Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-03
Scarcity of News From Trans
vaal Leads to Belief That
Wires Are Down.
BRITAIN HANGS BACK.
q Opinion Growing In England That tho
Government Does Not Want War
Statements of Cabinet Call.
ed Appeals for Peace.

Press.)-I is announced that the in
tention of the cabinet to meet tomor-
row has apparently been reconsidered.
1t is now said the meeting depends
largely on developments in the Trans
wal. The remarkable absence of news
from South Africa this morning leads
10 the belief that there has been a
widespread cutting Of telegraph wires,
or an extra censorship has been estah-
lished. There has been no Transvaal
news vet today, so there is nothing to
soften the extreme bellicosity of yester-
days dispatches. Had the Beers not
determined to fight it out or if they
have not prepared for hostilities, they
would, it is thought, have sent some
temporizing reply to Britain's dis
patch. All hanging back seems to be
!. on Great Britain's side. where, in spite
OF the newspaper and war office talk
Of the mobilization of the army corps,
the work is apparently proceeding
in curiously leisurely manner. The
departure of General Sir. Redvers Bull
lock has been postponed from week to
week. When the members of the cabi-
net talk in public, their assurances OF
Great Britains good. will towards the
Transvan are regarded as almost
smacking of pathetic appeals for peace.
A Hoax.
London, Oct. 2.-(By Associated
PTess.)-I now appears! that the alleg-
ed calling ont of the first class army
reserve was u hoax. The circulars We're
issued ON official paper and many mem
!. bers of the reserve presented them
Alyes.ssss at the.-tbafI racks only to find The
order forgery. The police have the
matter in hand An advertisement ap-
peared, this morning announcing the
formation of a corps of gentlemen
rough riders, patterned after Roose-
ye1t's rough riders, for service in South
Africa.
Advices from Ladysmith. Natal, say
that 600 burghers have assembled at
Albertina, Orange Free State, with the
object of proceeding in the direction
of the border. 1t is feared that raid
on Ladysmith is meditated
may Issue More Consols.
London, Oct. 2.-(By Associated
LIES. l---l uG ldil GOuSOlS PARTLY
due to rumors of the imminent issue
OF from twenty to twenty-five millions
more consols. The war officials de-
cline to confirm or deny the report.
Excitement ut Cape Town
London, Oct. 2.-(By Associated
Press There is great excitement at
Cape Town, where it is reported the
Beers have occupied I.aing's Neck.
Duli-on stock Exchange.
London, Oct. 2.-By Associated
Press .)--Consols opened at IL IS. and
later dropped 16 more, due to the mon-
etary position. On the Stock Exchange
business was almost at standstill.
Spain Is Interested.
Madrid, Oct. 2.--tBy Associated
Press. )-El Liberal declares that Spain
cannot remain Indifferent to the events
In the Transvaal in view of the exist
ence of an Anglo-Portuguese treaty by
the terms of which, in the event of.
Great Britain becoming engaged in
war with another power, Portugal is
obliged to mobolize 100000 men and
allow Great Britain to use her forts
and arsenals. Ell Liberal follows up
this extraordinary assertion with the
statement that secret convention al
30 provides that Portugal will cede to
Great Britain, Lourenzo. Marquese, De-
lagoa Bay and Mozambique in Africa,
and calls on the government Ito take
discreet measures in the interest of
Spain.
Effort to Interest United States.
New York. Oct. e.-(Ry Associated
y n Il.