The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-13
ARE ALMOST READY.
British Are As Busy AS IF Hostili-
ties Had Begun.
The Beers Are Practically on the Border
and the Garr,soning and FOrtifying
of the Towns Are Completed.
Chatting Under Delay.

! LONDON, Oct. S.-Whatever may be
the result of Great Britain's controversy
with the South African Republic, every
department of the government today
is as busy as though actual hostilitIes
had begun. The electric flash that an
nOunced the mobilization of the army
reserves and the summoning of parlia-
ment, set every wheel of the govern
ment machinery in motion. An hour
after the gazette appeared executive
orders were being dispatched from the
war Office to every section of the king
dom and the 10000 bulletins which ap-
peared posted throughout the country
! today are said to have been identical
with the proclamation prepared for use
had the Fashoda incident required such
step.
At the same time Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. BalfOur were issuing necessary or
ders for the reassembling of parliament
and the admiralty was concentrating
its transports, twenty-four of which
are now secured at Liverpool alone.
So complete were the preparations that
%, 900 reserves have already individually
received coupon tickets which contain
| instructions where each man shall re-
port for railway transportation to the
| place designated, and a money order
for three shillings for provisions en-
route.
At Woowich today it was asserted
that 95 per cent. of the reserves would
be fully equipped within six days In
the meantime the members of the two
houses of parliament are arranging to
return to London and force of men is
busily engaged in completing the i'm
provement of Westminster.
The most important news from South
Africa comes from Mafeking, where
twice on Saturday the British camp
was aroused, the men stood to their
arms, guns were limbercd and patrols
were dispatched in the direction of the
border. No hostilities have occurred
as yet, but the enemy has moved prac-
ticallY to the border, eight miles from
MafekIng, in force estimated at least
5000, comprising five commodoes. The
garrisoning and fortifying of the towns
are practically completed. The streets
are barricaded and perfect system of
mines have been laid. Two armored
trains have arrived at Mafeking, con-
sisting of three bullet-proof cars, the
| first of which carries a searchlight,
while the sides of the other cars are
lOop-holed. Each train is complete in
itself and carries its own provisions.
Experiments with Lyddite in the mines
proves that it is an extremely power
full explosive. Col. Robert Stephenson
Smythe Baden-Powell, commanding the
Fifth dragoOn guards, has issued
notice that the Beers who are massed
on the Bechuanaland and Natal from
tiers, have orders mot to fire until the
! British begin, and that the town is
| well prepar I'd for eventualities, but, as
the Beers may shell the place, every
endeaver should be to safeguard the
women and children. An armored
train was inspected at Kimberly Sat
urday. A signal station has been erected
with a coming tower at the top 13O feet
high. Communication is had bv tele-
phone with a central office, and signals
are given to the troops by flag. By this
means maneuvers were successfully
conducted Saturday. The troops num-
Der 5000, including the bicycle corps.
A train was also successfully tested at
Mafeking. 1t patroled to the north
and practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberly to the Cape
Argus says that 5000 Beers are en-
camped midway between Boshof and
Kimberly. They are well armed, and
great religious fervor is shown in the
camp. The Beers, however, are chafng
under the delay. They patrol the
border nightly, aud have been ordered
not to permit British uniform to ap-
proach the frontier.
A special order was gazetted on Sat
urday announcing what British resi-
dents would be allowed to remain in
the Transvaal and under what condi-
tionS.