The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-12
LASHING HIS TAIL
THE BRITISH LION EVIDENTLY IN A
VERY ANGRY MOOD.
He Has Stopped Growing and Is Ap-
parently Ready to Make a Long
Leap Toward His Prey.
CRISIS IN THE TRANSVAAL
FRESH DEMANDS on BRITAIN THAT
CANNOT BE ACCEDED TO.
Cabinet Meeting Yesterday, and Naval
Reserve Afterwards Instructed to
Hold Itself I'm Readiness.
OTHER WARLIKE ORDERS
FOUR MORE FAST TORPEDO DE-
sTRoYERs TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
All Naval Station Employees Busy Day
and Night Preparing Supplies for
the Flying Squadron.
WORK FOR FLOATING FORTS
FORMIDABLE FLEET OF WAR SHIPS
MAY BE SENT sOUTHa
May Go First to the Mediterranean
and Then to DelaEoa Bay by Way
of the suex Canal.
All Naval Station Employees Busy Day
and Night Preparing Supplies for
the Flying Squadron.
WORK FOR FLOATING FORTS
FORMIDABLE FLEET OF WAR SHIPS
MAY BE SENT sOUTHa
May Go First to the Mediterranean
and Then tn Delagoa Bay by Way
Of the Suex Canal.
Especial Cable Letter.)

~,
circles ard activity at the naval stations
continue with unabated vlgor, and surface
indications more plainly than ever point to
impending trouble over the Trarsvaal incl
dent While the Colonial Office says the
situation in South Africa is not more
strained than it has been for a week, Mr..
Chamberlain does not deny that the situa-
ton has been critical from the start The
Cabinet held a three hours session yester-
day, but its action is carefully guarded. 1t is
known, however, that the Transvaal crisis
was discussed, and it was deemed grave
enough for the issuance Of additional orders
to the naval department. As a result Of
the Cabinet meeting the first naval reserve
men have been ordered to hold themselves
in readiness for service. The second naval
reserve, which is composed Of men be-
longing to the mercantile marine, have been
notified that the services of some of them
will shortly be required. In addition to
this it was learned early this Sunday
morning that the admiralty department
last night ordered four more thirty-knot
torpedo catchers. The forces at the naval
stations are working night and day. and
this morning there is as much hustle as
on the busiest of week days.
These fresh war preparations may
have been caused by the latest information
from the Transvaal. which bellies the state
ment of the Colonial Office that there is no
change in the situation In South Africa. A
dispatch has been received from Johannes
burg which says that President Kruger and
Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor of
Cape Colony, have failed to agree on a
settlement of the matters in dispute. 1t is
understood that the President insists on
he ~ nf
that Amalongaland, lately added to the
territory of the colony of Natal, be annexed
to the Boer republic as an indemnity for
DIR. Jameson's raid into the TransvaaI If
these reports be true. the gravity of the sit
uation has increased. ard the reason for
the Cabinet meeting, the orders to the naval
reserves and the assembling of Great Brit
aims fleet may be found in the strained
relations between the President of the
Transvaal and the Governor of Cape Col
ony. There are also signs that the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal government
will make common cause against Great
Britain should there be further trouble
and the report of a secret understanding
between Germany and the Transvaal con-
tinues undenied in official circles. The fire.
quently repeated assertion that the British
government had purchased Deiagoa bay
from Portugal, thus cutting off any possi-
bility of the Beers obtaining a seaport is
still unconfrmed and uncontradicted.
DESTINATION OF THE FLEET.
The Globe yesterday said it hears on
good authority that the first destination of
the British flying squadron will be the Med
iterranean, and ii adds that the vessels
which may eventually be ordered to Della
goa bay will proceed via the Suez canal
so that the Admiralty can communicate
with them until the last moment The
Portuguese cruiser vasco de Cana, now at
Alden, has been ordered to Lorenzo Mar
quez.
All the Ministers were present at the
Cabinet meeting, and al phases Of the stu-
ation were discussed for three hours Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain, who had returned
from Osborne. where he was received by the
Queen, was enthusiastically greeted with
cries Of 'Bravo, Chamberlain from the
crowds awaiting Developments in Downing
street. The Westminster Gazette yesterday
said that it learns that as result of
Emperor Williams action towards Great
Britain in the matter of the Transvaal the
Marquis of Salisbury announced at the
Cabinet meeting a rapprochement between
Breat Britain and France and Russia.
Advices from Pretoria state that Presi-
dent Kruger has issued another proclama-
ton to the Rand people, asking them to
behave in the future in such a way as TO ad-
NIT of the introduction of reforms A feel
ing of great uneasiness. accompanied by
depression, prevails at johannesburg Ii is
underst ood that the Uitlanders' reform COM
mittee is to be tried for high treason be-
fore the High Court OF Pretoria. Several
members of the committee have fed and
one OF them was allowed TO depart after
depositing a surety for his appearance when
called upon. The amount deposited was
$4,000. The Transvaai government is great
ly incensed at the tardy and INCOMPLETE
surrender by the Uitlanders Of their arms.
which, ii is believed, are being concealed
Only about two thousand rifles have been
given up. whereas 26.oc0 are said 10 have
been issued. a dispatch to the Pail Nal. Ga
zette from Capetcwn. published yesterday.
saws that President Kruger has ex-
tended the time for the disarmament of the
Uitlanders until o'clock tonight, as only
three out of fifty Maxim guns have been
given up. Eioff, President Krugers eldest
grandson. IL is added, nearly caused riot
at johannesburg. He rode into the town
at the head of small body of burghers and
fired blank cartridges right and left. The
authorities promptly stopped his display