The record-union., 1899-09-28
at Ladysmith, and the Fifth Lancers

The authorities have been unable to
overcome the trouble with the Cape
drivers, who refuse to accompany the
mountain batteries to the front from
Ladysmith, which is one of the bases
of operations.
An armored train. hurriedly complet-
ed at Cape Town. left there at mid
night for Ladysmith 1t consists of a
powerful engine with a 34-inch boiler,
a tender and three 20-ton cars The
whole outfit is painted in the Khaki
color is loopholed for rifles and a ma
chine gun, and is capable of carrying
120 men.
The Bechuanaland border is closely
patrolled day and night. Most of the
British residents have left Pieterma-
ritzburg, Natal, and the northern part
of the Transvaal, whittier it is en-
nounced commands of go burghels will
proceed shortly.
It is reported that the Boer agents
have made large purchases of grain at
Durham.
The inhabitants of several townships
on the frontier have appealed to Sir
Alfred Miner, the British High Com
military protection.
A dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette"
from Cape Town reports evidences of
unrest among the Griquas and Pondos
and a section of the Bechuanas and
Matabeles. 1t is feared they will revolt
in the event of war.
The War Office has ordered the whole
transport and supply for an army corps
to proceed to the Cape. This is a very
important order and implies the early
dispatch of an army corps.
The men of the twenty-five compa-
MES are being medically examined at
Aldershot to-day.
The Currie line has just received an
order from the admiralty to prepare the
Braemer Castle of that line to sail for
the Cape October 9th, with 1,400 Off
GERS and men. This is an entirely
fresh batch of troops and the compost
tion of it is unknown.
The Currie line has been compelled
to cancel it's present list, which was
made up, and workmen have been sent
to transform the Braemer Castle into
transport.
In spite of these warlike preparations
South African circles in London s-ill
believe there will be no war and that
the Beers will finally concede the Brit
ish demands.
A few days may witness a definite
development in the crisis of the Trans
yaal. A telegram, from Naples shows
that the British Government is buyir g
mules there, as well as IN the United
States. 1t is understood that 10000
will be purchased altogether, but as it
Will take at least month to get them
to Africa, and a similar time to get
an army corps to the front it is evil
dent that big operations will be impoS-
sible until toward the end OF October.
1t is understood that the British note
will virtually demand the absolute full
fillment of the conventions of 1881 and
1884, which have been violated in num-
erous points, but will accept a five
years limit for the franchise.
According to the Pretoria correspon-
dent of the Daily Chronicle" it is be
lieved in the highest quarters there
that settlement is even yet possible
il Great Britain will propose moderate
terms, and at the same time make it
clearly understood that these will be
regarded as final.
other dispatches from South Africa,
however, anticipate that President
Kruger will continue obdurate, and rep
resent the situation as of the gravest
character.
Dispatches from Pretoria and Johan-
nesburg speak of the probability of
hostilities within a week. One CORES
pondent says: -Four thousand rifles
and a quantity of ammunition have
just arrived at Johannesburg, and Are
being distributed by the fell cornets.
The Burghers of Pretoria, 1000 in
number, are equipped and awaiting The
order to advance"
A run is commencing on the banks in
the Transvaal and the Orange Free
State.
BUTCHERS GOING TO THE FRONT.
LONDON, Sept. 21.-The Johannes
burg correspondent of the Morning
Post" says:
| Twenty trucks filled with armed
Burghers and fifty horses left Johan-
nesburg by way of Elandsfontein. ',he
| Iian of campaign drawn up at Pre-
! toria proposes to employ a command OF
: 600 men to defeat the slender force on
Rhodesia, and to hand the territory
over to the natives. 1t is hoped that a
force of 10000 Burghers will be suffi-
cient to rush the Natal border, capture
| the forts and hold them to prevent the
| landing of British reinforcements The
Beers rely upon having supplies enough
| to last them for a year. They expect
/ that before a year has expired Russia
will interfere by creating a diversion
III some part of the British dominions.
All the Burghers count privately on re-
ceiving support from Cape Colony.
| M. de Blowitz, the Paris correspon-
| dent of the Times, :" who mentions a
rumor in circulation there chat hostili-
| ties have already broken out in South
Africa, says: ''Too much reliance
| should not be placed upon assertions
that no European Power will interfere
! in the struggle. Nothing Will be GER
/ tain until the war is actually in pro-
eress, and it may be that the unanimily
/ of the European Powers in asserting
the neutrality of Continental Europe is
a device to induce the Iransvaal not
/ to recede.'
PRESBYTERIANS.