Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-10
Comes News of Active Prepara-
 tons for War.
KRUGER DlCTATESHlS TERMS
He Demands the Ahrogation of the Suze-
 rainty of Great Britain Over -" the TfansVaa

COlO0y cOnlinue to QTlDDle III, DuI lue freshest of them received today were two days old, showing that the tele- graph and cable companies are either clearing up the accumulation of old bus mess or that the government refuses to allow the transmission of news dispatch es. Much interest is manifested here in the receipt of intelligence that will show the attitude of Hon. Cecil Rhodes, lately prime minister of Cape Colony, who is strongly suspected of having had much to do with the dispatch of Dr. Jameson's forces to the Transvaal. But until the normal condition of the telegraphlc ser vice is resumed nothing on this point can be stated definitely, and nothing but speculation can be indulged in. on the continent it is openly charged that not only was MT. Rhodes fully cognizant or the movements of pr. Jameson, but that the British government was also aware of what was going on. Had the raid been successful Great Britain, according to the popular belief in Europe, would have stepped in and occupied the coun- try, ostensibly to protect her SuDJectS, but really to establish an occupation similar to that in Egypt, which IS tam tamount to the annexation of the coun- try. AS the raid resulted in most mis- erabe flasco, the British government fs accused of attempting to 4orestall cons demnation by -emphe iically denying any prior knowledge of the matter and or taking measures to prevent the depart aae of the expedition after 1t knew It had departed and had resulted in fail ure. Of course these statements are de- nied here, and the government neWspa- pers insist that MT. Chamberlaln, the colonial secretary, has acted throughout with clean. hands At any rate 1t can be said so far as the Transvaal is con- flxaN lI11n everything in its power to prevent the raid from affecting any more than pos: slble the relations between Germany ana the South African republic. But that the troubles, have affected British for eien relations, more particularly those with Germany, there is no deniaL Since the fact became known that Elm peror William had, before the Jameson raid decided to intervene in the Transt vaal, the feeling against Germany haS greatly increased in bitterness. The ma. val preparations now being made meet with the fullest popular approval, and the most fiery. among those who are in favor of war declare that the time has come for Great Britain to assert hersetf in her might and teach Germany thar she will brook no interference with her suzerainty in the TransVaal
 Those of calmer blood hold that court interference, which is against any hos- tility toward Germany, Will De SuI1lclent- ly powerful to prevent any outbreak; But court interference does not control the popular demand, which IS declueaiy III favor of warfare. f Y
 A diSpassionate view of the situation leads to the belief, however, that the eX- citement- will seon die away and matters will resume their normal condition.
 The naval preparations, however, are proceeding apace. In addition to the fly ing squadron, which has been ordered to be put in readiness, instructions were 1s- sued today for the immediate command ing of twenty torpedo boat destroyers
 All these preparations, together Wiln the mobilization of the land forces, do not necessarily mean that there will be a war. In well informed circles it is be- leVed that they simply mean that the government is on~the alert against any emergency that may arise, and should conditions deuahd it, it will be ready to strike a swift-blow against any enemy.
 The best criterion of the situation is Go be found at the stock exchange, where the tone and eprices respond to every touch of fear or hope. This morning markets displayed a~sanguine tone, and consols advanced from yesterdays clos ing prices. Later there was a slight de- cline, but on the whole there was an ad- vance as compared with the values of yesterday, fa..a 5-7-a5
 Altogether,it can be said that there ap- pears to be an improvement in the situa- tion and unless new and unforeseen diff culties arise 1t is thought that the pend ing questions will be settled dlplomati- cally and not by the final arbitrament of war ., i, s..., .sa
 President Kpuger's Demand.
 A dispatch from Johannesburg, dated January ', says that Sir Jacobus Dewet, British agent at Pretoria, arrived at Jo- hannesburg on that day and addressed. a large public meeting. He was the bear CT of the message of Sir Hercules Robin
 HA1n aa1 ing upon the Uitlanders to disarm. The message he delivered to the populace in his speech, in which he also informed them that if they did not comply they would forfeit the sympathy of the British government, as well as that of British subjects throughout the world, besides endangering the life of Dr. Jameson.
 The Transvaal government, the dis patch says, issued an serder last evening January 6 directing the railway mana gers to hold 'all their rolling stock in readiness to convey the non-combatants out of Johannesburg in the event of the refusal of the Uitlanders to disarm The dsarming of the revolutionists has caused feeling of, relief to pervade the town. combined with a feeling of resent ment toward the national reform com mittee. .s84ss ,A4,1tt A
 dispatch from Cape Town dated Jan uary T says 1t is 9rurnored that the de mands made by President Kruger are \ the abrogaton of the suzerainty of Great Britain over the Transvaal republic, the cancellation of the charter of the British, South Africa company and England's abandonment of her right to preemption of Delagoa-bay. The rumor, however, ,capr not be confirmed.
 Kruger Thanked by Chamberlain. %
 MT. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of state for the colonies, has sent the fol- lowing telegram to- President Kruger of the South African republic:
 q have received the command of the queen to acquaint you with the fact that her majesty has heard with satisfactiopl that you have decided to hand over Df. Jameson and the other prisoners to tilei British authorities, This act will re dound to your credit and your honor. and conduce to the peace of South Africa. The harmonious cooperation of the Brit ish and Dutch races is necessary to South Africa's future development and pros peritv. v.''''-,-.s.,s.,,-.- |. r.--.-----
 The flying squadron, composed of the battleships Royal Oak and Revenge and cruisers Gbra1 tar Hermon, Charybdis and Thesus, now .fttines out, will. when I,t.