Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-17
SLOW TO FIGHT.
More Rumors Than Actual
Hosti|ities in TransvaaI.
Beers Said to Be Doing This and Said
to Be Doing that
But Probably They Still Have Wholesome Re-
spect for British Flag.

London, Oct. 1.-THE war news is
still in the region of surmise There
are rumors that the Beers have been
repulsed at Mafeking and are attack
ing Vryburg
a cape Town paper has a dispatch
from the Orange river stating that the
telegraph wires have been cut between
Fryburg and Kimberley and that the
Eoers are taking advantage of the
presence Of a large gathering of dis
loyal farmers at Vryburg celebrating
Nachtmal to attack the town, hoping
that the farmers will assist them
against the British.
The same dispatch says that the
British force at Kimberley is confident
Of its ability to hold out. but urges the
immediate dispatch Of a relief force.
This question Of a possible rising of
the farmers in the northern portions of
Cape Colony is very important
The Daily Mail correspondent at
Colesburg has been inquiring regard
ing the matter and on the whole thinks
the chances are against a rising. He
bases his opinion on the prospects Of
good crops after four lean years. which
he believes will predispose the farmers
TO peace. Nevertheless, there is serious
disloyalty and much anti-British agita-
ton in those districts while the Free
State Beers threaten an immediate in
vasiOn Of Colesburg and Ailwal north.
The Daily Mails correspondent as
serts that Sir Alfred Miner is worked
to death and that Cape Town is surg
ing with bitter resentment at what is
called the Schreiner cabinets betrayal
Of Mafeking by its constant refusal to
send d volunteer force to it's relief
Many residents Of Cape Town have
relatives at Vryburg and they are furi-
Gus with Messrs. Merriman and Sauer.
respectively colonial treasurer and
commissioner of public works, and the
ministers are mobbed whenever they
appear iii public. Mr.. Hofmeyer. the
Afrikand-r leader has gone to the
country III order to escape the out
bursts If Indignation
on Sunday night. the streets We're
filled with angry citizens and it was
feared that rioting would occur. This,
combined with the pressure of the i'm
peri9l government, brought the Schrein-
er government to a sense of its peril
as well AZ its duty and moved ii to de
eide to call out the volunteers. The
party also worked its hard
est To prevent the ovation to Mr..
Conyngham Greene on his arrival from
Pretoria. but failed.
The volunteers are 1000 strong and
have II pieces Of artillery. There is no
further news regarding the present po-
sition.
The Natal invasion was made in
three columns at dawn. oct II. through
l!othas pass, Laings Mex and from
Wakkcrstroem. the objective point Of
the invaders being Newcastle The
Beers utilized several thousand natives.
who We're trampnG from the Rand to
drive their heavy guns up Langs Mex.
Precautions are being taken for thu
defense Of PictermaritZburg and Dur
ban, in the remote contingency that the
enemy may elude the vigilance Of the
British at the Ladysmith and Glencoe
camps.
A dispatch from the latter place says
the partial closing down of the Natal
coal mines Will not interrupt the sup
plies for the imperial transports at
Durham. as was imagined by the Beers,
large quantities of coal being already
IN the water from India. Regular ship
ments will arrive from India until the
Natal mine again opens.
Dispatches from the Cape include an
important message from the Glencoe
camp dated 3.35 this (Monday) after
noon. announcing that the Boer COM
mandos which invaded Natal through
Laings Mex. and. after occupying New
,astle advanced to Dannhauser. retired
IN Ingagane. yesterday evening. their
rapspOrt service being reported defec-
i've. This will delay indefinitely the
and hoped for assault on
he strong British position at Glencoe.
Another dispatch reports activity on
he part of the Free State commando
n the neighborhood Of Aliwalnorth, on
he southern frontier. The Beers adj
-ance patrol. the dispatch says, so to
he frontier bridge nightly to keep
watch. firing shots as intervals as sig
RAILS 1t is believed the enemy intends
hortly to try to rush the railway sta
ion with the help of artillery posted on
ridge commanding the town.
The Queens speech at the opening of
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