The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-07
SEIZURE OF ARTICLES IN COURSE
OF TRANSIT BY FREE STATE
AUTHORITIES
REPORTED ACT NOT CONFIRMED
NEITHER SIDE SEEMS TO BE IN A
HURRY TO STRIKE THE FIRST
BLOW OF THE CONFLICT
NATIVES ARE ACTING UGLY

LOOting stores and Maltreating
Those Who Attempt to Oppose
Them-Peace Possibilities Are Yet
I'm Evidence Unsubstantiated
Statement That Queen Victoria
Nav Abdicate in Event of War.
LONDON, Oct. 6.-The Cape Town cor
respondent of the Daily Mail says:
"A sensation has been caused here by
a report that the Free State government
has cCmmandered 500 tons of coal belong
Ing TO the Cape government. which was
tra1 erstng the Free State. Such a seizure
would naturally be regarded as an act of
war. J. W Sauer, the commissioner of
public works when questioned in the as
sembly regarding the matter, prOfessed
ignorance. but I learn the report was
teIegraphed to the Cape ministry early
in the day.
u learn that the TransvaaIs threat to
put British subjects over the border
would necessitate the withdrawal of
Cenyngham Greene.
Some excitement is Occasioned by the
report that a large number Of British
troops are to be landed here instead of
at Durham. This is taken TO signify that
the Transvaal will be invaded from the
west and not from Natal"
NEITHER SIDE IN A HURRY
All the latest Intelligence from South
Africa points to a continuance of the ex-
isting situation for some time, as both
sides are apparently difhdent about COM
mencing an attack, although from the
dispatches received here it seems as
though every movement of a patrol and
every cloud of dust made by a herd of
cattle were turned into a general advance
of both armies
The delay is all to the good, tnasmuch
as il gives tine for further negotiations,
..ud today's indications apparently show
a willingness on the part of the British
government to continue to utilize dipIo-
macy.
A we'll defined conviction is prevalent
thar the foreign office is trying to dis
cover a way out of the impasse which has
been created by admitted mistakes and
miscalcuIations and it is evident that
peace advocates and peace counsels are
gaining ground. However. Mr. Chamber
lafr's refusal to seize the chance given
him by the petition of fifty-eight mem
bers OF the Cape house of assembly to
point out in his reply that the Beers still
have an opportunity Of accepting Great
Britaiu's previous offer, so long as her
new proposals remain unformulated
seems to show q personal determination
he qrt 7f 0a :
the colonies not to yield an iota in the
negotiations.
While the spirit of war evidently de-
creases in Great Britain, dispatches from
the scene Of possible hostilfties grow
more and more Iurid. Advices from Pre-
toria describe the Boer organs as crying
for impossible terms and President Kru-
gec as referring to the prospective
struggle as a means of setting the re-
pubic totally free of England"
It is also said, according to advices
from the same point, that the Boer forces
q VOlksrUst will advance TODAY to the
Natal border, and, according to Gen. Sv-
mons, although Commandant General
JoUbert is personally averse to hostfIities
his patient tactics will not last. as the
Beers Will soon either demand to be dis
banded or to receive orders to invade
Natal
Dispatches from Cape Town. Of doIrb+-
ful authenticity. alIege that the Roar or
ganiza ton in the field is already break
ing down and that friction is developing
between the artillery, who are regulars.
and the burgher commandos.
The refugees in Cape Town are having
had tine, the women and children he
ing in Ditiable plight. The governments
offer to send transport for scme of the
distressed has been accepted.
QUEEN MAY ABDICATE.
In connection with the rumors that
Queen Victoria is liable to Intervene 70
prevent war, curious story is published
this morning by the Vienna Estrablatt
which alleges that her majesty intends
to abdicate in the event of an outbreak
of Eostilities, declaring that it has this
Information from an excellent source. The
statement UnfavOrably affected the vi
enna bOerse.
The announcement from Pretoria that
the British diplomatic agent, Convnghan
Greene, is i'll, is taken in some quarters
to indicate the possibility Of his recall
and Of further steps in the direction Of
a peaceful adjustment
A host Of officers, including Prince
Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstetn
and q large number of nurses, sailed for
the Cape today. 1t now appears that
Lieut.. Winston Spencer Churchill son Of
the late Lord Randolph Churchill. who
will accompany Gen. Sir Redvers Butler,
will go not on behalf of the Times. but
as the war correspondent Of the London
Morning Post and the New York World.
The British foreign Office, when shown
the Vienna story as to the intention Of
the queen to abdicate should war break
out. declared it "supremely ridiculous"
an utterly baseless.'
NEW ARMY CORPS.
The Daily News asserts a new army
corps will be modified tomorrow.
A dispatch from Mafeking announces
that Commandant Cronje, of the B2er
forces, has been promoted to the rank
of commander and is massing 1900
Beers near Ramthalaba, north Of Mafe-
king. The dispatch announces that
Gen. Cronje has sent a message to the
camp of the imperial troops at the first
shot fired in Natal.
Henry Escombe, formerly premier of
Natal, is going to Pretoria in the inter-
ests of peace.
H. M. s. PhilomeI suddenly left Dur
ban today for Delagoa bay
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