The Transvaal.

Bush Advocate, Volume XII, Issue 1754, 30 September 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION. (By Eleotrio Telegraph— Copyright.) Durban, Sept. 28. According to advices received here the first contingent of troops from India will arrive at Durban on tbo 3rd of October, and will be followed by five thousand others within a fortnight of that date. If the British troops at Glencoe are reinforced, the Boer forces at Vryabeid threaten to cross the Buffalo river and seize the railway running from Durban to Laiug's Nek, and thus isolate tha British troops at Dundee and Ladysmith. London, Sept. 28. Twenty-five companies of tbe Army Service Corps will leave England for South Africa next week. This is taken as an indication of the early despatch of a complete army corns. The Daily Chroniole,"whicb espouses the cause of the Boers, and is credited with being well-informed as to their intentions, states that President Kruger some days ago wrote to a friend at Capetown announcing his determination to fight. * In this latter he set | out that he had prayed to God for three hours for guidance, and now felt perfectly happy, as the Lord had told him to fight.' The Daily Telegraph states proofs are accumulating at tbe Cape of the existence of a, great Duch conspiracy against British supremacy. The Free State is involved. September 29. Mr Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, in a speech at Dundee, said that the Government loyally, and with long-suffering patience, bad striven t j obtain a peaceful and honorable solution of the trouble. - Apparently the Boers refused to yield ; Great Britain cannot and will not do so. The interests of South African civilisation and national honor made retreat impossible. The Hon C. T. "Ritchie, President of the Board of Trade, speaking in London, said that if war occurred Mr Kruger was responsible,. Fifty thousand Mausers, half a. million cartridges, and several heavy mortars leave Holland for the Transvaal immediately. The rains bave commenced in the Transvaal. The scarcity of water has delayed' the Boers initiating an attack. It is feared that great difficulty will be experienced in provisioning Johannesburg. Tbe Chronicle says that Mr Kruger'a efforts to approach Lord Salisbury direct were foiled. The Times \ advocates tbe English demauds approaching the scheme outlined by the Outlanders' Council in July, and also bints at tbe disarmament of tbe Transvaal. Mblboubne, Sept. 29. Eleven hundred and fifty-three members of the defence forces have volunteered for the Transvaal. The Government is much concerned at tbe non-acceptance of the offer of troops. Up to the present it was made through the New South Wales Premier to assist tbe Federal cause, the stipulation being made that the Imperial Government pay all expenses. It has been urged that the offer should bo repeated direct on behalf of Victoria, the colony offering to pay all expenses. A meeting of the Cabinet will be held on Monday to discuss tbo deoisious of the Commandants' Conference and finally deal with the Victorian contingent. The Coiumandant states the contingent could not be put in tho field under nine weeks after the crder to organise. The Church of England Synod has . shown much warlike enthusiasm, and approved that every facility he given to chaplains proceeding to the Transvaal to carry out their duty to their God, Queen, and country. Parliament will be aßked on Tuesday to vote £50,000 to equip the troops for the Transvaal. Brisbane, Sept. 29. Apart from the Mounted Infantry there are numerous volunteers for tbe Transvaal. A well known officer offered to raise a hundred crack shots and forego his rank duriug hig absence from the colony.