The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-01-16
KRUGER is ON TOP.
Englishmen, Though Rebuked
Admire His Diplomacy.
WAR PREPARATIONS CONTINUE,
The Mystery OF the Intended Mammoth
Naval Display still Unsolved- The Uit-
landers Surrender Their Arms at Jo-
hannesburg rg-Important Rumors


abroad in London that there are many
details Of the complication into which
the foreign affairs of the empire has
been placed which have not been pub.
hshed, and much speculation is in.
dulged in by the public. So far as
official information goes, the situation
seems to be improved.
The mystery of the naval prepara'
tions occupies . large place in the
public mind, and the conclusion ar.
rived at by the attentive public after
thus thinking it over, is that the tre.
mendous activity displayed, not only in
the fitting out of the flying squadron,
but in the rushing forward of work in
the navy.yards, arsenals and supply
shops for war material do not appear
wholly necessary on account of the con-
dition of relations with Germany. II
Is also felt that IL is difficult to see
what point the flying squadron, which,
together with the existing available
squadrons with which 1t is proposed to
Join IL, will form, IL is said, the most
powerful feet of war vessels ever put
afoat, is destined. This feet is to be
The situation in the TrG nsvaal is un-
doubtedly greatly improved, and un.
less President Kruger has made extor.
tionate demands. such as for the com.
plete independence Of his republic and
freedom from the suZerainty of Great
Britain, and has received the support
of Germany in favor of these demands,
such powerful feet as is being pre-.
pared will not be needed at Delagoa
bay. In fact the whole future Of South
Africa now depends upon the nature Of
the demands made by President Kru.
ger, whose response to the queens mes
sage, addressed to him in the third per.
son through Colonial Secretary Cham
berlain. is, to say the least, not effusive.
In fact IL virtually declares that the
president will hold DIR. Jameson and
the other members of his expedition
who were taken with him as hostages
for the disarmament of Johannesburg,
which has been accomplished and there
fore ends the trouble
The indemnity demanded from the
Chartered South Africa company is
variously stated at from G500,000 to
G2,O00,000
Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, sec.
retary Of state for the colonies, has
gone to Osbourne to see the queen.
Right Hon. G.. j. Goshen, first lord Of
the admiralty, has made a special visit
to Portsmouth and inspected the ships
Of the flying squadron and saw the
guns of their armament worked The
workmen at Chatham, Portsmouth and
Plymouth have worked by electric
light for the fitting out Of this squad.
ron. 1t is expected that those at the
Portsmouth dockyard will continue the
work of preparation on Sunday.
1t is announced that the government
has ordered the stores of small arm
cartridges to be increased from 60, 000,-
600 to $50, 100000.
One effect of the present crisis has
been to impress Englishmen with a
sense of the marvellous diplomatic
scent of Paul Kruger. the Boer presi-
dent. The admiration felt by English
men for the South African executive
finds abundant expression, even in tn,
face of the sharp reverse he has admin.
istered to their policy, and their hearty
admiration for DR.. Jameson. Sir
Charles Dixie has declared in a speech
that President Kruger has few rivals
among modern diplomats.
President Kruger's reply says: at
is my intention to hand over the pris.
oners so that DR.. Jameson and the Brit.
ish under him may be punished by her
majesty's government. / will make
known to your excellency my final de.
cision In the matter as soon as Johan.
nesburg shall have reverted to a condi.
ton OF quietness and order. In the
meantime / request your excellency tu
assure the queen Of my high apprecia-
tion of her words and in proffering my
respectful good wishes to express my
thanks for the same"
Some excitement has been caused by
a telegram from Boer sources in Johan,
nesburg which states that President
Kruger will hold DR.. Jameson until the
London convention is abrogated. which
would mean the abandoning of the
English suzerainty over the Transyaal
In spite of all denials il 10 now be-
leved in many quarters that there il
some truth in the rumors that Great
Britain has purchased Delagoa bay
from Portugal. If this be the case an
entirely new complexion will be thrown
upon the political situation, and il may
turn out to be the real cause for the as
sembling of such a powerful Britis
feet as the one which will be anchored
off Portland on Tuesday next.
A johannesburg special says. Twen
ty.two men bers Of the reform commit
tee, includi lg Colonel Rhodes, brother
of Cecil RI odes, Sir Drummond Dun
bar, Mr.. Lionel Philips and DR.. Saue,
have been arrested at their club on Il
charge of high treason and escorted q