
tents are mixed up together. The men are
seen arguing with their officers, but there
is no excitement or loose firing.
1T is difficult to say exactly, but / sup
pose there are six thousand men in the Sand
river lager, and others are continually ar
irving. The horses are in excellent condi-
ton. 1 saw only five guns-of a heavy
French pattern. The ~heliograph is constant.
ly working on the hills.
Despite the heavy rain the grass Is still
dry and all the forage and wood required
must be supplied from a distance. The
country, both open and rocky, is well suited
to the operations of irregular cavalry.
There are no English troops here except
one outpost, which is stationed at Majuba
Hill. But 1 am not allowed to telegraph
information as to the movement of the Eng
lish troops. The Beers have constructed a
few earthworks to defend the railway and
hold a good technical position. They com
plain, however. of the lack of locomotives
and the difficulty of working a single line. ~
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent at
New Castle, Natal, sends to his paper q
similar message to that sent by the CORE
spondent of the Daily Chronicle. He SAYS
he Is sure half of the Beers will offer no
resistance to the British troops. 1.-The Free
State" he says, has made no preparations,
and it is doubtful if it can put a thousand
men in the field at present. Thousands OF
outlanders are unable TO leave the Trans
vaal, and their terror is so great that MANY
of them have Joined the Boer levies as the
best means of escape. johannesburg can
offer no serious defense If attacked, and
Pretoria, despite its five forts, is hopelessly
weak. Practically the whole Boer popula-
ton has been called to arms, and the result
is a strangely armed and CARRIED guerilla
mob OF 10000 or whereabouts. 1t is declared
that the defective German cartridge cases
have all been recalled and fresh ammuni-
ton made in America is being substituted.
Thousands OF the burghers are attired In
khaki and puggarees, so it is difficult to dis.
tinguish them from the British troops.
JOUBERT HAS 1890 MEN.
Last Friday the Boer government or.
rived at the conclusion that the real dan.
ger of British attack lies on the Natal side
and thousands OF men who had been son,
in the direction of Delagoa bay and Rhode.
STA were recalled and dispatched toward
Standerton and Sand river. / am satisfied
that General Joubert has 1900 men be.
tween Standerton and Volksrust, and an
positive that he will invade Natal with that
strength Certainly serious and bloody
actions are impending as soon as the Peers
have recovered from the fatigue of travel
There is no doubt. however. that the wome.
and children will be well treated, as will
also probably unmarked citizens"
Dispatches from Bloemfontein say the
) town Is minated and armed Beers are rid,