The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-06
No Confirmation of Any Alarming Re-
ports, and 1t Is Believed the Real
Situation Has Not Been Changed.
SECRET MOVE BY RUSSIA
COUNT MURAVIEFF SOUNDING THE
CONTINENTAL POWERS.
Possibly to Organize "COncert"
Against Britain The Trnnsvaal
Waiting for Chamb erlain's Note.

LONDON Oct. 6.-While there is no dim
mutton in the flood of dispatches from South
Africa recording with almost tiresome itera-
ton the military preparations and move
ments of both sides, with all kinds of accur-
ate and inaccurate rumors and speculation,
the real situation remains unchanged. IL is
evident that strong efforts are still being
made to preserve peace. simultaneously with
determined energy to be prepared for any
emergency. IT Is expected that 5000 reserves
will be called out tomorrow and that an
army corps will be mobized on the 18th or
Goth of the month. In the meantime it is in
teresting to note that neither side shows an
anxiety to precipitate conflict. but is
rather inclined to give opportunity for the
play of peace influences.
The mysterious visit of Count Muravieff.
the Russian minister of foreign affairs, to
San Sebastian. where he saw the Queen
Regent and the King of Spain, and had long
conferences with Senor Silvea. the Spanish
premier. occupies political minds. From
SpaiL Count Muravieff will go to Paris Rus
sia's attitude in the Transvaal matter is
common knowledge. Germany IS officially
w
gram to President Kruger is not forgot
ten, and this. added to Frances bitter
ness since the Fashoda affair, and Spains
resentment of Englands attitude during the
Hispano-American war, sets the people ask
ing what the motives for Count Muravieff 5
tour are. The jingo press pooh-poohs the
idea of European interference, but in the
same breath eagerly seizes on any incident,
safC as 20
on the growing Anglo-American friendship.
The Daily Telegraph's dispatch of yester-
day morning announcing the Beers had in
vaded Natal and seized Laing's Mex now
seems to be without foundation. The gov
ernment has received nothing to justify the
report, although such move on the part of
the Beers would naturally cause little sur
prise.
MORE BRITISH TROOPS ARRIVE.
The British position in Natal was con-
siderably strengthened by the arrival yes
terday of Indian transports with reinforce
ments of about 1850 infantry, cavalry and
artillery, all of which will be promptly
sent to the front by train. and with their
arrival at Glencove and Ladysmith to-day
or Saturday the British advanced camps
and lines of communication will be prac-
successful dash across the frontier by the
Beers.
The military authorities apparently no
longer fear the massing OF the Beers along
the border, and in fact it has been provided
that the Beers shall not make a sudden in
vasion in the territory. The Natal author
tiles are rather pleased with this, because
they argue the tension of waiting will tell
severely on the Beers discipline; and,
moreover, they will soon exhaust what lit
tie forage there is near the border and
be compelled TO fall back on their base, be-
cause in view of the defective commits
sariat they are unwilling to advance into
Natal. leaving behind them a forageless
veldt.
Advices from Cape Town received last
Thursday night assert that both j. III.
Hofmeyer, the Afrikander leader i'm Cape
Colony, and ex-Chief Justice Kotze have
expressed the opinion that the imperial gov
ernment acted in the interests of peace
in demanding the suppression of the Trans
vaal agency in Brussels and the recall of
DR.. I.eyds, the Transvaal European repre-
sentative. Sir Alfred Miner. British high
commissioner in South Africa, has already
reported I'm this sense TO Mr. Chamberlain.
KAFFIRS RAIDING THE RAND.
Adyices from Johannesburg report that
Kaffirs are raiding business places and
houses on the east Rand. The whites have
fired on them. A special force of police has
been dispatched TO disperse the raiders.
A special dispatch from Pretoria says
that President Kruger expresses himself
strongly at being prevented by the execu-
tive from going to the front. He is re.
ported TO have said: Some people say
am the cause Of the present trouble. and i
want TO take my share of fighting with
my people" The same dispatch announces
that Commandant General JoLbert's wife
has started TO join her husband on the
border. Heavy rains have fallen and the
Sandspruit river is flooded.
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle furnishes little further
light upon the obscurity of the movements
of AIR. Hofmeyer. the Afrikander leader.
The correspondent admits that the report of
a conference between Mr.. Hofmeyer and Sir
Alfred Miner on Tuesday and the depar>
ture of Mr.. Hofmeyer was premature, but
says the conference actually occurred on
Wednesday, and il Is believed that no d.
rect result was attained. The Rhodesans"
continued the correspondent. ''are spreading
the report that Mr.. Hofmeyer is unwilling
to attempt a settlement, but this is inaccu-
rate. He is far from we'll, but Is anxious
TO mediate on the lines i have already In
dics ted" From this it appears that MIR.
Hofmeyer has not started on a mission Of
mediation.
The Times Pretoria correspondent supplies
an explanation OF the reported arrival OF
Mr.. Hofmeyer and Mr. Schreiner. the pre-
mier of Cape Colony. by alleging that 1t was
a hoax perpetrated on the proprietor of
hotel by an individual who ordered rooms
and supper for Messrs. Hofmeyer and
Schreiner.