The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-09
ALL is ACTIVITY.
Every Department of
Government Wide
Awake.
MANY TRANSPORTS READY.
Beers Chafe at the Enforced
Long Delay OF
Hostilities.
MANY TRANSPORTS READY.

London, Oct. S.-Whatever may be the
result of Great Britain's controversy
with the South African republic, every
! department Of the government today is
busy as though actual hostilities had
been commenced. The electric flash
that announced the mobilization # the
army and the converting of parliament,
started the machinery in motion.
An hour after the gazette APPEARED
making the announcements, actice rep
arations had been taken at the wat Of
flee. At the same time Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Balfour were issuing the nee
essary orders for the assembling of par
lament and the admiralty was con-
tinuing its transports, "a of which are
now ready at Liverpool So complete
We're the preparations that %, 900 re-
serves have already individually re-
ceived coupon tickets which contain
instructions where each man shall re-
port for railway transportation to the
place designated and money order for
three shillings for provisions en- route
AT Wooiwtch it was asserted that rs
per cent. Of the reserves would be fully
equipped within six days.
In the meantime the members of par
lament are arranging to return t. Lon
don, and large force Of men is busily
engaged in completing the improve
ments at Westminster.
The most important news from South
Africa comes from Mafeking, where
twice on Saturday the camp was
aroused. The men stood to their arms,
guns were limbered and patrols were
dispatched in the direction of the Dor
der. No hostilities have occurred as
yet, but the Beers are camped On the
border, eight miles from Mafeking, in
force estimated at least 5000, compris-
ing five commanders. The garrisoning
and terrifying of the town are practl-
cally complete.
The streets are barricaded, and a
perfect system of mines has been laid.
Two armored trains have advanced at
Mafeking, consisting of three bullet
proof cars, the first of which carries a
searchlight, while the sides of the other
cars are loop-holed. Each train is com
plete in itself, and carries its own pro-
visions. Experiments with the lyddite
in the mines prove that it is an ex-
tremely powerful explosive. Col. Rob-
ert Stephenson Smith Baden Powell,
commanding the fifth battalion, has is
sued notice that the Beers who are
masSed on the Natal and Beehuana
frontiers have orders not to fire until
the British forces begin, and that the
town is well prepared for evenluali-
ties, and every effort should be made
to safeguard the women and children.
An armored train was inspected at
Kimberly, Saturday. A signal station
has been erected at a coming tower at
the top, 100 feet above the trucks. Com
munication by telephone is made and
signals made to the troops by flags. BY
this means maneuvres were success
fully conducted Saturday. The troops
number 5000, including the bicycle corps.
A train was also successfully tested at
Mafeking. It patrolled to the north and
practiced firing at targets.
A dispatch from Kimberly to the Cape
Town Argus says that 5000 Beers are
encamped midway between Boshoff and
Kimberly. They are we'll armed and
great religious fervor is shown in the
camp. The Beers, however, are chat
ing under the delay. They patrol the
border nightly, and have been or fered
not permit a British uniform to ar
proach the frontier. A special order
was gazetted Saturday, announcing
what British residents would be al.
lowed to remain in the Transvaal and
under what conditions.