Mesa free press., 1901-01-18
WANT RE|NFORCEMENTS
Cape Town is frightened Advance o
The invading Beers
pLUNDERING THE COUNTRY
It is Asserted That Unless the Forces in
Cape Colony are Increased the Success
In Arms of the Invaders Might be the
Signal for Dutch Uprising.

LOnuOn, Jan. Tins mOruluS
news from Cape Town is again unsat-
isfactory. Martial law has been pro-
claimed at Malmesbury, and would
have been proclaimed in other districts
but that the cabinet meeting called
Saturday was unable to agree as to
it's advisability.
The Vagueness of the information
concerning the movements and posi-
tion of the invaders has sent a fresh
cold fit over the colonists. and Cape
Town calls loudly for strong reinforce
ments from England on the ground
that the greater part of Lord Kitch-
ener's available force is employed in
protecting the lines Of communication
and the Rand mines, the latter extend
ing for distance of fifty miles.
1t is asserted by one Cape Town cor
respondent that unless the forces in
Cape Colony are increased most un-
desirable state of affairs may result,
as the success in arms of the invaders
however slight, might be the signal for
Dutch rising. AS it is, many British
residents have had to leave the Dutch
villages near Cape Town, their lives
being unbearable. According to ma
tivet report, a hundred men, either
Beers or local farmers. have just
passed through Clan William district
in the direction of Malmsbury.
Cape Town, Jan. 4.-The military
authorities are preparing for all con-
tingencies. 1t has been decided to
transfer the Boer prisoners from the
camps to the transports.
No1p 1oxyelY N
describe the Beers as travelling in par
ellel columns, with numerous fanking
parties sweeping the country on horses
plundering royalists and carrying on
everything eatable. 1t appears that
they are accompanied by strings OF
pack horses lightly loaded.
Colesberg telegraphs that Kritzin-
gers commando is crossing the Mid
dleberg district and is getting few II
any recruits.
Here, in Cape Town, such business
men as are able to leave. are 'organ1z-
ing a town guard, composed of the
leading citizens. The commercial COM
panies have asked the mayor to call a
mass meeting to urge the government
to suppress disloyal newspapers and tO
proclaim martial law.
The British battleship Monarch has
landed men and guns to relieve the
troops for service northward. 1t is be-
lieved that the guns will be sent up
the country.
Five hundred citizens enlisted
Thursday, the enrolment being very
active. It is hoped that the first
batch of men will leave within three
days for Worcester. They have to hold
the passes of the Hex river to pro-
tect the railroad tunnel. The organl-
Zation is rough and ready and not
troubled much with drill or special
uniform. Horses are scarce.
Six thousand five hundred South
African irregulars have been recruited
during the last eight weeks.
The Beers in the Transvaal have
been exceedingly active for the last
week or so, daily attacking trains, con-
voys, and isolated posts. In most in
stances, they have been repuIsed, and
the railways are working more regu-
larly.
The Beers in Bechuanaland have
been again Joined by the inhabitants,
who once before rebelled.
Two hundred Beers have recrossed
the Orange river going north.
The Russian commandants Petrowsk
and Duplocy were, killed in the fight
ing at Utrecht. December 25.