Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-02
PATRIOTIC BOERS
Public officials Volunteer for War
and Women Urge Them to Fight
for Their Native Land.
ORANGE FREE STATE READY
Great Britain Has Been Slow in Her Prepa-
rations But the Beers Have Lost
No Time They Do Not
Want Peace.

London, Oct. 2.-The announced in.
tention of the British cabinet to meet
tomorrow has apparently been recon
sidered. 1t is now said the meeting de-
pends largely on developments in the
Transvaal. The date of summoning
parliament has not been definitely set
tied though expected to be about Octo-
Der 10. The remarkable absence OF
news from South Africa this morning
leads to the belief that there has been
widespread cutting of telegraph wires
or an extra censorship has been estab-
lished. There is nothing to soften the
extreme bellicosity of yesterdays dis
patches. Neither is there anything to
indicate that the authorities Of Pretoria
have the slightest desire to come to
terms peacefully with Great Britain.
Had the Beers not determined to fight it
out, or If they had not prepared for hos
tilities, they would, it is thought, have
sent some temporizing reply to Great
Britain's dispatch.
The hanging back seems to have been
on Great Britain's side where, in spite
Of newspapers and the war Office talk Of
mobilization Of the army corps is ap-
parently proceeding in curiously leis-
urely manner. The departure of GEN
eral Butler, commander of the British
forces in South Africa, has been post.
poned from week to week and when the
members of the cabinet talk in public,
their assurance that Great Britain's
good will toward the Transvaal is re-
garded as almost smacking of pathetic
appeals for peace. 1t now appears that
the alleged calling out of the first class
army reserve was hoax Circulars
were issued on official paper and many
members of the reserve presented them
selves at the barracks only to find the
order forgery. The police now have
the matter in their hands,
Advertisements appeared this morn
ing announcing the formation of corps
of gentlemen rough riders, which is
patterned after Roosevelt's rough riders,
for service in South Africa.
Advices from Ladysmith, Natal, to-
day say 600 burghers have assembled at
Albertina in Orange Free State with the
object of proceeding in the direction of
the border and it is feared raid on
Ladysmith is meditated.
Reports from Cape Town declare that
an immediate rupture OF diplomatic re-
lations between Great Britain and the
Transvaal is expected.
Great excitement prevails at Cape
Town where it is reported the Beers
have occupied Laing's Neck.
The general drift of news indicates
the position of the British troops in
South Africa is critical, owing to delay
IN sending reinforcements and in the
event Of hostilities early reverses are re-
garded as possible.
The latest advices show that the
Transvaal mobilization has been rapid
and comprehensive. Many Beers, it is
said, did not wait to be cOmmandeered
but proceeded to the border spontane-
ously. Members of the executive of the
state, secretaries, Kruger's relatives,
members of the volksraad, judges and
other professional men are all eagerly
giving their services and the women are
bidding the men die rather than return
beaten.
1t is calculated that Orange Free
State already has 1000 men on the
border.
1t is announced that General Butler
will sail for Cape Town either Friday or
Saturday next.
Advices from Cape Town say dispatch
received there to-day from Charlestown,
Natal, announces eighty members of the