The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-01-09
TROUBLE IN TRANSVAAL.
An English Land-Grabbing Expedition
Meets Opposition.

DIR. Jameson's invasion of the Transvaal
was part of plot for the overthrow OF the
Boer republic and the annexation Of the
Transvaal 10 the British domains The
executive officers of the British South Africa
company and certain mining capitalists in
Johannesburg were the principal conspira-
tors.
President Kruger determined not only to
defeat the plot but TO punish the foreign
members OF the conspiracy. He knew re-
volt had been planned In Johannesburg and
: nr J"r"asoD was ready & march from
same mo- elt He NJ -
nest leade the CltlandeT.
top .to IN requt st pr certain re-
FIRMS which had long beLen tie basis Of dis
content. These included lie removal of the
tariff on food stuffs, the granting OF equal
subsidies TO all schools, no matter what
language was taught, and the extending of
the franchise to foreign residents. These de-
mands were submitted 10 Kruger Dec. 80. and
he promised TO suppot them II the petition
ers would defend law and order in Johan-
nesburg. Then he seized the telegraph
Office and prevented the news of his conces-
sion or other information going out. The
revolution had been timed for the next day.
II didn't come of. The city was placarded
with notices Of Kruger's action, and there
WAS no longer any excuse for revolt. The
leaders found themselves checkmatcd, but
informing them of the change in the situation
didn't get beyond the telegraph Office.
Meantime Kruger rallied his burghers from
all sides and sent them 10 meet the invaders
with orders to shoot to kill. They obeyed
literally, and their marvellous Workmanship
was again shown by the fact that 40 English
men who were struck by Boer bullets: 80
were killed. When the 500 prisoners reach
ed johannesburg President krugar received
this message from the British Secretary Of
the Colonies: at il rumOred that you have
ordered the prisoners 20 be shot. do not
believe IT, and rely upon your generosity in
the hour OF victory"
President Kruger replied; ~ have given
no orders to have the freebooters who are
prisoners shot Their case WILL in due
course, be decided strictly according to the
traditions Of the republic, and IN accordance
with law"
When DR.. jameson invaded Matabeleland
and whipped Lobengula, England did not
disavow his action. Instead, the territory
he stole from the savages was added to the
British possessions, and the doctor got a
decoration and was given TO understand that
he was valuable man. But when he invades
Transvaal and gets whipped, he is repu-
dated 10y every British official from Joe
Chamberlain down, and stands in the unen-
viable position of freebooter, liable TO hang
ing at the hands OF the outraged Beers. His
past services as u territorial thief have, how
ever, induced the British government 10 in
tercede with President kruegar, of Trans
vaal, for him.
Emperor william telegraphed TO President
Kruegar as follows;
II express my sincere congratulations that
with your own people aud without appealing
to the help Of the friendly power, you have
succeeded by your own energetic action
against the armed bands which invaded your
country of disturbeTs OF the peace and have
thus been enabled TO restore peace and safe
I guard the independence OF your country
against attack from the outside"