Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-11
Beers Expected to Strike the English
Position Tonight.
GREAT EXCITEMENT At CAPE TOWN
Rumor That War Has Actually
Begun on Border.


LONDON, October IA late dispatch
from Pietermartzburg says the invaders
entered Natal by the important pass of
Cundy Clough, thirty-seven miles southwest
of New Castle.
Montague White. consul general of the
South African republic in London. closed
the consulate this afternoon and immediate-
ly left for the continent.
Mr.. Whites departure was not attended
by any excitement. Before shaking Off the
dust of England he said to a representa-
tive of the Associated Press:
"rhe expected has happened. I only
hope the hellishness of this premeditated
destruction of a republic is now appar-
ent. Let me remind America that the onus
of war lies not upon those who fire the
first shot, but upon those who compel 1t
to be fired.
''Technically we have temporarily put our
selves in the attitude of an aggressor; but
who would not have done SO when he be-
lieved the existence of his country was at
stake? L think must look far ahead to
see the consequences of this war.
Instead of the pacitication of South AZ
rica which is the alleged aim Of England.
we shall have perpetual unrest. These
very people for whom England is now
fighting will turn against her in time to
y as they are now protesting against ours.
For weeks l had seen England's deter
mination to force hostile issue, rather
Mr. Chamberlain's. l he is the
only member of the cabinet whose mind
thoroughly made up throughout all the
negotiations. What his intentions were is
evident from the situation today. Had the
franchise been the chief grievance our five
year proposition would certainly have been
accepted. 1 have reason to believe that
England enters upon her warlike course by
no means unit Opposition to Mr.. Cham
berlain's policy exists to a greater extent
than is generally conceived"
Revolution In Cape Colony.
An important South African firm in Lon-
don has just received a telegram from
Cape Town stating that a revolution of
the Dutch in Cape Colony is regarded as
imminent.
A dispatch from Pieteimaritzburg, Natal.
says intense excitement prevails there ow-
ing to persistent reports that the Orange
Free State troops have already crossed the
border and advancing upon Laoysmith.
If the latest reports which are confirmed
from various points in South Africa are
true the Beers have not waited for the
expiration of the time limit. but have al
ready crossed the border, as they would
be entitled to do. both in virtue of the no
tification contained in the last paragraph
of the ultimatum and also of the British
acknowledgment which reached Pretoria
SO speedily as to justify a belief amount
ing almost to certainty, that the war party
in Great Britain, while welcoming act
which has deprived the country of all
peaceful alternatives and given it the great
superficial advantage to be derived from
the fact that the adversary has voluntarily
assumed the stigma of virtually declaring
war; was eagerly awaiting its chance, and
despite newspaper attempts to veil the real
feeling, is in reality delighted that diplo-
macy has said its last word, and that
action can now proceed.
Period of Suspense.
There will inevitably be long period Of
suspence, together with great deal Of
chatting at delay, as all indications go to
show that Great Britain is so unprepared
as to be compelled to remain on the de-
fensive for some weeks. All the aggressive-
ness must come from the Beers.
1t seems highly probable that the Tongue
o. Natal" as far as Newcastle, will be in
the hands of the Beers before many hours.
From that point, however, in the event OF
a further advance, they would probably
dee capable of rApeling their attacks.
At Ladysmth the garrison, which has to
guard against an onslaught from the
Orange Free State, reinforced yester-
day by the Gordon Highlanders and a.
strong contingent of the Indian troops, and
the authorities are now confident of their
ability to deal out an unpleasant surprise
to the Beers in the event of an attempt
to rush the position
At Dundee there are about 6,o00 men.
This force ought to be sufficient to stem
a Boer advance by way of Zuuland and
maintain the line of communication with
the base al Pietermaritzburg. the head
quarters of Gen. Sir George Stewart White.
On the Bechuanaland border the situation
seems to give the Beers a temporary ad-
vantage. There is considerable anxiety in
the district of Vryburg and Mafeking. al
though it is hoped that the reinforcements
recently dispatched there will be sufficient
to protect the rich town of Kimberley.
Attitude of Cape Ministry.
The attitude which the Cape Colony min
istry will adopt on actual outbreak of hos
tilities is much discussed here. Dispatches
from Cape Town say that the cabinet will
resign, while there are persistent reports
in London that Sir Alfred Miner. governor
of Cape Colony. has already dismissed Mr..
VIM. P. Schreiner and his colleagues. II
is evident that one or the other Of these
contingencies must occur, as the governor
and commander-in-chief must be in po-
sltion to carry out defensive measures with
out regard to possible obstruction the
part of an unsympathetio cabinet.
There was great scene on the floor OF
the stock exchange at $3.50 today, the time
of the expiration of the period fixed in the
Boer ultimatum The brokers gathered and
began singing God Save the Queen" and
Rule, Britannia" A large crowd outside
took up the strains and singing and cheer
ing spread from point to point in the neigh4
borhood until the whole district was alive
with enthusiasm.
So far as declaration Of war is concern
ed, the feeling in London is that the Trans
yaal government viii merely invite the
British diplomatic agent. Conyngham
Greene to leave Pretoria on the expiration
of the time limit Of the ultimatum. Such
an act would preclude the necessity of any
further declaration. Certainly Great Britx