Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-10-12
MORE CRITICAL, HORNY

Of British interests to United States
Consul Macrum. .
MORE CRITICAL HOURLY.
LONDON. Oct. I.-10:15 P. MUD
to the present hour no dispatches have
arrived from the Cape, timed since the
expiration OF the ultima tum, SO it is
not yet known whether the first shot
has been fired.
y telegram from Pretoria time 7:30
yesterday evening. says:
The situation is becoming more crit
ical hourly. Numerous Americans,
Germans. Frenchnen. Swedes Bel
Gians. NorweSians. Danes. Italians.
Dutchmen. Swiss and Cape .Afrikand-
ers have gone to the border to fight
tor the Transvaal, although they are
not burghers, while many British res
idents also have taken the oath of al
legiance. The hope is expressed by
many that war will yet he avertetl"
COMMUNICATIONS. CUT OFF
Nothing since this has been received
from Pretoria and doubtless telegraph
communication With the Tr~nsvaal IS
nO% cut "
The absence Of news from the Capc
since early morning is not due I" ;,n in
terruption of the cable. but TO the i'm
mcnSc pressure of work. the cables he
in" probably nearly monopolized by
british government dispatches which
take precedence of all others. Only
Two cables run to Cape Town from Eu-
rope. and the one on the eastern coast
IS Very slow, 50 that practically all the
work is thrown on the Atlantic cable.
which means that tho present eNasper-
;tting delay will rccur frequently dur
ing the progress of the war and thai
the newspaner deapatches will probably
EFFORTS FOR PEACE.
Further particulars of the cores
pondcncc between President Stcyn of
The Orange Free State. and Sir Alfred
Miner. British high commissioner in
South Africa. ca hled from Bloemton-
tcin. shows hat Sir Alfred on Octobe..
!. stated that the government was con
%idcrinE the situation and the grave
fact that both REPUBLICS We're on Il war
footing and was even then prepared to
consider definite suggestion for the ter
mination of the crisis. In another de-
Sratch he says:
My object in all communications
since October .. has been to leave moth
ing undonc to prevent such action on
he ra", - ..''a;.l as is cac,,-
lated to make a pacific solution finally
Impossible. I cannot. however. ask he
imperial government for Il pledge. eth
.: regarding the disposition of troops
III British territory in South Africa or
t',eir despatch from other parts of the
empire.
STEYN's REPLY.
President Steyn replied: Tho reas-
ons for armins the rransvaal We're the
lresence OF an alien. hostile population
in its midst which was always stirring
M hatred and endeavoring. for politi-
or financial reasons. to undermine the
Independence Of the state. The Beers
have never taken the offensive. not
even after the Jameson raid when tho
Transvaal was strongly armed and
there were few British troops there.
THE burghers will certainly not be
called out unless the government is
thoroughly convinced that the British
troops on the borders of both states arc
:, decided menace to the Independence
of the Transvaal which the Free State
is bound to assist
WAR EXPENSES.
The government has already expenl-
ed 100000 pounds in naval and Mill
tary preparations. the orders placed
With contractors this week alone
amounting to 100000 pounds. The ;.u-
thOr.es. anticipating a serious reduc-
ton in the output Of the South African
coal mines, has ordered 5000 tons Of
English steam coal to be sent to the
Care for the use Of the warships.
The outbreak OF war has sent up the
price Of English wheat on various
country markets, the farmers have re-
fused to sell wheat under 80 shillings
Ter quarter. in some cases even hold
ing out for a still higher price.
\ despatch from Kim bery says Cecil
rhodes is expected there shortly.
A PROCLAMATION.
PRETORIA. Oct. 1.-THE Official Ga
zette today contains a proclamation CAL
ling upon the burghers domicied out
side the republic without permission OF
the government to present themselves
forthwith to their respective COM
mandants for service failing which
they will be punished by fines varying
from 100 pounds to 500 pounds, or by
imprisonment and confiscation Of prop
erty.
REVOLUTION INN nNE,Nr
LONDON, Get. H.--An important
South African firm in London has just