The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-02
JOUBERT GOES
TO THE FRONT.
Buffalo River to Be Potomac OF
the War.
Beers Have Everything in Read
mess For Fighting.
COLONIsTS COMPLAIN.
Say England is Not Extending
Adequate Protection.
Dutch Are Enthusiastic and
Full of Fight.

Eulk OF AS NIs
Tondon. Oct. 1t is evident that
Buffalo river, the northeastern oouh-
dairy Of Natal, is to be the Potomac OF
the war. In view of its strategic value
Joshua Joubert has taken personal
command of the Boer forces there, es-
tablishing a strong line of pickets along
the river, and has ordered the natives
to drive in all the stock All the avail
able burghers in the neighborhood nave
been requisitioned, with the result thaI
some 1000 have mobilized at Walker
strom, the chief point of mobilization
there.
The Beers openly threaten to RAID
Vrvburg. in British Bechuanaland. as
soon as hostilities open, and the Kim
berley Advertiser complains of the
apathy of the Cape ministry in not
taking steps to prevent this
The TransvaaI field cornets are TAX
ing the names of colonial Beers who are
willing to cross the border in the event
of war.
From all points in the Transvaal, Ma
tai and Cape Colony come reports of
continued military activity on the from
tiers and, while the movement of indI-
vidual commands as yet do not show
concerted plans. it is evident that the
narrow strip of Natal. whose apex is
crowned with the Ominous name of
Mahtubi hill will be the center of the
coming storm.
Late yesterday the Beers established
a camp at scheepers Mex. near Vry-
held, and they will mobilize a great
force on the Buffalo river tomorrow,
which the authorities at Dundee expect
will move across the border to that spot
probably at once. It is believed that
conflict at this point Will certainly oc-
cur early in the week
At the same time, the Beers are col
lecting a force of 1000 men, under the
notorious COmmandant CrOnje, in the
Mulmani gold fields, near Mafeking,
where Colonel Baden Powell is station
ed.
Dispatches from TuIi, Rhodesia, an
nounce that another force of burghers
is nassed at Petersburg. so miles south
and that outlying parties are posted
at all the drifts along the LmpOpo
river.
In the meantime, Col. Plummer's sec
ond column is moving so miles nearer
the TransVaal frontier, and has estab-
lished telephone connections to within
six miles of Rhodesia drift, on the Linn
popo.
Enthusiastic scenes at all the railway
stations have marked the advance of
the Natal volunteers.
Dispatches from Mafel1ing announce
that Commandant Cronje, commander
of the Transvaal border police, crossed
the border ana visited Chief Baraloga,
apparently with the object of melting
him to fight The British civil commits
siOner ordered the chief to stay and
protect the women and children, telling
him that he would not be allowed to
fight.
ALL READY TO FIGHT.
johannesburg, Oct 2-The comman-
dering orders are completed, and the
burghers are ready for the field. A
large body passed through the town
yesterday afternoon.
Business has virtually ceased. The
merchants have finished barricading g
their premises, and the proprietors of
the drinking saloons expect to receive
a notification to close their establish
ments tomorrow.
A party of 200 Germans has been noti-
fed to leave. and the Irish corps. COM
manded by Blake. an Irish-American.
will go early in the week.
The mines are paying S5 a day, with
food, to men who will remain.
Three trains filed with armed burgh-
ers for the Natal border were last
evening reported as unable to leave
Braa1fontein, owing to a block on the
lin, which has disorganized the whole
train service
day by the morning and afternoon
trains, and nearly l. 600 more by the out
going trains last night.
The government undertakes to pro-
vide for the families of the burgers who
go TO the front.
THEIR ULTIMATUM
Pretoria, Oct. 2-While today found
Pretoria somewhat more quiet, as the
result of yesterdays exodus, detach-
ments of burghers are still moving to-
ward the NOlksruSt, the nearest station
to the Natal border.
1t is reported that martial law will be
proclaimed Tuesday or Wednesday, Al
ready all civil procedures have beer
stopped until further orders, and an
other proclamation postpOnes the sit
EngS or the circuit court.
The sentiment of the Beers was sig
nificantly manifested as the train car
rying the Pretoria contingent to the
front departed yesterday. Members OF
the volksraad who were looking on ex-
claimed, That is our ultimatum."
NATAL IS WORRIED.
Mafeking, Oct. 2.-Great uneasiness
exists here over the massing of the
Beers near the frontier. At a largely
attended meeting. Mr.. Kiosle. a former
mayor, and other speakers. complained
that the imperial authorities We're neg
lecting to provide proper protection fol
the inhabitants. as this border is much
more exposed than the Natal border
The Beers, backed with artillery could
invade the town in two hours. MANY
women, children and refugees the
speakers pointed out, were thus placed
IN q position of great danger.
Inc meeting unanimously adopted a
resolution to send a telegram to the
British high commissioner, Sir Alfred
Miner, praying further protection
TO ATTACK DUNDEE.
Dundee, Natal, Oct. 2-Five thousand
Beers are now concentrated in close