The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-12
M NEWS OF THE FIRST SHOT.
c,prE CONGESTION MAKES AFRI-
CAN REPORTS SLOW.


.1 when the War Is on the Ser
Il of News May BE Curtailed.
oorrment Dispatches Take Pre-
.,.uce-Situation i'm the Trans
Incomes More Serious Hourly.
hing From the Cape Al
hc rItimatum's Expiration.
..,,n Oct. II, 1915 p. m.-Up to the
,, bogr no dispatches have arrived
l.., ,be cane timed since the expiration
H., IN. ,,i.tratum, so it is not yet known
&D,.,,er tbe first shot has teen fired.
4 .lesam from Pretoria, timed 7:S0
,,,ocz Yesterday evening, says;
a or,e sfluauon is becoming more critical
!, ,rr,y Numerous Americans, Germans,
E,,..ncbmen. Swedes, Belgians, Norwe-
&. '.,s Danes. Italians, Dutchmen, Swiss
nd cane Afrikanders have gone to the
1,r5sr 10 fight for the Transvaal although
,t,v are not burghers. while many British
.7a,ts also have taken the oath Of ale
lance The hope is expressed by many
hat war will yet be averted."
Notoine since this has been received
s,,r Pretoria. and doubtless telegraph
Communication with the Transvaal is now
crt The absence Of news from the Cape
r,e early morning is not due to an in
&,o,runton of the cable, but TO the i'm
E,rerse pressure of work, the cables be-
ne probably nearly monopolized by Brit
ia government dispatches, which take
.preoejence of all others. Only two cables
Nr,p 10 Cape Town from Europe, and the
one on the eastern coast is very slow, so
hal practically all the work is thrown on
4 one Atlantic cable, which means that the
present exasperating delay will recur re-
speatedly during the progress of the war
and that the newspaper dispatches will
Z probably he very meager.
Further particulars regarding the cor
hespondence between President Steyn of
4 #he Orange Free State and Sir Alfred Mil
&te- Governor of Cape Colony and British
igh commissioner in South Africa, cabled
&rom B.omfontein. show that Sir Alfred,
h. Oct Z. stated that the imperial gov
kmment was recousdering the situation in
view Of the grave fact that both the repub-
Il rs We're on war footing, and was even
en prepared To consider a definite sug
Easton for the termination of the crisis.
Mn another dispatch he says:
MY object in all communications since
No. has been 10 leave nothing undone 10
&pyent such action on the part Of the
#rsnSvaal as is calculated to make a pa
#Efc solution finally impossible. 1 can
however ask the imperial government
#0r a pledge either regarding the disposi-
N lon of troops in British territory in South
81 frica or their dispatch from other parts
81 1e empire
Il President Steyn replied: ''The reasons
Dor arming the Transvaal were the pres
&Enca of an alien. hostile population in its
Binds, which was always stirring up hat
D. and endeavoring, for political or finan-
#lal reasons, TO undermine the independ-
+ tnoe Of the state. The Beers have never
&7ken the offensive, not even after the
Fomeson raid, when the Transvaal was
fuonely armed and there were few Brit
p troops there
Regarding the Free State army. 1t will
~ remembered that the Free State always
+ ved at peace and in harmony with its
4 9dsAoors and has everything to lose and
= o'hns 10 gain by a rupture. The burgh
r Will certainly not be called out un-
esS The government is thoroughly con-
"A Elncel that the British troops on the bor-
Ffs OF both states are a decided menace
~ lhe independence of the Transvaal,
F'hoh the Free State is bound to assist.
Great preparations are being made at
FouInampton for the departure on Satur-
ny OF Gen. Sir Redvers Butler, and
Fteat demonstration is anticipated. The
uEe OF Conraught the Duke of York,
Hola LansJowne Gen. Lord Wolsley and
'yA' sir Evelyn Wood are expected to ac-
company him to Southampton from Lon.
Eon' 1t is announced that the fleet Of
dosports conveying Gen. Sir Redvers
pu1ers army corps will be escorted by
N@shI@, while further dispatch boats and
lnooals VIII be sent to South African
XNaers.
me government has already expended
1''W In nava! and military prepara-
.S lne orders placed with contractors
W Week alone amounting o 1900 Coz. The
Il uno'ijies, anticipating a series reduction
We output # the South African coal
''.eS' mas ordered so ions of English
.'Hl e,al 10 be sent 10 the Cape for the
r. Ct the warships.
,"e outbreak of war has sent IN the
#C oil Eesdsh wheat on various country
&'a.As's The tanners have refused TO sell
Il 'eal under thirty shl,ings per quarter,
a'He ca 'cs even hod ng out for a sill
IA SGSpateh from Kimberley says Cecil
''1'S Is expected there shortly.