The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-01-01
A CONFLICT INEVITABLE
Armed Britons Have Invaded the
Transvaal Territory.
ADVANCING UPON JOHANNESBURG


President Kruger Orders That a Further
Advance Shall be Prevented by Force oi
Arms Secretary Chamberlain Order.
the British Force TO Retreat.
BERLIN, Jan. IAN alarming telegram
has been received here from Pretoria
Transvaal, which states that an armed
eof the British South Africa company.
numbering 500 mon, with six Maxim guns
and other artillery pieces, is reported &c
have invaded the Transvaal territory \
telegram from Pretoria further statcs that
the Britt h force has already reached the
vicinity of Rusto 1rg, and is advancinl
upon Johannesbc On learning of the
news President Kruger, of Trnusyaal, or
dcrrd that further advance Of the invad
ers should be prevented by force of arms
and he issued proclamation calling upon
all burghers to defend the country. An
armed conflict rs a result of the appeal is
inevitable.
LONDON, Jan. IA dispatch TO The
Times from Capc Town says: Consequent
upon a letter signed by the leading inhah-
itants of Jonanncsbcrg, which was sent to
DIR. jameson, at Mafcking, on Saturday.
DIR. Jameson on Sunday crossed the Trans.
vaal frontier near Mafcking with 70) men.
1t is known that he passed Melmani at !
o'clock on Monday morning. No further
direct news has been received from Trans
vaal The letter to DR.. Jameson was dated
Dec 2s, and said:
"Matters in this state have become SO
critical that we are assured that at no dis
tant period there will bea acontict between
the government and the Uitlandcr popu-
lation. The position of thousands OF
Englishmen and of others is rapidly be
coming intulerable."
The letter then proceeds to complain
that the government virtually compels
Uitlanders to pay the whole revenue OF
the country, while denying thom repre5en-
tation, and proceeds;
Every public act betrays the most pos
tive hostility not only to everything En-
glish, but to the neighboring states The
internal policy of the government has in
censed not only the Uitlandcrs but large
number of Beers while it's external policy
has exasperated the ncighboring states to
the extent of endangering the peace and
independence and the preservation of the
republic The people here only desire fair
and the presence of those public liberties
without which life is not worth living.
The government denies these things and
violates the national sense of Englishmen
at every turn.
eve must consider what must be the
condition of things in the event of an
armed conflict. Thousands of unarmed
men, women and children of our race will
be at the mercy of the well armed Beers
while property of enormous value will be
in the greatest peril We all feel that We
are justified in taking any steps to prevent
the shedding of blood and to insure the
protection of our rights.
at is under these circumstances that we
feel constrained to invoke your aid. Should
a disturbance arise here the circumstances
are so extreme that we cannot but believe
that you, and the men under you, will moi
fail to come to our rescue. We guarantee
any expense you may reasonably incur il
| helping us, and ask you to believe that
nothing but the sternest necessity has
prompted this appeal"
Mr. Chamberlain secretary of state fol
| the colonies, indicates that no adequate
| Justification exists for DIR. Jameson's ap
parent breach of the law Of nations. Il
was known in official circles on Monday
| that in the course of the day Mr.. Chamber
| lain had wired to DIR. Jameson, ordering
/ him to return without delay to the com
/ pany's territory. 1t is believed that the
/ Boer forces have been modified under
| General Joubert, and that an explosion il
| possible at any moment.
Mr.. Chamberlain is believed to have ad
dressed himself to President Kruger a.
clearly and as firmly as to DR., Jameson
| He called upon the Boer leader TO do hi
utmost to prevent hostilities, and has of
fered Great Britain's aid to promote
peaceful settlement.
The Times, in an editorial, thinks tina
the letter hardly justified DR. jameson
startling move. But it will be necessary,
The Times continues, "to wait for furthc
news before Judging his action, If he wer
satisfied that nothing but immediate ant
decisive intervention on his part coulC
save great British community from
armed violence, his conduct will be ap
proved here" The Chronicle calls DR.
Jameson's action political recklessness;
The Standard says it is 'most regret
able, and The Daily News declares tina
"it may give death blow to British inter
! ests Other DaDpPS express similar views