Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-05
STILL LTALKING PEACE
But the Beers Are Not Seeking
to Prevent a Conflict
Apparently
PEOPLE AT NATAL ALARMED
Rumor That the Kaf6rs Will Help Their
Boer Masters in Fighting the British
In Case of Invasion of the
Transvaal Country.

| the Tribune from London says. Promi-
| and other services now declare there
will be no hostilities with the Trans
| vaal, but that matters will be adjusted
at the last moment. Public opinion also
reflects this view, although no inteli-
gble reason can be given for the reac-
tion against the war feeling which has
prevailed for the last three weeks.
London, October 5-The Daily Tee-
graph publishes this morning dis
patch from New Castle, Natal, dated
yesterday, announcing that the Boer
advance began yesterday, but with
double movement of artillery. The dis
patch says:
THE Beers are occupying Laings
Mex nightly and now hold the noun
tains to the south of Volksrust. There
are no British troops nearer than Lady
smith, and preparations are being made
to abandon Natal from the frontier to
met to-day and decided not to attempt
to defend the town in the event of an
advance in force. General Symons is
preparing to evacuate within twenty
four hours. People are crowding the
trains for Ladysmith.'
The alleged Boer advance comedies
curiously with simultaneous kilograms
from various quarters regarding a Boer
ultimatum and the expiration of the
limit in the evening. A distinctly Sc
rious statement comes from New Castle
to the effect that armed Kaffirs accom-
pany Boer commanders. This would be
an absolute breach of conditions sup
posed to govern in warfare among civ
ilized nations, and if true presages
scenes worse than even the gloomiest
forecasts. From other New Castle ad-
vices it appears that the premier of
Natal telegraphed the military authori-
sistance, adding that if the Beers attack
the town resistance would be futile, and
the women and children should be sent
away and the town surrendered. An
unconfirmed report says martial law
has been proclaimed in the Transvaal
New Castle, Natal, October 5, 1880 a.
,n.-A dispatch has been received from
the government stating there is no i'm
mediate cause for alarm. This had the
effect of arresting panic.
Intelligence from Cape Town includes
an official denial of a rumor that the
British have crossed the Transvaal
frontier near Kimberly. There Is def
mite feeling throughout the Cape that
delay in forwarding re-enforcements is
very dangerous. A petition to Queen
Victoria, signed by fifty-eight members
of the Cape assembly, has been for
w.arded through the British high COM
missioner, urging the abandonment OF
warlike measures, "as the Transvaal is
now fully awakened to the wisdom of
liberal concessions" and praying her
majesty to appoint commission forth
with to confer
Mr. Chamberlain sent a reply to the
Cape commissioners, saying: Imperial
authorities unable to adopt suggestion
of petitioners for reasons stated in note
to Transvaal September IL. 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 final settlement,
which will shortly be communicated to
the Transvaal."
Although to-day's news from South
Africa is grave, adherents of peace still
derive a glimpse of hope from dis
patches that state negotiations are not
yet fully terminated.
Side by side with an announcement of
Beers occupying Laing's Mex is printed
dispatch from Pretoria stating that
the Transvaal government has issued
strict injunctions to commandants that
British territory must not be invaded,
and Commandant General Joubert has
issued a proclamation threatening to
shoot any man who crosses the border.
Scarcely had the advocates of peace
exchanged congratulations over the an
nouncement from the Transvaal that
]. H. Hoffmeyer, Afrikander leader, and
w. P. Schreiner, Cape premier, had un-
dertaken joint semi-official peace
mission and actually started for Preto-
ria, where they ought to have arrived
last evening, when later messages from
the Transvaal capital declared the
Boer government knew nothing of this
alleged mission, and in any event moth
ing could preserve peace but the with
drawal of the British demands.
There is not a jot of evidence going
to show that the b1rpherS contamn1ate .