The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-15
THE KAFFIR CIRCUS.
Barney Barnato's Associates Ask
Hard Questions.
THE BRITISH FLYING SQUADRON
READY TO FLY.

The Americans in the Transvaa1-Jame-
sons Band Turned Over to the Rriti.h
The Thunderer On the Venezuelan
Situation.
London, January IA meeting of the
shareholders of the Barnato hank wac
held this afternoon and large number
of holders were in attendance. "Barpev,,
Barnato presented statement explain
ing the position OF the bank. This state.
ment was followed by number of
motions and debate which frequent and
persistent Interruptions rendered desul-
tory. A motion of confidence In Barna
to was finally carriedR after which some
shareholders essayed to put questions to
the chairman and the meeting was de-
clared adjourned, cutting off all interro-
gatory proceedings. The fact that the
questions remained unanswered caused
some hard feeling and great deal of
loud talking, but the shareholders event.
ually dispersed in apparent good humor.
Mr.. Wiltsee. colleague of John Hays
Hammond, the American mining engi-
neer who was arrested in Johannesburg
on charges OF treason. informed the
United Press this morning that no Cali
fornians were arrested except Hammond,
Charles Buffers and Capt. Mein. al
though Hammond had 20 Californians
working for him. j. 8. Curtis and T.
II. King, the other Americans arrested,
are from the eastern part of thu United
States Mr.. Wiltsee, who has just arrived
here from the Transvaal, says that the
lives and property of the other Americans
in Johannesburg are in no danger.
THE AMERICANS ARRESTED,
he said, did not belong to the Reform
Union, and never took part in politics.
The revolution in Johann esburg, he con.
tinued, was an entirely peaceful one, and
the only motive for it was the protection
of the lives and property Of the people OF
that city. The Washington government,
he declared, should make strong protest
against the arrests of Ameri, ans. The
English government has too many COM
plicaGions on its hands and Is not able
to take as strong stand as the United
States could take. The Transvaal gov
eminent has always been friendly to the
United States, and would give the fullest
consideration to any direct protest the
American government might make.
The cruisers Thesus and Chary bdis, of
the new flying squadron, were put in
commission at Sheerness this morning
and EN- barked their prof lies at Chat
ham. They will also take supplies of
TafaV don and Ct,n ,r.l
The battleships Revege and Royal Oak,
the cruiser Gibraltar and several torpe-
do 'estroyers wsre put in commission at
mouth this morning. Capt. A. G.
Howe has been assigned to the
command of the Revenge, the flagship of
the squadron. which will be commanded
by Rear Admiral Alfred Z. Dale Two
lery, were distributed among the ships of
| the squadron today.
A dispatch from Malta says that IS
British vessels from Salonica have ar
rived there. Their future destination is
not known, but it is not expected that
| they will return to the Levant.
Tn cruiser Hermione and six tor pedo
destroyers were
PUT INTO COMMISSION
at the Davenport dock yard this morning
and will join the flying squadron at Port
land at once.
The British South Africa company has
issued an official list of the prisoners,
rank and file, of the force which DIR.
Jameson led into the Transvaal. The
list includes the name of Clement pre-
su mably Victor B. Clement, who has been
appointed assistant consulting engineer to
II M
| bears with it note stating that all the
rank and file of the prisoners were put
on board train at Pretoria on January
| IL, en- route for Natal under an escort.
to be turned over to the British authori-
ties. They were all in good health and
excellent spirits.
The British South African Association
announces that President Kruger of the
Transvaal republic has prohibited the
transmission of all kilograms from Trans
vaal to the British South Africa compa-
ny.
Mr.. Chamberlain. Secretary of State
for the Colonies. has sent telegram to
Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor of the
Cape Colonies, in reference to the arrest
in Johannesburg of members of the Re-
form Union and Others. Mr.. Chamber
lain expressed fears that q large number
of such arrests would have the effect to
disorganize the industries carried on in
the Rand, and asked q number of aues-
lions as to what the mon arrested were
accused Of when they would be- tried.
whether bail would be allowed. what the
penalties were in the event of their con-
viction of the offences Of which they were
charged, etc.
In conclusion, Mr.. Chamberlain direct
ed Gov. Robinson, in addition to guard
ing the interest of British subjects under
arrest, to give equal attention to fine
American and Belgian prisoners. in ao-
corGance with the requests of their re-
spective governments.
| An editorial in the Times suggests that
a strong hint from the United States tf,