The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-04-01
That of the British in South
Africa Not What 1t
Once Was.
Said to Be No Longer Doubt
That the Root of Trouble
Is at Pretoria
Fertilization and Drilling Go On
Observation-Disclosures Are Well
Armed.

of state for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph
mberlain, read dispatch from the
governor Of Cape Colony, Sir Hercules
Robinson, in the house of commons.
The message announced that the Mata-
beles were massing in the Matapo hills.
He added that communication with the
south was endangered; that there was
a months supply Of provisions, etc, at
Buluwayo, but that there was lack Of
arms there with which to supply vol
unteers.
Sir Hercules Robinson also said that
the natives We're we'll supplied with
guns
Root OF tho Trouble at Pretoria.
A dispatch from Cape Town states
that the son Of the late King Lobenguela
has been raised to his fathers rank.
with much ceremony, preparatory to
taking command of the army of insur.
gent natives flocking to the hills from
all parts.
The vicinity of Buluwayo is kept
clear Of rebels by the white scouts, but
it is believed that the natives are being
kept fully informed of all that is going
l on, and nobody now doubts that the
, root of the trouble is at Pretoria, and
that Berlin is kept well informed re-
garding the progress Of the uprising.
Advices from the Tranvaal show that
the work of preparing for war is being
continued there night and day. Gangs
of men relieve each other at intervals
in the work upon the armored forts de-
signed to protect Pretoria, the plates
for which have been furnished by the
Creusol works, and the guns by the
great Krupp firm of Germany.
German Artillery and Infantry.
The drilling of artillerymen under
German officers goes on openly every
day. There is no longer any conceal
ment in the preparations being made.
The foreign legion, composed almost
entirely of Germans who have recently
entered the Transvaal, is organized.
This force will be mostly infantry and
artillery, the Beers being relied upon
10 furnish all the cavalry necessary.
The general opinion expressed here is
that the companys officials and the
British home government greatly
under estimates the serious state of
affairs which prevails here. This
seems to be especially the case with the
British government and it would seem
that the latter must be Intentionally
mis.ed by the Chartered company s
officials or by others.
British Prestige Greatly Shaken.
In this connection it is reported that
Sir Hercules Robinson. the governor OF
Cape Colony. seeing the approach of
the clouds, is desirous of resigning be.
fore the storm breaks, and there are
other officials who rumor has it, would
like to do the same. In short, British
prestige in South Africa has been rudely
shaken, and the shaking, under en-
cou, u,agement from Germany, is still
going on, and the most energetic steps
are likely to be necessary in order tc
enable Great Britain to maintain the
status quo which prevailed before the
Jameson raid. The full effect of that
great mistake are only beginning to bt
felt, and unless all indications are de-
ceiving, the worst is yet to come.
Want Regular. From England.
1t has leaked out that the officials o1
the Baitish Chartered company arr
even more alarmed than current repor
has it. 1t is understood that represen
tations have just been made to Sir Her
cules Robinson regarding the extreme
gravity Of the situation, and request
ing that he ask for immediate rein
forcements of regular;troops from Grea
Britain or India. He is said to hav'
assured a representative Of the com
pany that the home government ma,
be counted upon to meet any emer
gency and that additional regula
troops may shortly be expected at Cap
Town.