The Portland daily press., 1899-10-04
STILL NOTHING DECISIVE.
No Change in News
From Transvaal.
A Strange Statement Regarding
Lord Salisbury.
It Is That He Is De-
-termined on Peace.
Free State Troops Occupy and
Close G0thas Pass.

London. October 3.-According to a
despatch from Lourenzo Marquee, Portu-
guese, East Africa, a crowd of Beers, who
were assembled at the Machadorp station.
forced the refugees passengers to uncover
Turing the singing of Boer national
air, and severely mal-trsatsd several Eng
lishmen. stabbing one and kicking and
ira mpling upon others. It Is reported
there also that two ladies have been out
rsgeously assaulted at Paardskop Station
by the Beers, one being struck In the
face by 3 rifle showed through the rail-
way carriage window and the other
struck by hsr assailant's fists.
Among the steamers chartered by the
British government today for purposes OF
transport is the Nomadic.
MIR. Montague White consul general
for tbs South African republic In Lon
don, told the Associated Press this morn
log that he telegraphsd President Kruger
yesterday ursin him to make a personal
appeal to Lord Salisbury, dwelling upon
the iniquity of the war and proposing q
scheme as basis of further negotiations.
He said he was momentarily expecting
to hear that the Transvaal government
Was sending an ultimatum to Great
Britain declaring the despatch of troops a
casus belli. In which event he would be
compelled to close his offices.
Mr.. White added curious statement
to the effect that representative of one
of the largest capitalists of the Rand had
csllod upon him and asserted that IL was
known in capitalist circles that Lori
Salisbury had determine there should not
be war and had insti noted the Secretary
of State for the Colonies, to wire to
South Africa further assurances with
regard to the British desire to respect the
complete independence OF the IransvaaI
No confirmation of this Is obtainable In
official circles.
The dispatches from South Africa are
largely a repetition OF those of last week.
Advioee from Newcastle, Natal, report
that telegraphio communication Is inter
rupted beyond Charles Town, whsre the
stores have been looted by the natives
since the departure Of the whites Stories
of the movements of Beers and British,
of the hurried muster and despatch of
troops on both sides have come from other
points. A telegram from Lady smith,
Natal, says that the Orange Free State
troops have occupied and closed Gothas
Pass en- the Free State border ana that
Commandent Allriche, chief of tbs Free
Stats artillery. is proceeding in the direc-
tion Of Kimberly with considerable
force OF artillery. Another force of arti l.
lery, under Commandment Boning has
gone TO Harrfsmith, while Commandment
Smith commands force of artillery On
route from Kroonstedt.
The British steamer Lalpoora, now in
the transport services, arrived last even
ing at Durham, Natal, with field artillery.
a hospital corps and commissariat stores,
from India. The troops were promptly
disembarked and sent by train up the
country. ~- =. .-
The Natal authorities have announced
that no more mails will be despatched to
the Transyaal until further notice. Last
Fridays mail was sent from the frontier.