ON THE EVE OF THE WAR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9662, 3 November 1899, Page 4

ON THE EVE OF THE WAR.

BOER AND BRITISH PREPARATIONS EXTRACTS FROM CAPE FILES. Pretoria, September 29.— The railway station presents a lively sight, as the artillery are busy loading up big guns for Volksrust, and large quantities of ammunition, forage, and provisions are also being despatched. Numbers of armed burghers are riding about the streets waiting for < orders to entrain. A large body of men leave at 7 p.m. for Volksrust. The German corps of 300 Btrong leave to-day for Volka- . rust. A detachment of the reserve of artillery lias left for Rustenburg. The Hollauder corps leaves for the Natal ; border on Monday. As soon as martial > law is proclaimed all outside postal comi munications.will be stopped. A band of 1 the artillery is leaving for the Natal border. September 30. — The arming of the i Pretoria burghers commences to-morrow, i the mounted with Mausers and the foot with Martini-Henris. The Mausers were unpacked to-day. The field cornet has i been in close consultation with the War i Office, and all arrangements are in order. ■ Circulars regarding the formation of volnn- > teer corps will shortly be distributed • throughout the city. Arrangements are ■ being made to keep the railways, etc., supplied with coal in case of hostilities. > Joiiannksiiorg, September 29. — The i town has been bustling with military activity to-day. Government officials i from daybreak were busy commandeering horsea, saddlery, provisions, and general i equipmoht from burghers. Complete stores i were in some cases commandeered, but the officials performed their duties with as! little unpleasantness as possible. Horses i were, however, Btopped in the streets, and , large firms had their stables depleted. . About 700 horses altogether were taken , possession of. The same state of affairs . prevailed in Krugersdrop and Koksburg, and a commando for the West Rand passed [ through at 6 p.m. to-day. It was com- ! posed of about 600 men, and from the , centre of the train the vierkleur waved. , Special trains with the Johannesburg corps i followed them. They carried 750 men. The burghers were in high spirits, and , sang and cheered before entering on the , journey. , Glencoe, September 29. — Patrols of various strengths have gone out recon- , noitring the surrounding country on the road towards Dejagersdrift, on the Buffalo , river, where the Boers are said to be constructing a laager on tho Transvaal side. Tho greatest enthusiasm prevails among . the officers and men. A company of mounted infantry of the Dublin Regiment i marched into camp last night. Last night, on various points of the mountain range, signalling practice was exercised. The , lamp flashes had the appearance of searchlights shooting up through the darkness of the night, b beiugvery dark at the time. Lieutenant-Colonel Moller, who is commanding the ISth Hussars, is officer of the camp. The next in command is Major Knox, who has assumed temporary command of the Hussars. Many of the officers and non-commissioned officers are experionced campaigners, having passed through the Tirah and Clu'tral expeditions with success and glory before joining their present command of the 18th, The march of the flying column from Ladysmith to Dundee is highly eulogised as a masterly manoeuvre on the part of General Symons, and executed with dash and expeditious success by Lieutenant-Colonel Moller, who was in command.