Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-09
BOER AND BRITON.
Indications That They VIII Pro.
coed to "Gun Play"
ENGLAND REINFORCING THE CAPE

With the Intention of Stopping the In
vasion of British Territory in south
Africa-The Portuguese and the Trans
vaal Authorities Believed To Be Con-
niving at the ''Trek"-The Invaders
Well Armed and Good Fighters-Inter-
ing News from the Old World.
LONDON, May 9-For a couple of
months or more England and Portugal
have been almost at daggers' points in a
dispute as to which should gobble the
territory in South Africa known as the
Manica land and Mashonaland. Diplo-
macy, aided by spirited foreign policy"
on the part of Lord Salisbury. has so far
been effectual in smoothing out the diff
culties caused by the rash doings of Port
uguese officials. But now a new danger
has doomed up, and it looks like blood
would be shed before matters are settled.
For the Boer has been spying out the
land and concluded that it is good land,
and he wants it. He is thnrefore going to
take it-a0,00o strength he can.
The Boer Is Fighter.
This invasion is begun in spite of the at.
tempts-real or feigned-of President
Kruger of the Transvaal republic, to stop
it, and the situation has created pro-
found sensation in England. The war OF
a few years ago with the Beers. when they
| revolted against the British after having
previously come under English control by
treaty is well remembered. The Boer has
little respect for treaties when they stand
in the way of his own sweet will, and this
present invasion is directly i'll the face OF
| treaty obligations. The British have
| lively recollection OF Majuba Hill in the
last war, where a few hundred Boer sharp
| shooters routed strong British column, led
by one of Eugland's favorite soldiers, Sir
| George Colley, a cousin of Lord Wolseley
himself. That victory dictated terms of
peace, and has never been avenged.
The Portuguese Conniving.
The Beers are evidently determined to
go on with Gheir trek" into Mashona-
land and the Portuguese colonial author.
tiles are plainly conniving at the inva.
sion. Lord Salisbury must act, or lose
the great English Cape Colony, which
will act without the mother country if
imperial troops are not promptly on the
ground. The minist sees the danger,
and IS determined TO meet it. 1t is said
that the TrarSvaal authorities have made
taking, and that it has the hearty support
of all classes of the Dutch in the Trans.
wall.
British Preparing for War.
To-day the Wye naval store ship started
for Africa with large quantity of pro-
visions and ammunition, and will be fol-
lowed shortly by the troop ship Hima-
laya with endorsements for the cape.
Yesterdays advices state that the Boer
| expedition is known to be thoroughly
| equipped with arms and ammunition,
and is formed into a military organization
for the purpose of meeting any enemy,
native or British, that may obstruct the
way. They are without artillery, but
their rifles ere largely of recent importa-
ton, and of the breech-loading pattern
| They march divided in four columns,
the women and children with the wagons,
in each instance, bringing up the rear,
and a pioneer corps with daily reliefs cut
ting the way ahead. The progress will be
slow, and it is believed that there will be
ample time for the British troops to stop
the Trek" before it has passed the
I bounds of BeChuana land