ON THE BORDER OF THE FREE STATE--AN APPEAL TO THE COLONIAL BOERS--THE BEGINNING OF WARLIKE RUMOURS--A COMMERCIAL AND SOCIAL BOYCOTT--THE BOER SECRET SERVICE--THE BASUTOS AND THEIR MOTHER, THE QUEEN--BOER BRUTALITY TO KAFFIRS. _Oct. 14 (9.55 p.m.)_ The most conspicuous feature of the war on this frontier has hitherto been its absence. The Free State forces about Bethulie, which is just over the Free State border, and Aliwal North, which is on our side of the frontier, make no sign of an advance. The reason for this is, doubtless, that hostilities here would amount to civil war. There is the same mixed English and Dutch population on each side of the Orange river, united by ties of kinship and friendship. Many law-abiding Dutch burghers here have sons and brothers who are citizens of the Free State, and therefore out with the forces. In the mean time the English doctor attends patients on the other side of the border, and Boer riflemen ride across to buy goods at the British stores. The proclamation published yesterday morning forbidding trade with the Republics is thus difficult and impolitic to enforce hereabouts. Railway and postal communication is now stopped, but the last mail brought a copy of the Bloemfontein 'Express,' with an appeal to the Colonial Boers concluding with the words:-- "We shall continue the war to the bloody end. You will assist us. Our God, who has so often helped us, will not forsake us." What effect this may have is yet doubtful, but it is certain that any rising of the Colonial Dutch would send the Colonial British into the field in full strength. Burghersdorp, through which I passed yesterday, is a village of 2000 inhabitants, and, as I have already put on record, the centre of the most disaffected district in the colony. If there be any Dutch rising in sympathy with the Free State it will begin here. _Later._ And so there's warlike news at last. A Boer force, reported to be 350 strong, shifted camp to-day to within three miles of the bridge across the Orange river. Well-informed Dutch inhabitants assert that these are to be reinforced, and will march through Aliwal North to-night on their way to attack Stormberg Junction, sixty miles south. The bridge is defended by two Cape policemen with four others in reserve. The loyal inhabitants are boiling with indignation, declaring themselves sacrificed, as usual, by the dilatoriness of the Government. Besides the Boer force near here, there is another, reported to be 450 strong, at Greatheads Drift, forty miles up the river.