Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-12
Time LIMIT NOT AWAITED
peDorts That The Boer and Free State
Troops Have Crossed the Border.
INVADERS HAVE ENTERED NATAL
They are Said to be Advance
ing Upon Ladysmith.
plFTERMARITzBURG GREATLY EXCITED

associated Press Dispatches ny Special Wires.
London, Eng, Oct. lift the latest
.orortl. which are confirmed at various
,Tipts in South Africn, are true, the
bnora have not waited for tho ex-
plration Of the time limit, but have
sIresdy crossed the border, as they
would be entitled to do, both in virtue
Of tho notification contained in tho
ast paragraph of the ultimatum and
Also Of the British acknowledgment
which reached Pretoria, SO speedily as
10 Justify belief, amounting almost
Ia certainty, that the war party i'll
Great Britain, while welcoming an
act which has deprived the country Of
Al peacefnl alternatives and given 1T
tbe great superficial advantage to be
derived from the fact that the ad-
versaty has voluntarily assumed the
stigma Of virtually declaring war, was
eagerly awaiting its chance and, de-
sujte newspaper attempts to veil the
real feeling, is in reality delighted that
diplomacy has said its last word, and
that action can now proceed.
There will inevitably be long
perod of suspense, together with a
ereai deal OF chatting from delay, as
/ Indications go to show that Great
/ Britain is so unprepared as TO be com.
RELIED to remain on the defensive for
some weeks. All the aggressiveness
I must come from the Doors.
1t seems highly probable that the
"tonguu Of Natal,n as far as New
castle, will DO in t3e hands of the
| Beers before may hours. From that
point, however, in the event of a
further advance, they would probably
f find British forces at Ladysmith and
Dundee capable of repelling their
| attacks.
At Ladysmith, the garrison, which
has to guard against an onslaught from
| the Orange Free State, was reinforced
Yesterday by the Gordon Highlanders
and strong contingent of the Indian
troops, and the authorities are now
confident of their ability to deal ont an
UNPLEASANT surprise to the Beers, in the
event of an attempt to rush the position.
At Dundee, there are about Coco
men This force ought to be sufficient
Y to stem Boer advance by way of Zulu
land, and to maintain the line of com
munication with the base at Pieter-
martzburg, the headquarters of Gen.
Sir George Stewart White.
On tho 8echuanaland border, the stu
alton seems to give tho Beers tenn.
porary advantage. There is consider.
able anxiety in the districts of Vrybure
and Mafeking, although it is hoped thai
the endorsements recently dispatched
there will be sufficient to protect the
itch town of Kimberley.
A dispatch from Pietermaritzburg.
Natal says intense excitement prevails
there, owing to persistent reports that
the Orange Free State troops haze
q ady crossed the border, and are
advancing uEon Ladysmith
A later dispatch from Pietermaritz
burg says the invaders entered Nata
by the important pass of Cund,
Cough, 81 miles southwest of New
castle.
Montague White, consul. general o.
the South African Republic in London
closed the consulate this afternoon
and Immediately left for the continent
An Important South African firm il
London has Just received n dipsatcl
from Cape Town, saying that revolu
tion of tho Dutch in Cape Colony i
regarded as imminent.