The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-06
BoERs ADVANCING.



London, October 5.-The Daily Tsls.
graph publishes In Its second edition thi,
morning q despatch from Newcastle,
Natal, dated yesterday, announcing that
the Beers advance bsean yesterday with
general movement of artillery.
Tie despatch adds,
"The. Beers are occupying Laingsnsk
nightly, and now hold tho mountains to
the southwest OF volk srust. There ars
no British troops nearer than Ladysmith
and preparations are being made to aban
don Natal from the frontier to Glencos.
"The Inhabitants OF NEWCASTLE met to-
Jay and decided not to attempt to defend
the town in the event Of Boer advance
In force. Gen. Symonds Is prepared to
evacuate within "a hours. The people
are crowiling the trains for Ladysmith. Z"
Scarcely had the advocates of peace ex-
changed congratulations over the an
nouncement from Pretoria, that Mr.. j.
honmeyer, the Afrioandar leader, land MIR.
W. +. Schreiner the Cape premier, had
undertaken joint semi-otficisl mission
and had actually started foi Pretoria,
where they ought to have arrived last
evening, when later messages from the
Iransvaal capital declared that the Boer
government knew nothing Of this alleged
mission and shat, in any event. nothing
could preserve peace but the withdrawal
OF the British demRnds.
while II was not necessary to accent all
the sensational statements regarding the
advance OF the Beers, there was lot Of
evidence to show the Burghers contem-
plated receding.
A distinctly serious and ugly statement
came from Newcastle to the effect that
armed kaffirs accompanied the Boer com.
manders Ibis would be an absolute
breach of the conditions supposed to gov
ern warfare among civilized nations, and
would presags scenessworse than even the
gloomiest forecast
From other adyioes 10 appeared that the
premier OF Natal had telegraphed the mil
ttary authorities that they could render
Newcastle assistance, adding that II the
Boers intended to attack the town, re-
sistauce would be futile and that the
women ana children should beasent away
and the town surrendered.
An uncomtirm md report said that mar
Siai law had been proclaimed In the
Transvaal.
1t is expected that 30, 600 burehers from
the Iransvaal and the Orange Free State
will be ON their respective borders this
evening". Should the hostilities ba pro-
tracted there is much fear that the Zulus,
Mataele and Basutos will rice against
the whites and that inassAores and disas-
tiers will follow.
The Zulu chiefs have been summoning
their tribesmen from the Rand for weeks
past.
1t Is reported that another Rand shin
ment Of bullion to the value of /, ZOO, coo
pounds is in danger of confiscation by til
Transvaal authorities.
A petition TO Queen Victoria, signed
oy 5S members OF the Cape house Of as
sembly, has been forwarded through the
British high commi ssioner, sir Alfred
Miner, pointing out that the petitioners,
related by blood and through marriage
TO residents OF the Transvnai are materl-
ally interested In maintenance of peace,
urging the abandonment of warlike
meas ufes "as the TransvaaI Is now fuIh
awakened to the wisdom Of liberal con-
ee -sions," and praying Her Majesty to
appoint commission forthwith to con-
fer with the Beers, Ms the petitioners are
act Is inadsq uate, the Transvaal govern
ruent is prepared 60 make further conces-
sions to the Outlanders
1ho petitioners, In closing, declare their
loyal devotion to the throne and person
OF the Queen.
Today the secretary OF state for the COL
onies, Mr., Joseph Chamberlain, sent thu
following reply: &@
"Ths imperial government is not un-
mindful OF the sympathies and intsres
of British subjects OF Dutch desc mt ir
south Africa. Ore of the main objects
VI the imperial policy is to secure for Iht
non Dutch Inhabitants of the Transvaal
rights and privileges similar to those or
loyed by the Dutch in Cape Colony. III,
rransvaal every consideration consisten
with this object and deeply regret tina
their efforts for peaceful Sc ttlement have
hitherto been unsuccessful"