The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-10-09
PREPARING NOR BATTLE
Britons as Active as Though War
Had Been Declared.
CONCENTRATING TRANSPORTS.

at Liverpool Alone. |
Ready to start with Troops For
south Africa-Twenty-five Thousand |
Reserves Called Upon.
London, Oct. 9.-Whatever may be
the result of Great Britain's contro-
versy with the South African republic,
every department of the government
to-day Is as busy as though actual hos
tilities had begun. The electric fash
that announced the mobilization of the
army reserves and the summoning OF
parliament set every wheel of the gov
ernment machinery In motion. An
hour after The Gazette appeared ex-
ecutive orders were being dispatched
from the war office to every section of
the kingdom, and the 10000 bulletins
which appeared posted throughout the
country yesterday are said to have
been identical with the proclamation
prepared for use had the Fashoda in
cident required such step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Balfour were issuing the necessary
orders for the reassembling of parlia-
ment, and the admiralty was concen-
trating it's transports, "a of which are
now secured at Liverpool alone. So
complete were the preparations that
$4,000 reserves have already individu-
ally received coupon tickets which con
tain instructions where each man shall
report for railway transportation to the
place designated, and a money order
for three shillings for provisions en-
route.
At Woolwich it was asserted that 95
per cent of the reserves would be fully
equipped within six days. In the
meantime the members of the two
houses of parliament are arranging to
return to London. and force of men
is busily engaged in completing the inn
Irovements at Westminster
The most important news from
South Africa comes from Mafeking,
where twice on Saturday the British
camp was aroused, the men stood to
their arms, guns were limered and
patrols were dispatched in the direc
tion of the border. No hostilitles hav5
occurred as yet, but the enemy has
moved practically to the border, eight
miles from Mafeking, in force esti
mated at least 6000 comprising five
commanders. The garrisoning and
fortifying of the town are practically
completed. The streets are barricaded
and perfect system of mines has been
laid. Two armored trains have ar
rived at Mafeking, consisting of three
bullet proof cars, the first of which
carries a searchlight, while the sides
Of the other cars are loopholed. Each
train is complete in itself, and carries
it's own provisions. Experiment with
Lyddite In the mines proves that It is
an extremely powerful explosive.
Colonel Robert Stephenson Smyth-
| Powell, commanding the Fifth Dragon
guards, has issued a notice that the
| Beers who are massed on the Natal
and Bechuanaland frontiers have or
ders not to fire until the British be-
| gin, and that the town is well pre-
| pared for eventualities, but, as the
Beers may shell the place, every en-
| deavor should be made to safeguard
the women and children.
| An armor train was inspected at
| Kimberley Saturday A signal station
has been erected with a coming tower
at the top, 130 feet above the tracks
Communication by telephone is had
with a central Office and signals are
given to the troops by flag. By this
means maneuvers were successfully
conducted Saturday The troops num-
ber 5000, including the bicycle corps
A dispatch from Kimberley to the
Cape Argus says that 5000 Beers are
encamped midway between Boshof and
Kimberley. They are well armed and
great religious fervor is shown in the
camp. The Beers. however, are chat
ing under the delay. They patrol the
border nightly and have been ordered
not to permit British uniform to ap.
proach the frontier.
The correspondent of The Times al
Lobatsi telegraphs: 81 crossed the
border incognito to near Mafeking anC
went among the Beers and talked tt
them in their own language. They
said: The English want to entice us
to the Natal border. and then, If al
our forces are there. they will enter
from Mafeking and Vryburg, but We
are too astute to be caught. We dc
not intend to attack first, but will at
tack the British If war is declared. We
do not trust Joubert. He wants peace
Viljoen will be better
"If they could be persuaded thai
England does not desire to undermine
their independence peace might bt
possible, but they call you a fool 4
you make such a statement"
The Cape Town correspondent OF Tht
Daily Mail declares that the story tina
Boer ultimatum demanding the with
drawal of the British troops from thu
frontiers had been presented is with
out foundation, but he says the re
publics have within the past week de
manded a declaration of the British
intentions in threatening terms. Hos
tilities in the outlying districts, thu
correspondent says, are expected thiI
week.