The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-06
From the Cape Dutch Urging
Honorable Peace.
DEVOTION TO THE THRONE
Chamberlain Says 1t Is Impossible to Ac-
cept the Suggestion Of the Petit
ENl tioners-Wild Rumors Arc
Without Ecu 1dation.

Warded through the British high COM
missioner, Sir Alfred Miner, pointing
out that the petitioners, who ale re-
lated by blood and through marriage
to residents of the Transvaal. are mate
rally interested in the maintenance Of
peace, urging the abandonment Of war;
like measures "as the Transvaal is now
fully awakened to the wisdom of ill.,
eral concessions" and praying her ma
jesty to appoint a commission forth
with to confer with the Beers as the
petitioners are convinced that if the
present franchise act is inadequate tie
Transvaal government is prepared to
make further concessions to ouglanders.
The petitioners in closing declare
their devotion to the throne and per-
son of the queen. To-day the secretary
of state for the colonies, Mr.. Chamber
lain, sent the following reply.
The imperial government is not I'M
mindful of the sympathy and interest
of British subjects of Dutch descent in
South Africa. One of the main objects
of the imperial policies 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 government has
shown the Transvaal every considera-
ton consistent with this object and
deeply regrets that the efforts for a
peaceful settlement have hitherto been
unsuccessful.
THE imperial authorities are unable
to adopt the suggestion of the petition
ers for the reasons stated in the note
to the Transvaal of Sept. q. In view of
the refusal of the Transvaal to enter
tain that moderate and conciliatory Of
fer, the imperial authorities have been
compelled to formulate their own pro-
posals regarding a final settlement.
which will shortly be communicated 10
the Transvaal.'
The Times in it's second edition to-day
publishes the following dispatch from
fredericksburg, Oct A:
1.-THE wild statements emanating from
Ladysmith and New Castle that the
Beers have crossed the frontier are
without foundation. The British mill
tary authorities in Natal do not expect
the Beers to cross the border at pres
ent unless their leaders lose control of
the men,"
The second edition of the Standard
and Diggers' News, Boer organ. pub
fishes the following dispatch from Jo-
hannesburg, dated yesterday:
TT is expected that 10000 burghers
from the Transvaal and the Orange
Free State will be on their respective
borders this evening wednesday,.
Should the hostilities be protracted
there is much fear that the Zulus, Mat
abeles and Basolos will rise against
the whites and massacre and disasters ss:
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 Trans
vaal continue to pour in. A bad Incl
dent occurred at Kroonstadt. where
deputation from a trainload or 2,ooo
refugees attempted to buy provisions
but were driven out by Beers armed
with blacksnakes.
Nothing important has developed as
to the Transvaal situation since morn
ing. The Daily Telegraph's dispatch
of this morning, announcing that the
Beers had invaded Natal and seized
Laing's Neck, now seems to be with
out foundation. The government has
received nothing to justify the report,
although such a move on the part OF
the Beers would naturally cause little
surprise.
The British position in Natal was con-
siderably strengthened by the arrival
to-day of Indian transports with REIN
forcements of about $500 infantry. cav
airy and artillery, all of which will be
promptly sent to the front by train
and with their arrival at Glencoe and
Ladysmith tomorrow or Saturday, the
British advanced camps and lines OF
communication will be practically safe
guarded against the risk of successful
dash across the frontier by the Beers.
The military authorities apparently no
| longer fear the massing of the Beers
| along the border and, in fact. it has
| been provided that the Beers shall not
make a sudden invasion in the terri
| tory. The Natal authorities are rather
| pleased with this, because they argue
| that the tension of waiting will tell Sc
| verely on the Beers discipline, and,
moreover, they will soon exhaust what
! little forage there is near the border
| and be compelled to fall back on their
base, because in view of the defective
| commissariat, they are unwilling to adj
| vance into Natal, leaving behind them
| a forageless veldt.
| Advices from AlderShot convey the
| interesting information that General
| Sir Redvers Butler, who Is to assume
| the chief command of the British forces
| in South Africa. is opposed to large
number of war correspondents with hs
! forces and wishes to limit the CORE
| spendents to 10 representatives of the
| leading British, Indian and colonial
| agencies, increasing the number to pro-
| vide for foreign correspondents.
A dispatch from Perth Cape West
| Australia, announces lue SoNSiI lliiCii'
Of the colony has decided to dispatch a
West Australian contingent to the
Cape.
General Sir Redvers Butler arrived al
Balmoral castle tonight as the guest
of Queen Victoria, to bid him farewell
on his departure for South Africa.
Rt. Hon. Sir George Trevylan. speak
ing at Halifax, Yorkshire. said he be-
lieved Mr.. Chamberlain had made a
I'M n
Kruger's five-year franchise. but
thought that the war might yet be
avoided if a mediator should be sent &c
the Cape.
A dispatch from Capetown says that
a quantity of explosives was found in
side the Capetown postoftice yesterday
and that an attempt has been made to
murder the staff at the Colesburg rail-
way junction.
A dispatch dated New Castle, Natal
at $40 a. m, says: Telegraphic COM
munication with Charlestewn is open
The Boer commander at Sandspruit
war reinforced yesterday, but no gen
oral force is expected. This informa-