The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-29
Beers ARE CERTAIN OF AID.
on ANGE FREE STATES ATTITUDE
THE LEADING TOPIC.


In Pretoria 1t Is Believed There Is
No Escape From War-BOers Are
Getting Ready for n Rush Across
The BOrder-They Are Initiating the
Tactics of the British in Massins
Troops-The Beers Water Supply
Is short.
London, Sept 2S.-The decision of the
yoiksraad of the Orange Free State TO
toin with the Transvaal in the event of
hostiIities, although fully expected. is the
leading news to-day, and will, naturally
s,iffen the Beers independent attitude.
The Raids resolution has made the
brotherhood of arms between the Trans
vaal and the Orange Free State, of which
hitherto there was only strong proba-
biity. an absolute certainty, and the Brit
ism will have to face the situation.
Intense excitement continues to prevail
At Pretoria, where, apparently, it is be
neyed that there is no escape from war
The commission appointed to consider the
matter reported to-day as to what officials
are necessary to carry on the government
in the event of war and fixing their sala-
ries.
Tho field cornet at Pretoria is again serv-
ing out rifles, Communicating is actively
proceeding and all preparations are being
made to take the field.
IA Euglishman named Robertson has
been arrested at johannesburg charged
With high treason. He is alleged to have
enlisted recruits for the imperial light
horse.
The burghers are getting uneasy at tho
concentration of British troops between
ladysmith and Laingsnek, especially at
Glencoe and Dundee The nominal rea-
son for the concentration is for the pro
lection of the Dundee coal fields; but the
burghers shrewdiy suspect that the real
reason is the formation of a force which
will advance across the Transvaal from
tier at Vryheid, as soon as war is de-
clared.
Will Not Be Caught Mapping.
The Beers do not intend to be caught
mapping and are now massing around Vry-
held, not however. merely as protective
measure, but 10 be prepared, unless the
British achievements across the border
cease. to make a dash in force through a
portion of Zululand crossing the Buffalo
river at a point below Rorke's Drift, and
ish garrisons at Dundee and Ladysmirh
from the South, which would not only in
terrupt the British lines of communication,
but would seriously interfere with for
ward movement In order TO watch this
portion of the railroad exposed to a Boer
incursion, a British post Will be establish
ed at Rorke's Drift.
British infantry detachment with
some engineers, has arrived al De Aar,
southwest of the Orange Free State, and
an important railroad junction Exten-
sive Notifications will be thrown up there
and the town will be made the base Of
operations from that side against the
Orange Free State or the Transvaal. More
troops viii shortly arrive at De Aar.
Beers short of Water.
a cable dispatch to the Times from Cape
Town says:
The Beers would have taken the initia-
tive by now but for the scarcity of water
the rains not yet being sufficient. Proba-
oily there will be great difficulty in proVid-
ing the food supplies remaining at johann
pesburg after hostilities have commenced
Several responsible people here who
have long chung to the belief in an ultimate
peaceful settlement now regard war as
inevitable"
The Birmingham Post says two cargoes
o. arms and ammunition will leave Ham
burg or Rotterdam Friday for the Trans
Vaal, comprising $4,000 improved Mausers,
$4,000 cartridges and several mortars for
dynamite charges. AS the Second Bat
Talon of Grenadiers embarked on a trans
port al Gibraltar for London this after
noon, they received hurry call" order
ing them to proceed to the Cape, for which
place they start tomorrow.
The secretary of state for the colonies,
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, arrived at the
foreign office this afternoon The cabinet
will a aftpTnOOU.
The speaker of the House of Commons,
William Court Gulley, is returning 90
London, and Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-
man. the Liberal leader in the House, and
Herbert Gladstone, the chief Liberal
whip. will arrive here Monday.
The Centers of Interest.
The press association issued the follow
Ing statement this afternoon:
we learn that the centers of interest
i'm the Transvaal crisis are in reality at
Lisbon and Berlin, and this consideration,
1t is thought in some quarters, may cause
further adjournment of the cabinet
The future administration and tinan-
cidl control of the Portuguese possessions
in South Africa are held to be an inte-
gral factor in the present difficulty. The
friends of President Kruger urge that it
would he manifestly unfair to insist upon
partial reduction of the forts at Pretoria
ana Johannesburg so long as Lorenzo
Marquee remains under the Portuguese
government; and it is probable that the
negotiations between London, Berlin and
Lisbon may not be concluded until after
tho cabinet council"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
tharlestown says:
Communicating is proceeding in the
Nakkerstrom district and proba bly,
throughout the Transvaal. Two thousand
burghers are assembled at Wakkerstrom,
which is eight miles from the Natal Dor
der and eleven from Laingsnek Twelve
hundred have been ordered to Sandspait,
thirteen miles west of the Nataf border,
where they will meet the Orange Free
state Artillery which has been lying low
III this neighborhood for fortnight"
New Zealand to Send 300 Men.
Wellington, ". H., Sept. 2S.--The govern
ment of this colony decided to-day to equip