Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05

British high commissioner, Sir Alfred Mil
ner, pointing out that the petitioners. who
are related by blood and through marrige to
residents of the Transvaal, are materially
interested in the maintenance Of peace urg-
Ing the abandonment OF Wariike measures:
las the TranSvaal is now fully awakened
to the wisdom of liberal concessions and
praying her majesty to appoint commits
sion forthwith to confer with the Beers. as
the petitioners are convinced that, II the
present franchise act Is inadequate, the
Transvaal government is prepared to make
further concessions to the outlanders. The
petitioners, In closing declare their loyal
devotion to the throne and person OF the
queen.
Today the secretary Of state for the
colonies. Mr.. Chamberlain, sent the follow
ing reply:
1.-THE imperial government is not unmnd-
full of the sympathies and interest of Brit
ca. One of the main objects Of the i'm
perial 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 gov
eminent have shown the Transvaal every
consideration with this object and deeply
regret that their efforts for peaceful set
Element have hitherto been unsuccessful.
THE imperial authorities are unable to
adopt the suggestion of the petitioners for
the reasons stated in the note to the Trans
vaal Of September II. In view Of the re-
fusal Of the Transvaal to entertain that
moderate and conciliatory offer, the i'm
perial authorities have been compelled TO
formulate their own proposals regarding n
final settlement, which will shortly be COM
municated to the Transvaal.'
No Advance Into Natal Yet.
The Times in its second edition today.
publishes the following dispatch from
Pietermaritzburg, dated October 4:
The wild statements emanating frora
Ladysmith and Newcastle that the Beers
have crossed the frontier without fOun-
dalton. The British military authorities in
Natal do not expect the Beers to cross the
border OF present unless their leaders lose
control of the men,.
The London edition of the Standard and
Diggers News. Boer organ, publishes the
following dispatch from johannesburg,
dated yesterday:
1T is expected that 10000 burghers from
the Transvaal and the Orange Free State
will be their respective borders this
evening wednesday,. Should the hostil-
tiles be protracted there is much fear that
the Zulus. Matabele and Basutos will rise
against the whites and that massacres and
disasters will follow. The Zulu chiefs have
been summoning their tribesmen from the
Rand for weeks past
Stories of outrages committed by the
Beers upon refugees from the Transvaal
continue to pour in A bad incident occur
red at Kroonstad where deputation from
trainload Of 1900 refugees attempted to
buy protisiors. but were driven out by
Beers armed with black snakes.
Lieut.. Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill
son Of the late Lord Randolph Churchill
will accompany General Sir Redvers Butler
who Is in supreme command Of the British
forces in South Africa, going as cores
pondent of the Times
AWAITING NEWS FROM ENGLAND.
Secretary Reitz Explains the Situa-
ton in the Trnnsvaal.
PRETORIA. October 5-F. W. Reitz, the
Transvaal secretary of state, in the course
OF an interview given to a representative
Of the Associated Press. said:
THE Transvaai government is awaiting
the next imperial dispatch, which ought to
contain the final proposals of Great Britain.
The British agent. Conyngham Greene has
Informed me that the dispatch is in course
of preparation, but that some days will
elapse before 1t will be ready.
I'm the meantime the Transvaal forces
are mobilizing and going to the frontier.
The government, however, has issued strict
injunctions to commandments and all o,her
military officers on no account to violate
British territory"
Several boxes of bar gold, which were
lodged at the national bank of the South
African republic, We're this afternoon COM
mandeered by the TTansvaal government
who gave the companies full receipts
The German group offered no objection.
provided sufficient funds We're left to pay
working expenses.
TranspOrts Reach Durham.
DURHAM, Natal. October 5.-Five Indian
transports with two regiments Of infan-
try. battery Of artillery and part of the
18th Hussars arrived today.
Maj. Gen. Sir Archibald Hunter, accom-
panied by the officers of his staff. landed
Immediately. Owing to the heavy rain fall
ing at the time, there were few spectators
of the debarkation.
LADYSMITH, Natal. October 5-The
9Th Lancers and naval brigade fru.A
Durham have arrived here and are en-
camped near the railway.
MAFEKING. October 5.-It is asserted
here on reliable authority that the bur-
gbers have been strictly enjoined not to
cross the western frontier to interfere
with civilians, but to resist the passage of
an armed force.
NEW CASTLE, Natal, October g. 1850
anna dispatch has been received here
from the government stating that there is
no immediate cause for alarm. This has
had the effect of arresting the panic.