The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-17

Notice Given Ola state OF War-Eng-
3 lands Reply to KrugeT's Ultimatum.
The British Advance Toward h
Frontier.
London, October 12.-Following is the
text Of the British reply to the Boer
ultimatum:
chamberlain to Miner, high commits
sioner, sent 1O:45 o'clock p. M, Oc-
tober 10, 1899:
Her majesty's government has re-
ceived with great regret the peremptory
demands of the South African republic,
conveyed in your telegram Of October
9Th. You will inform the government
Of the South African republic, in re-
ply, that the conditions demanded by
the government of the South African
republic are such as her majesty's
government deems it impossible to dis
cuss."
The colonial office official
ly that Mr.. Macrum, the United States
consul in Pretoria, with the consent Of
his government, has k charge of
British interests in the Transvaal.
liz AINA L.
A special dispatch from Ladysmith,
Natal, says that the Beers occupied
Laings Mex the m the ultimatum
expired and are now pouring into Ma
tai. Ingogo heights have been occu-
pied.
Offcial confirmation of the announce
ment that the Orange Free State
burghers have entered Natal by way
of VanReenen's pass is at hand. 1t
Inayyag NO further room for 6n1lht that
acts of war have already been commit
ted and that the campaign has begun.
News Of an invasion on the northern
border is also generally accepted as
reliable. 1t seems improbable, there
fore, that a clash between the forces Of
Briton and Boer can long be delayed
if, indeed, it has not occurred already.
THE BRITISH ADVANCE.
A dispach from Mafeking, under
today's date, says hat Colonel Baden
Powell has just sent a strong British
force from Mafeking toward the border
with field guns and ambulances, pre-
sumably with a view of occupying ad-
vantageous defensive high ground.
1t is understood that telegraphic
communication with the Transvaal
ceased punctually at 5 o'clock yester-
day afternoon (Transvaal time).
MARTIAL LAW DECLARED.
A Pretoria dispatch dated October
18th, sent via Lourenzo Marques, as
telegraphic communication between the
Cape and Natal is undoubtedly inter-
rupted, says:
"Conyngham Greene this afternoon
said goodbye to President Kruger and
his officials in his private capacity. He
and his staff will leave tomorrow by
two special trains.
Martial law was proclaimed at 5
o'clock this afternoon and British resi-
dents without permits must leave the
Transvaal within eight days"
NATIVES TO JOIN THE BOERS.
According to a dispatch from Cape
town, it is asserted there that the Beers
have arranged with Chief Linch-We, a
prominent chief on the northwestern
border, to take UP arms against Great
Britain.
FREE STATE BURGHERS ENTER
CAPE COLONY.
The Free State burghers, according
to a private message just received in
the city of London, nave crossed the
Orange river into Cape Colony and
have occupied Philipstown. Their OBJ
ject, it is said, is to cut the railway at
De Aar junction, which is considered
an important strategic point.
Vryburg Cape Colony, October 12.-
Afternoon-A body of Beers have cut
the border fence, advanced to the rail-
way and cut the telegraph wires. Two
thousand Beers are now occupying the
railway line.
TO REPRESENT THE BOERS IN
ENGLAND.
The Hague, October 12.-At the re-
quest of h government of the South
African republic, the Dutch consul
general in London, DR.. H. J. Mas,
will take charge Of the interests of the
T~ransvaalers in Great Britain.
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF A STATE OF
WAR.
Durham, October 12.-The imperial re.
serves in Natal have been called out.
Everybody has left NCharlestown, the
last train bringing away the railway
staff to New Castle, while the exodus
from New Castle also continues. The
from India, landed Immediately and at
once proceeded for the front.
Lorenzo Marquet, October 12.-Infor-
nation has reached here that the Beers
have mined three pieces of the bride at
Komati Poort, on the Komati river.
Kimberley, October 12.-The authori-
ties of Mafeking are hourly expecting
an attack, in which event the wires be-
tween Mafeking n Kimberley will be
cut, and information entirely shut OFF.
The latest information regarding the
number of burghers assembled along
the Kimberley border is that it does
not exceed $500. The Beers have only
four field gums. A successful attack
upon Kimberley rs, therefore, consider
cd impossible.
Cape Town, October 12-All the avail
able troops of the garrison Of the Cape
district were dispatched to a point
nearer the western border last night.
Johannesburg, October 12.-War was
declared yesterday. The formal decla-
ration occurred at 10 o'clock his morn
ing.
BOERS IN FULL ADVANCE.
London, October 13.-When the cabi-
net meets at noon today it is evident
the Boer advance will be in full swing.