New-York tribune., 1899-10-02
The Government undertakes to provide for the
families Of burghers who 90 to the front.
.SILENCE DEEMED ONTNOUS.
COMMUNICATIONS WITH
HELD-NATAL TRAINS TURNED
BACK.

London OCT. 2-Not the faintest hint IS al
lowed to escape as 70 what diplomatic communi-
cations. If any are passing between London
and South Africa So far the public Is con-
cerned. matters have not advance since Friday.
It Is noticeable that not even the Brussels
agency Of the Transvaal Government has yet
issued Mr.. Krugers latest note 10 the press
The silence maintained on both sides Is regarded
as ominous.
From South Africa the news Is wholly con-
cerned with feverish preparations for hostilites.
Commandant General Joubert IS reported to have
said that he has ten thousand men on the Natal
border. and that Commandant Cronie has three
thousand on the Bechuana side.
The British camp in the vicinity Of Dundee
consists Of five thousand men. with twenty-four
guns in strong positions.
The Orange Free State is actively COM
Wandering
The Transvaal Government has virtually taken
over the Netherlands Railway for military pur-
poses. and Natal trains are being turned back.
Telegraph wires between Natal and Johannes
burg have been cut since Friday
According 10 dispatches from Pretoria, com
plcte chaos regns there. The Government has
declared a moratorium (an emergency act OF
legislation authorizing a Government bank 70
suspend specie payments for A given PERIOD
closed all the courts and suspended the English
papers II IS said that there viii be nearly
thirty thousand burghers along the borders pS
tf,s evening (Monday)
In Johannesburg warrants have been issued
for the arrest Of some fifty prominent Outand-
all Cd
warning and got safely away.
An unconnrmed rumor has reached Johannes
,,,re that the first portion Of the Indian contin-
gent has arrived at Durham. Natal
The special correspondent Of The Daily Man
o., pietermaritzburg. Natal. describing train
tourney with a Boer commando. says:
rho burqhers were hilarious. insulted the
...ssoreors and fred from the carriages al two
,n.r killing them Their firing also broke the
,elegraph wire. facilitating the escape Of frgi-
.,,s from Johannesburg. They are now pre-
,,,,ing the receipt Of teleerams by ordering
their detention at Volksrust.
rrho Rasptoland natives have been engaged
for a week or so fl practising witchcraft pre-
,arinq n go on the warpath. The ceremonies
consisted in slowly torturing 20 death oxen rep
r.sontinr the Beers and the British. These sac
ri0ces according 20 the natNe Tep"i'S' i'D''"''H
that the Beers would be victorious.
London. oct 2-The correspondent OF Inc
Morning Post" at Pietermaritzburg says:
understand that Commandant General Jou-
bort viii not command in the field He intends
90 ro,nrn to Pretoria. His hurried visit to the
f,,u, was TO hold the young Beers in check
~ schalk Burger. Of the Executive Council.
v,ll command the Beers on the Delasoa hay
frontier
~rbe Daily Mail" publishes the following dis
patch from sydney n $ W:
Il is understood that difficulties have arisen ,,,
oc,,on with the conference Of the mill
:" ,nrv commanders regarding the sending Of an
@,,s,raIian contingent TO South Africa. The
. .,,,o has adjourned: but I'm any case, the
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