The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-29
BRITISHlAT LAlNG'S NECK
THESE FORCES MAY SOON OPEN
HOSTILITIES.
CABINET COUNCIL IN LONDON TO-DAY
A Correspondent Declares that the Beers Would
have Struck the First Blow Before
Now had the Weather Been
More Favorable.

London, Sept. 2S.-Ihe decision OF the
Nolksraad of the Orange Free State tC
join with the Transvaal in the event OF
hostilties, although fully expected, is
the leading news today and will, natur
ally, stiffen the Beers independent atti
tude. The Raids resolution has made
the brotherhood of arms between the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State
of which hitherto there was only q
strong probability, an absolute certainty
and the British will have to face thu
situation.
Intense excitement continues to prevail
at Pretoria, where apparently it is be
lieyed that there is no escape from war
The commission appointed to consider
the matter, reported today as to what
officials are necessary TO carry on the
Government in the event of war aud
fixed their salaries.
The field cornet at Pretoria is again
serving out rifles, communicating is ac-
lively proceeding and. all preparations
are being made to take the field.
An Englishman 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 ut the
concentration of British troops between
Lady smith and Laing's Mex, especially
at Glencoe and Dundee. The nominal
reason for the concentration is the pro
lection of the Dundee coal fields; but the
Iu,troah ores ch,ayxal1y slISpaft that thta rp1
reason is the formation of force which
viii advance across the Transvaal from
tier at Vryheid. as soon as war is de-
clared. The Beers do not intend to be
caught mapping and are now nrassins
around Vryheid, not however, merely as
protective measure but to be prepay
ed. lmlless the British reinforcement $
across the border cease, to make Il rush
in force through n portion of Zullrland,
crossing the Buffalo River mt a point be-
low Rorke's Drift, and Them seizing the
railroad, cut off the British garrisons At
Dundee and Iladysnlith from the South,
which would not only interrupt the Brit
ish lines of communication but would
seriously interfere with a forward move
ment. In order TO watch this portion
of the railroad exposed to a Boer incur
sion, "A British post will he established
at Rorke's Drift.
A British infantry detachment, with
some engineers, has arrived at De Aar.
southwest Of the Orange Free State and
an important railroad junction. Exten-
siye Notifications win be thrown up
there and the town viii be made the base
Of operations from that side against The
Orange Free State or the Iransvaal.
More troops Will shortly aur1ive III lie
Aar.
A cable dispatch to the Times from
Cape Town says:
1.-The Beers would have taken the inia-
tive by NOW, but for the scarcity of wa
ter. the rains not yet being sufficient.
Probably there viii be great difficulties
in providing food supplies for the people
remaining at Johannesburg after hostii-
ties have commenced.
me Birmingham Post says two car
goes of arms and ammunition leave
Hamburg or Rotterdam Flrida for the
Transvaal. comprising $4,000 improved
Mausers. 100000 cartridges and several
mortars for dynanGte charges. As the
second battalion of Grenadiers embarked
ON a transport at Gibraltar for London
ordering them to proceed to the Cape,
for which place they start tomorrow.
The Secretary of State for the Coo
MES, Joseph Chamberlain arrived at the
Foreign Ofnce this afternoon
The Cabinet council will meet ait l:3O
p. m tomorrow.
The speaker of the House of Com
mons. William Court Gulley, Us returning
to London, and Sir Henry Campbell
Zimmerman, the Liberal leader IN the
House and Herbert Gladstone, the chief
Liberal whip. will arrive here Monday.
.ihe Press Association issues the fol-
lowing statement This afternoon:
I'VE learn that the centers of interest
in the Transvaal crisis are in reality at
Lisbon and Berlin. and this consldera-
ton, it is thought in some quarters,
may cause a further adjournment or
the Cabinet.
1.-THE future administration and finan-
cial control of the Portuguese posses
sions in South Africa are held to be an
integral factor in the present difficulty.
The friends of President Kruger urge
that it would he manifestly unfair to
| insist upon a partial reduction of the
forts Mt Pretoria and 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 the Cabinet coun-
| GILL;"
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from
| Charlestown says:
| Communicating is proceeding. in the
| Wakkerstroom district and probably
| throughout the Transvaal Two trnous-
and burghers are assembled at Walk
erstroom, which is eight miles from the
| Natal border and eleven from Laing's
| Mex. Twelve hundred have been or
| dered to Sandspait. thirteen miles west
| Of the Natal border where they will
| meet Orange Free State artillery, which
has been lying low in this neighbor-
hood for fortnight"