Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-10
Rumored That She Has Secured
Delagoa Bay.
new CCMPLEII-N N CT THE SITUATION
Another Special Squadron to Be
Made Ready.


LONDON, January 10.-The most import
ant development in the South African Sit
uation today is the fact that, in spite of all
den:als, it is now believed in many quarters
that there is some truth in the rumors that
Great Britain has purchased Delagoa bay
from Portugal If this be the case. an en-
tirely new complexion Will be thrown upon
the political situation, and 1t may turn out
to he the real cause for the assembling of
such a powerful British fleet as the one
which will be anchored off Portland Tues
day next AS it is understood that the gov
ernment of the Transvaal has demanded
among other things that Great Britain Tor
go her right to obtain possession of Deiagoa
bay, and as Germany may look upon this as
move which will seriously threaten the
future of the Transvaal the situation, if the
report is true, will have become more seri-
ous 1t is impossible to secure a confirma-
tion or denial of the report.
A dispatch from Pretoria, TranSvaal, this
morning says that the government of the
Transvaal announces that it is determ. ned
to foster mining, and those interested in II
need not sacrifice their holdings for the
beneft of the agitatins clique of the Rand.
This dispatch says that only 1000 Beers
are under arms, but II adds, s;sa.ncantiy'
that they will not disband until the condi-
tions of the surrender of the UitianderS
have been fully carried out
A Second Special Squadron.
There does not seem to be any change in
the attitude of Germany toward Great Brit
ain in regard to the Transvaal. The feeling
of backdown is still said to be noticeable in
the German press utterancas, and great i'm
portance is attached to an art.c.e in the
Hamburger Nachr.chten, which is said
to have been directly inspired by Prince
Bismarck, in which it indirectly disapproves
of the German governments attitude, and
a5is: THE duty of the government is more
TO defeni the internal and external peace of
the coun try against d disturbances than to
promote foreign enterprise
1t IS reported that second special squad
ron OF WarSh-pS, consisting of fast cruisers,
has been told off and Will be he'd in readi-
ness for comm -sS.on at a moments notice.
Z ne Times tins morning says: THE main
point for England TO remember is that in
time of peace attempts have been made by
an osteHsibly friendly power to induce an
other friendly power to depart from it's
Neutral policy, in order to facilitate an at
tack upon British interests in South Africa.
Great Britain must also remember that
unless the whole German demonstration al
Lorenzo Marques is to bear the illusory
ana ridiculous character now ass. .gned to
it by tfe German press we must suppose
that there was more less settled de-
termination to cross Portuguese territory,
even in the face of a Portuguese refusal"
An Alleged Secret Treaty.
The Globe, this afternoon, raises an i'm
portant question, which may have consider
able bearing on the whole situation. 1t
says it is suspected in well-informed quar-
ters that atreaty was concluded, in 1885,
between Germany and the Transvaal, and
that she present attitude of Emperor Will
liam toward Great Britain is based upon
the provisions of this treaty.
Conservative judges of the situation
claim, in spite of the warlike preparations
berg made on such extensive scale by
Great Britain, that peace will not be dis
turbed, and the armamentS are more likely
to prove guarantee of peace than to pro-
woke an outbreak of hostilities.
President kruger to the Queen.
AS cabled TO the Associated Press yester-
day afternoon. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain.
secretary of state for the colonies, sent
dispatch to President Kruger saying that
he had received the command of the queen
to acquaint him with the fact that her
majesty had heard with satisfaction that
he had decided to hand over DIR. Jameson
and the other prisoners to the British au-
thorities, adding that this act will re-
dound to the presidents credit and honor
and conduce to the peace, development
and prosperity of South Africa.
President Kruger, it was announced to-
day, has sent a telegram in reply to Sir
Hercules Robinson, the governor of Cape
Colony, for transmission to Mr.. Chamber
lain
After acknowledging the receipt of the
queens message, President Kruger says:
1T is my intention TO hand over the pris-
oners SO that DR.. Jameson and the British
under him may be punished by her
nlaJesty's government. / will make known
to your excellency my final decision in the
matter as soon Johannesburg shall
have reverted to condition of quietness
and order.
In the meantime 1 request your excel
lency to assure the queen of my high ap-
probation of her words. and in profferng
my respectful coed wishes to express my
thanks for the same"