New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-11

| Tor years been hewing for himself He may be
Tor the moment compelled y abide the issue OF
the present troubles. bat that he will later again
take hand in shaping the destinies OF South
Africa there can scarcely lac doubt He has
always been man Of action. not words. and his
/ future policy will. decided upon probably
not be known until it is put into effect
The arrest Of the members Of the National
Reform Committee does not cause any great
anxiety regarding their fate, as 1t is generally
believed that in no event will any severe pun
ishment be inflicted upon them
ENGLAND'S ISOLATION COMPLETE.
: Never before has the isolation Of Great Brit
ain been so completely driven home in the
minds of the British people Hitherto they have
been accustomed TO believing that should Eng
land become embroiled in a war with a foreign
Power she would find sympathy If not actual
! aid from OF the European nations Now
| it is known that in all Europe she has not
| single friend. and many believe that her enc
mics are only awaiting An opportunity to at
tack her and deprive her of some Of her vast
possessions
! A dispatch from Berlin today. II it be true
shows tina; the re is some sort of understanding
between the Powers 10 the action TO be
taken by them relative to England. This dis
patch says that unless Great Britain accedes to
the demands Of the Transvaal which includes
the abrogation of the treaty Of 1884. Germany
will urge Presiden, kriger to appeal to the
European Powers 20 support him In his de-
mands This. If 1t means anything. means thai
Germany is In position to know that the
Powers would support the Transvaal and the
only way in which such support could he given.
unless England ieceded from her position. would
be to declare war upon Great Britain. That
this will he done few persons believe.
The situation IL complicated one. ana the
more II is studied the wider the vista OF its pos
sbities becomes But with the hands Of all the
Powers against her. Great Britain is awaiting
to see from what direction the first blow will h.
delivered. Should an attack be- made upon her
she will he found not unprepared. In every
direction measures are being taken to ward OF
possible dangers, and the nation is rapidly put
ting itself ir a position whore. if events warrant
such a course. it will itself he able to deal the
first blow. The greatest activity is being dis
PLAYED at the dockyards where the torpedo
boa. destroyers. which are TO be attached TO the
Channel feet and flying squadron are being pre-
pared TO go into commission. II Is believed that
orders have been sent to the British Mediter-
ranean fleet. now at Salonlca. ordering certain
vessels 10 be IN readiness for other service
Were 1t necessary 10 send further vessels to Della
squadron, the vessels now at Salonica could
quickly reach South Africa, as they are not FAR
from the western entrance OF the suez Canal
Secretary Chamberlain started to-day from
London for the Icle of Wight. where he VIII
visit the Queen and lay before Her Majesty the
full details of the situation and explain TO her
the naval and military preparations that are
under way.
Much interest is felt in the Cabinet Counci,
which, 1t Is said, has been summoned to meet TO-
morrow 1t is belle yed that Lord Salisbury VII!
then lay before his colleagues full exposition
Of recent events and approval Of the
Governments policy.
Though or the surface the situation appears
~ be threatening those best qualified to judo
still view matters optmistically. and declar"
that the clouds will soon blow over. This view
Is borne out to great extent by the course of
events at the Stock Exchange. where. despite
the alarms and rumors OF war. the markets 'o-
dav were quiet ane steady Even In Kaflr min
Ing shares which would be disaStrouslv affected
nv a war or at least by hostilties In the Trans
vaal there were fractional, advances. showing
that spectators have no fear OF trouble.
PRESIDENT KRUGER THANKS THE QUEEN.
The Government has received cable dispatch
from Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor OF the
Cape Colony embodying President kruger's re-
nlv TO the message communicated 10 him by Mr..
Chamberlain. expressing the satisfaction Of the
Queen at Presiden, Kriger's decision to turn
over the British South Africa Complny prison
ers to officers of thu Imperial Government The
reply is addressed to Governor Robinson and IL
follows:
have the honor to acknowledge the refipt of
the telegram received by Your EXceiency from the
you by command OF Her Majesty, the Queen. to
me bor or aeT at IN NV DECISION 10 Ran
over the prisoners TO Her Majes'ys yJ
really my Intention TO act in this sense so tha'
Jameson and the British subjects under MS com
mea, i viii inform Your Excellency. of my final
ss In revsd .Ss to qaeess ana
In the mean time i request Your Excelency to
%ora ah ns my sn t y ' goc
wishes to express my thanks for the same
A dispatch from Johannesburg says THE
Standard Of that place publishes the state
ment that the release Of DIR. Jameson and those
Of his followers who were taken prisoners by
the Beers will be made conditional upon the
abrogaton of the convention Of 1884.
GERMANy's THREATENING ATTITUDE.
A dispa ten to the Central News from Berlin
says that unless Great Britain satisfies the
demands OF President Kriger. which include
the abrogaton Of the convention Of 1884 by
the terms of which England exercises suzerainty
over the Transvaa Republic. Germany will
urge Kriiger To appeal TO the European Powers
to support him in his demands.
Amsterdam, Jan. 10-Dr. Bee0ris van Block
land, Minister Of the South African Republic
TO Germany, The Netherlands and France. has
gone to Paris to confer with the French Gov
ernment In regard to the situation in the
Transvaal.
London Jan. 10.--George j. Goschen. First
Lord Of the Admiralty. paid visit to Ports
mouth to-day, where he inspected the ships at
that yard which destined for the flying
squadron. ..,