The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-29
BOERS READY FOR BLoODSHED
ERVGER NOW PREPARED FOR A
WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.

TransvaaI GOvernment-Sixty
Thousand Trained ZuIus Allies of
the Dutch-The Situation a Very
Serious One.
London. March 2S.-Joseph Chamberlain,
secretary of state for the colonies, re-
Gently demanded of President Kruger of
tbe Transvaal that he Immediately ac-
eept or reject the invitation of MIR. Cham
berlain TO visit London for the purpose
Of settling the questions that have arisen
between Great Britain and the South At
rcan republic. In response to this de-
mand President Kruger has telegraphed
that the decision does not rest with him,
but with the Volksraad, the parliament of
the republic, and that the latter will only
assent to his going TO London on condi-
tion that the Anglo-Boer convention of
1851 be so amended that the fun inde-
psndence of the Transvaal will be recog-
nIzed and guaranteed by Great Britain
and The other powers.
Mr. Chamberlain declined last night to
tell the House of Commons how the nego-
tations stood at present, but within the
ministerial circle the gravity of the posi-
zion is known. A high official has told
the representative Of the United Press
that Mr.. Chamberlain had, from the out
set of the negotiations, distrusted Presi-
dent Kruger, and had not failed to draw
accurate conclusions from his delayed ac-
ceptance of the invitation to visit Eng
land. Mr.. Chamberlain still hopes, how
ever, to obtain a peaceful settlement of
the questions at issue without President
Kruger coming here and without acced-
ing to a revision of the convention.
The ministers seem to be more san
81.
ably not desiring to alarm the country
until the last resources of diplomacy are
exhausted. The Volksraad does not meet
until April L. President Kruger will then
have dallted over Mr.. Chamberlains in
yijatOn, which was sent early in Febru-
AIRY, for two months, during which time
he has formed an alliance with the Orange
Free State, prepared an Afrikander insur-
recuOn IN Cape Colony and reOrganized the
forces Of the Iransvaal, especially the
artillery.
That the issue of the negotiations might
be war has been cOntG mplated by the
British government for some time. This
fact was pointed out in this correspond
euce on Feb. 10 last, at which time 1t
was stated that the war officers, acting
under Instructions from the government,
had prepared to send an army corps OF
5000 men to South Africa. OF this force
II was intended that a large contingent
should be drawn from the Indian cavalry,
artillery and infantry. There is reason
TO stale that this project has not been
altered, but time has been on the side OF
the Beers. The tact and energy of Pres
ldent Kruger have made a, successful in
yasion of the Transvaal by $1,000 British
troops almost inaccessible. 1t is not
the TransVaal alone that the British forces
VIII have to face, but the united Dutch
peoples of the whole of South Africa:
Inat strictly nOn-SenSatlonal paper, the
Manchester Guardian, published yester-
day authoritative letters from Cape Cot
ony, in which it was said that a war
against the Transvaal would mean a civil
war, the British against the Dutch, fac
ing each other from Pretoria TO cape
Town. The conquest of the Dutch would
require as many troops as were sent to
the Crimea. 1t is known accurately at
The war office what the strength of the
Boer forces alone is, that is now ready
TO take the field. The representative or
the United Press learns from an otticiai
source that within three months 2,50J
Germans are estimated to have entered
the Transvaal as immigrants, and these
are known to be obtaining TransVaa1
money The force of Zulus trained ana
commanded by Boer and German Off
GERS is estimated to number $4,000. Though
their tribal fidelity to the Beers is doubt
iul, they can be trusted TO tight against
the British.
Viewing the whole situation, including
the troubles in Egypt and elsewhere, the
English people are not likely to approve
the gigantic task of conquering the Trans
vaal, yet they must face that or the al
Tentative of declaration of Independence
state and probably Cape Colony, which
would form the United States of Soutn
Africa.
The rising of the natives in MatabeIe-
land is expected to be only q momentary
difficulty. All of the MatabeleS, including
The women, numbsr only 100000 The men
We're supposed 10 have been dsarmed after
the defeat of their king, Lo Benguela, by
the forces of the British South Africa
company, but 1t is now suspected that they
hld their weapons instead of turning them
no
country is denuded of regular troops, and
the forces of the chartered company are
dlSOrganzeds owing to the recent raid into
the TranSVaal, which resulted in most of
me company officers being placed on
rlal in London, a good volunteer force
armed with Lee-MilfOrd rifles and also
force of LOCO volunteer cavalry are near the
region where the rising occurred. Butu-
Wayo the principal town of Matabeleland,
Is protected by a number Maxim guns and
a lew guns of heavier caliber. There IS
plenty of ammunition in the town. Though
a massacre of settlers and miners is pos
sible, the rising will undoubtedly be queH-
ed without an engagement sufficiently Sc
rous TO be called a battle.
Ihe most serious news yet received from
Enodesia is that which came to hand this
evening, saying that the native police mad
Joined the rising. This puts an entirely
diHerent face upon the trouble, and the
suppression of the trouble, which at first
promised TO be an easy matter, now
threatens to be a somewhat large under
tles here was centered in the conduct of
ms force. Though ii is only $50 strong.
II viii be a powerful factor in spreading
lhe revolt. The natives who served as
Police were recruited from the crack reg
lments of the old Matabele kingdom. They
are well trained. we'll armed and command
copious supply of ammunition Alto
selher the outlook is nOwise as favorable
as II was yesterday for the speedy putting
down Of the revolt.
Inc Globe, commenting this afternoon
oa the subject, says that the fever of re-
Np4t IS likely to spread to the tribes be-
!ond Matabeleland. including the Zulus
~ me TransVaal, who, it was supposed,
would hght with the Beers in the event
OF ho5dlities with the British. Inquiries
mace t the war office as to the strength
ul tae British troops within range of the
4eFolt only resulted in making evident
t-e c4hcial confusion on the subject. Two
l1Npanies of the Black Watch regiment
eie stationed at Mafeldng, on the Trans
nadi border, and these are the only troops
VINO are known with certainty to be in
tiAodesla. The war officers hopes that Sir
,'gIcuIes Robinson, the governor Of Cape
'tgIohy and high commissioner in South
8iEca has strengthened the troops in
ith9desla recently, but there are no Off
g.ol adviees to that effect. The truth
SEEMS 20 be that Gov. Robinson has not
sga1 amy troops into that country
A9-day adNices confirm the importance