The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-05
FIGHTING BEGUN,
SAYS A D|SPAT CH
But the Government Discred-
its the Report.
pnITicu nDOcc DnDnCD
BRITISH CROSS BORDER
THIS is IN THE FREE STATE;
BOERS MOVE ON NATAL.
THE TRANsvAAL SEXES MUCH GOLD
London Papers Inclined to View This as an Act
Of War. Kruger Sad to Have Given
the British Troops 48 Hours
10 Withdraw.

Bloemfontein. Oct. 4.-The Govern
ment publishes a telegram from Boshof
stating that the British forces have
crossed the border, and that fighting has
commenced.
Another telegram says the troops have
crossed the border, burt that no fighting
has occurred.
The Government discredits the report.
BOERS MOVING ON NATAL.
London, Oct. "A special dispatch
from Newcastle, Natal, dated Wednes-
day. says:
The Beers have left the faager 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 con-
coct measures for the defense of the
town against an expected attack. All
the women and children have been or
dered to leave for the interior of Natal.
THE TRANSyAAL SEIZES GOLD.
London, Oct A special dispatch
from Pretoria, says that the Transyaal
Government has seized gold to the
dluOuuL u oOOOOO pOuhiuo SlSliihSs
which is now lodged in the state mint.
The Government, the dispatch adds, will
indemnify the banks to which the gold
is consigned.
Sir Edward Vincent speaking at
Exeter yesterday evening, said he under
stood that General Sir Redvers Butler
did not expect the war to be short one.
The peace party is making the most Of
fol
bling of Parliament.
kilograms represent that Boer at
tack upon Natal is expected at any mo-
ment, but assert that Commandment Gen.
eral Jonbert has threatened to shoot any
man who moves without orders.
The London morning papers are in
clined to regard the seizure of gold by
the Transvaal Government as an act Of
war.
No absolute confirmation is obtainable
of the report that Boer ultimatum has
been presented, but the news comes
from what is usually good Boer source.
A TALK WITH GEN. JOUBERT.
London, October 1.-THE following
dispatch from correspondent who has
been at Bloemfontein and Pretoria, is
ttlegrapled to the Chronicle:
..Charlestown, under Majuba Hill,
Tuesday: | have just crossed the from
1 tier in truck which was placed at my
disposal by Coanmandant General Jou-
bert, who reached the frontier today
and is staying in the main Boer camp
on the Sand river. / had a long talk
with General Joubert in the train. He
said he deeply regretted the impending
. war, which he had done his utmost to
avoid. He wonders that Queen Victo-
] ria never answered the letter he adj
dressed to her on the situation.
IL notice everywhere general devo-
stion to the Queen and a pathetic belief
fiat she will stop the war. General
Joubert still believes in a South Afri-
can confederacy under English protecto-
rate, and attributes the present crisis
to Cecil Rhodes and Mr.. Chamberlain.
His last words to me were: i leave it
now to God. 1t may be His will that
the Transvaal shall perish. | can only
do my part
TO LAND MEN AND A GUN.
3 London, October 4.-Ine Daily Mails
correspondent at Lourenzo Marquee re-
ports that HI. NJ. S. Philoinel has gone
to Durham for the purpose of landing
100 men and a gun.
Commenting editorially on the fore
going dispatch, the Daily Mail says
it considers that the action reported
indicates grave danger. The Admiralty,
says the Daily Mail, would not coun-
tenance such measure except in cir
ehlnstances of unusual emergency and it
thinks it probable that other British
warships are converging silently upon
the theatre Of action.
FOR WAR EXPENDITURES.