Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1896-01-11
WAR FEELING GROWS.
England Seems to Be Rushing
Preparations for Active
Hostilities.
Flying Squadron Ready for Sea
and Land Forces Get
Warning.
Banishment of Rhodes and
Jameson Demanded by
Kruger.

LONDON, Jan. "a late QlSpaCCn
from Cape Town says it is reported at
Pretoria that the Transvaal government
demands banishment of Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes, ex.premier of Cape Colony, and
Dr.. Jameson from Africa, and that an
enormous fine is also demanded from
the British Chartered company.
1t is supposed here that this may re-
fer to the 81, 800, 900 indemnity which,
aooording to q dispatch from Berlin,
the Transvaal government will demand
of Great Britain.
A dispatch from Berlin said that
Prince Won Radolin, the German am
bassador to st. Petersburg, who has
been at the German capital, has re-
turned to st. Petersburg bearing let
ter from Emperor William to the czar,
dealing with the Transvaal question.
Getting Ready for War.
The gravity of the political crisis
In England is increasing instead Of
diminishing. The attitude of EN-
peror William towards Great Britain in
the matter of DIR. Jameson's free
booting expedition into the Transvaal,
upon closer study seems to have been
deliberate and long and carefully
planned. The Transvaal incident, it
would appear, was only the pretext
seized upon by the emperor, in order to
enter the field as an active opponent of
Great Britain's policy of aggrandize-
ment in Africa, and her little misun-
derstanding with King Prempeh OF
Ashanti, together with her support OF
Italy's warfare against Abyssinia are
believed to have been the irritating fea-
lures which finally induced his majesty
to show his hand Of course this is
only sample of the rumors in circula-
ton here; but it shows the drift of the
wind, and has served to incense the
British to degree not witnessed since
war with Russia was threatened some
years ago.
The Kaiser Backing the Transvaal
To make matters worse, it is now re-
ported that the Transvaal republic will
demand an indemnity of $4,000, 900
from Great Britain as one of the results
of Dr. Jameson's invasion Of the little
Dutch republic. If this turns out to be
the case, no doubt will be entertained
that Emperor William in his recent in
terviews with DR.. w. j. Leyds, the Sec
retary of state Of the Transvaal,
prompted this demand, and may also
have announced his intention Of sup
porting it.
Under these circumstances, and in
view of the war preparations by land
and sea now being vigorously pushed
by Great Britain, it is not astonishing
that there was an ominous drop in con-
soils, which, as much as anything, Ia a
clear indication that the gravity of the
political situation Is not newspaper ex-
aggeration.
Dispatches from Berlin announce that
Emperor William has had an important
conference with DR.. Kayser, chief Of
the German colonial Office, and that
further dispatches have been exchanged
between Berlin and Pretoria.
Military Authorities Active.
The military authorities no longer
attempt to conceal the fact that they
are actively preparing for the possibility
of war. All the regiments of the
British army (army reserve, volun-
teers, militia, etc. have been ordered
to make immediate returns of their
strength for mobilization; but, as yet,
no further steps in this direction have
been deemed necessary.
Among the volunteers and militia
there is strong feeling in favor OF
enrolment for active service and on all
sides the greatest enthusiasm is dis
played. There seems to be feeling
here that Great Britain has about stood
all she can stand in the way of studied
opposition upon the part Of Germany
even If the latter is backed by France
and Russia, which is not considered tc
be by any means certain.