Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-10-07
STILL HOPE.
Beers Delay in Assuming Of.
fensive Operations.
MILNER IS OPTIMISTIC.

Thinks Powerful Influences Mt
Work in Pretoria and Bloc mf0n.
tein May Open tho boo" to Pacific
Solution - British Government
Limited in Expenditure -- Army
Corps Now Over 10000 Men -Jou.
bert Deeply Regrets Impending
War Everywhere in Transvaai
General Belief in Queen.
London, Oct. 5.-A telegram from Jo-
hanneshurg says that the state secre-
tary, Reitz, of the Transvaal, informed
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 assuming
the offensive points to Willingness on
the part of the Translaal government to
allow political counsel to override mil
itary order, and that ther is, therefore.
still hope that the AfrikanGer efforts
for peace will prevail.
1t is unders TODD that Sir Alfred Milner
has not yet abandoned the hope that the
powerful 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.
The peace party is making the most of
the interval of the anticipated rcas-
sembling of parliament. The executive
committee of the national liberia! fed.
Grafton, at the recent meeting, adopted
a resolution which was communicated
to the affiliated liberal associations
throughout the country, declaring that
war was unjustified by the facts, and
urging Lord Salisbury to seek peaceful
solution Of the difficulty.
The Daily Chronicles correspondent
at Cape Town says: For the first time
in several months j. H. Hoffmeyr, the
Afrikander leader in Cape Colony, and
Sir Alfred Miner met Tuesday in con-
ference. An unconfirmed report Is In
corculation that Mr.. Hoffmeyr has been
entrusted with an imperial mission to
Pretoria.
The most interesting announcement in
connection with the Transvaal crisis is
that Chancellor of the Exchequer Hicks
Beach has sanctioned the provisional
expenditure Of G3,OC0O0 and the gov
eminent will not exceed that limit with
out authority from parliament. which
will he asked to vote sum not exceed
ing GS,0O0,000.
A meeting Of the war beard yesterday
discussed and drew up arrangements
to ensure the safety Of the route from
Durham to Laing's Mex. so that large
bodies Of troops, on disembarkatio may
be rapidly forwarded up the country to
the front, without confusion or crowd
ing at the base.
1t is stated that the war Office has de-
,ided that the army corps for service in
south Africa shall be much larger than
originally estimated and that it now
consists of over 10000 men. The prep
,rations for the dispatch OF this force,
ncluding the chartering of big ocean
liners. Is steadily and satisfactorily pro-
ceeding.
The Press association learns that the
dispatch drawn up by the cabinet on
Friday is still unsent. On the other
hand telegram from Brussels gives,
from well informed source" the news
that DR.. Leyds, the representative in
Europe Of the South African republic,
has received confirmation Of the report
that President Kruger had addressed
an ultimatum to Great Britain, demand
ing the withdrawal Of the British forces
from the frontier within IS hours, and
that 1t was delivered on Monday. This
report, however still lacks official con-
trmatlon.
The following dispatch from COR
respondent who has been at Blocmfon.
tein and Pretoria is telegraphed to The
Chronicle: l have just crossed the from
tier in a truck which was placed at my
disposal by Commandant General JOu-
bert, who reached the frontier Tuesday
and Is staying in the main Boer camp on
the Sand river. I had long talk with
General Joubert. He said he deeply re-
gretted the impending war, which he had
done. his utmost to avoid. He wonders
that Queen Victoria never answered the
letter he add essed to her on the situa.
tion.
Inotice everywhere general devotion
to the queen and pathetic belief that
she will stop the war. General Jouber'
still believes in South African con
federacy under an English protectorate,
and attributes the present crisis tc
Rhodes and Chamberlain. His last
words to me were: II leave it now tt
God. II may he His will that the Trans
vaal shall perish. / can only do my
best"
A dispatch from Bloemfontein states
that the government publishes a tele-
gram from Boshof. stating that the Brit
ish forces have crossed the border, and
that fighting has commenced. Another
telegram says the troops have crossed
the border. but that no fighting has oc-
Cured. The government discredits the
report.
A special dispatch from Newcastle,
Natal, dated Wednesday, says: The
Beers have left the Laager at Volksrust
and are moving toward the frontier. The
situation Is most critical. The magis.
trates and municipal officers have as.
sembed in the town hall to concert
measures for the defense of the town
women and children have been ordered
| to leave for the frontier of Natal.
The Daily Mails correspondent at
Lourenzo Marques reports that H. NJ. s.
Philomel has gone to Durham for the
purpose of landing 100 men and gun.
| The Daily Mail says 1t considers that the
action reported indicates grave danger.
and 1t thinks it probable that other
British warships are converging silently
| upon the theater of action.
Other kilograms represent that Beer
attack upon Natal is expected at any
moment, but aYert that Commandant
General Joubert has threatened to shoot
any man who moves without orders.
No absolute confirmation Is obtainable
of the report that Boer ultimatum has
| been presented, but the news comes from
usually good Boer sources.