The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-05

The Press association learns that the
dispatch drawn up by the cabinet on
Friday was still unsent up to last
evening.
On the other hand, a telegram from
Brussels gives from "well informed
source" the news that DR.. Leyds, the
representative In Europe Of the South
African republic has received con-
firmation of the report that President
Kruger had addressed an ultimatum
to Great Britain demanding the with
drawal Of the British forces from the
frontier within 48 hours and that 1t
was delivered on Monday. This re-
port, however. still lacks ofiicial con-
f1rmation.-
The confidence Of the military au-
thorities at the Cape is shown by
dispatch received last night from
Cape Town which stated that at con-
ference between the military authori-
ties there and General Sir George
Stewart White. v. c.. who will COM
mand the British forces in Natal, and
Lieutenant General Sir Frederick
Walker, held to consider the situation,
General White expressed himself as
confident that the British would be
able to present a force sufficiently to
repel any attack.
General White. who intended to go
to Durham on board warship, In
order to save time. abandoned the Idea
and went by train last night.
A line steamer left Lourenzo Mar
quese, Delagoa bay, yesterday with
1900 Rand refugees. Large numbers
were left behind. and all trains are
crowded with those taking part in the
exodus from the Transvaal.
A dispatch from Volksrust says the
Beer camp on the Natal border now
comprises 5000 men and is growing
daily. The camp breathes a religious
fervor. The commissariat arrange
ments, the dispatch says. are defect
i've. One Of the largest corps lay In
the veldt without shelter during q
heavy thunder storm.
Commandant General Joubert is
momentarily expected to assume COM
mand of the Boer forces.
The Daily Chronicles correspondent
at Cape Town, telegraphing under date
Of Tuesday, says: For the first time
in several months J. H. Hofmeyr, the
Afrikander leader in Cape Colony, and
Sir Alfred Miner. British high COM
missioner for South Africa and gov
ernor Of Cape Colony, met today in
conference. An unconfirmed report is
in circulation that Mr.. Hofmeyr has
been entrusted with an imperial mis-
sion to Pretoria.
A special dispatch from Pretoria
says the Transvaal government has
seized gold to the value Of fS00.000,
which is now lodged in the state mint.
The government, the dispatch adds,
will indemnify the banks to which the
gold Is consigned.
The Daily Nails correspondent at
Lorenzo Marques reports that H. M. s.
purpose Of landing 100 men and a gun.
Commenting editorially on the fore
going dispatch The Daily Mail says 1t
considers that the action reported in
dicates grave danger. The admiralty,
says The Daily Mail, would not coun-
tenance such measure except in cir
cumstances of unusual emergency. and
1t thinks 1t probable that other Brit
ish warships are converging silently
upon the theater Of action.
A special dispatch from Newcastle,
Natal, says: The Beers have left the
lager at Volksrust and are moving
toward the frontier. The situation is
most critical. The magistrates and
municipal officers have assembled in
the town hall to concert measures for
the defense of the town against an ex-
pected attack. All the women and
children have been ordered to leave
for the interior of Natal.
A telegram from johannesburg says
that State Secretary Reitz, of the
Transvaal informed a correspondent
OF The Standard and Diggers' News
that the proclamation of martial law
is being delayed.
In Cape Town the opinion prevails
that the delay Of the Beers in assum-
ing the offensive points to willing,
less on the part of the Transvaal gov
eminent to allow political counsel to
override military ardor and that there
is, therefore, still hope that the At
rikanders' efforts for peace will prevail.
1t is understood that Sir Alfred Mil
ner has not yet abandoned hope that
the wonderful influences now at work
in Pretoria and Bloemfontein may
lead to the arrest of the mobilization
of troops on both sides and open the
door to pacific solution.
Other kilograms represent that
Boer attack upon Natal Is expected
at any moment, but assert that Com
mandant General Joubert has threat
ened to shoot any man who moves
without orders.
The London morning papers are In
cllned to regard the seizure Of gold by
the Transvaal government as an act
Of war.
No absolute confirmation is obtain
able of the report that Boer ultima
tum has been presented, but the news
comes from what is a usually good
Boer source.
The following dispatch from a cor
respondent who has been at Bloem-
fontein and Pretoria is telegraphed to
The Chronicle: General Joubert still
believes in South African confeder-
acy under English protectorate, and at
tributes the present crisis to Cecil
Rhodes and Mr. Chamberlain. He said
to the correspondent: II leave 1t now
to God. 1t may be his will that the
Transvaal shall perish. I can only
do my part"
The general was enthusiastically
welcomed at the Boer camp. The
Beers are undsclplined and morgan
lied, and their ambulance arrange
ments are very defective, but the COM
missariat is fairly good. A majority
OF tho Beers are unwilling to fight, but
are quietly confident. They will over
run Natal. attacking 1t from both sides
In the neighborhood Of Ingogo and
Ladysmith.
The Daily Telegraph's correspondent
at Newcastle. Natal. sends to his pa
per similar message to that sent by
the correspondent Of The Daily Chron-
icle. He says he Is sure half of the
Beers will offer no serious resistance to
the British troops. "rhe Free State"