Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-08
THE WAR CLOUD IN EUROPE
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 nesburg had only destroyed the railway
 to Krugersdorp, which they could easily
 have done, it would have prevented the supplies of ordnance being taken to the entrenched Boers, which enabled them to hold out against our attacks. As it was
 special train loaded with ammunition
 ran out to the Boers from Johannesburg without hindrance"
 Sir Edwar Wants Fight.
 Speaking to his constituents at Ply mouth today, Sir Edward Clark, mem- Der of parliament, who was solicitor general from 1886 to 1892, said that if Great Britain refused arbitration on her claims within the Schomburgk line, sub
 hitting to arbitration only the claims outside of that line, there would be war with the United States, in which Great Britain would not be in the right. He Begged Them to Retire.
 A dispatch received today from Jo- hannesburg dated January 2 says 1t has transpired that upon the arrival of the news of Dr. Jameson's advance MT. Eloff, President Kruger's grandson, rode un- attended to meet the British South Afri- ca company's force with a view to per suading them to return. He met them at Zwaartlaagte and vainly urged them to retire. He was placed until arrest till the following day when he was liberated and his horse returned to him. Dr. Jameson retained his arms, telling him to call for them at the government of- fees in Pretoria.
 Uitlanders Submit
 Sir Hercules Robinson. governor of Cape Colony, cables from Pretoria, cap ital of the Transvaal, under date of to- day, that he has received a message from the reform committee at Johannes burg stating that the Uitlanders have re- solved to comply with the demand of the Transvaal government that they relin- quish tffeir arms. The people, the com
 nittee added, are placing themselves un- reservedly in his hands, being confident that he will see that justice is done them. Sir Hercules then quotes a message sent by Sir Jacobus Dewet, the British political agent at Pretoria, to President Kruger containing the reform commit tees formal resolution declaring that the committing had instructed it's followers to lay down their arms, relying on the Transvaal government to maintain or der and protect life.
 The resolution requests that the armed Burghers in the vicinity of Johannes l burg be removed
 Sir Jacobus Dewet added in his mesr sage that he was convinced that the for- eigners would abandon their arms with out further difficulty and urged that the republic cooperate with the committee | for day or two in restoring the normal condition of affairs in Johannesburg. Sir Hercules concludes his dispatch by saying he hopes now to be able to con fer with President Kruger and the exec utive council relative to the prisoners and the redressing of the grievances ot the foreigners resident in Johannesburg. Getting Ready for War.
 The Times tomorrow will say that or ders have been sent to Portsmouth, De- venport and Chatham for the immediate placing in commission of six ships to form a flying squadron. It is understood that captains for the vessels have al ready been chosen. The object is oh- viously to have an additional squadron ready to go anywhere The squadron will be composed of two first-class Dattle-e ships and two first and two second-class cruisers. The names of the vessels are vet unknown but there is hardly ques- tion that either the Royal Oak or the Re- venge now at Portsmouth, will hoist pennant The Enjimon and Thesus now at Chatham, are likely to be two of the cruisers selected. The paper adds that ] 1t has also been decided to olspatch l naval force to Delagoa bay, but whether I it will be composed of vessels from the Cape or East Indian squadron is un. known. ~ Commenting upon these naval prepa- rations the Times will say 1t hopes that as nothing can be gained by keeping the Mediterranean fleet at Salonica, It VIII shertly be ordered to concentrate where it can be more immediately available In | case of need. Relative to the report about Germany ordering marines to the | Transvaal. the Times refuses to believe l the report until it shall be proved that | Portugal consented for them to pass l through her territory. It adds, however, l that it would not be surprised to learn that efforts had been made to tempt l them to disloyalty to friendly power l and an old ally. If the reported landing | of marines was not done under the | agreement with Portugal, it was in- tended as an act of filibustering more | reprehensble than Dr. Jameson's, be- | cause it was projected by regular gov | ernment fully aware of the character or l tha n ection in the eve of international law.