The Yale expositor., 1896-01-17
WILL THERE BE WAR?
Dispatches and Rumors of the Trouble
Between England and Germany.

dispatches anu humOrs or tne IrOuDIs
Between England and Germany.
London: Great Britain is seriously
and steadily preparing for war on "
very large scale at sea and on land
against Germany, or against Germany,
France and Russia, should they COM
binc against her. Emperor William
threw down the gauntlet, it was
promptly picked up and energetic
steps were Immediately taken by the
British government to back up this
action by IA most imposing display of
sea power. The activity in the ad-
miralty, war Office and other Offices
called upon to take part in the war
preparations is really remarkable and
London is overrun with officers on
the retired list or otherwise, who are
desirous of drawing sword in defense
of the empire. The rapidity in which
the various naval stations are com
missioning warships, large and small,
for active service is pointed to with
great pride. The Portsmouth author
tiles explain that the warships from
the dockyard, which are being prompt
ly got ready to join the flying squadron
are but three out OF IA total of 2S in the
feet reserve which could be made
A dispatch from johannesburg says
that the crisis in the Transvaal is not
over. President Kruger and Sir Her
cules Robinson, the governor of Cape
Colony, have failed to agree upon q
settlement of the matters in dispute.
1t is understood that the president in
sists on the annulling of tho conven-
tion of 1854 and that Amatongaland,
lately added to the territory of the
colony of Natal. be annexed to the
Boer republic as an indemnity for DR..
Jameson's raid into the Transvaal. If
these reports are true. the gravity Of
the situation has increased, and the
reason for the assem- milling of Great
Britain's fleets may be found in that.
There are also signs that the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal govern
ment will make common cause against
Great Britain should there be further
trouble, and the report of Il secret un-
derstanding between Germany and the
TranSvaal continues undcnied in Off
cial circles. 1t looks, indeed, like o
grand combination of Dutch and Ger
mans against the England. The fre-
quently repeated assertion that the
British government had purchased
Delagoa bay from Portugal, thus cut
ting off any possibility of the Beers
obtaining seaport and getting ahead
of Germany in a strong strategic point.
is still unconhrmed and uncontra-
dictcd.
berlin dispatches are not quite so
warlike. but it is the unanimous feel
ing in Germany that the Jameson raid
was due to connivance upon the part
of the British government, in spite of
official denials, and u strong anti
English feeling is finding vent in reso-
lutions passed 10y the colonial and
other associations in favor Of Trans
vaal independence, and the entire press
is expressing hostility to England.
However, official circles do not seem to
present such strong disposition to
fight. They regard the main quarrel
rs being picked by the British press
instead of the government Germany
merely desires and insists upon
the statu quo which will suf-
fec for the Transvaal to de-
velop its independence and resources,
and all reports beyond that are base
less. In insisting upon the indcpen-
dence of the Transvaal Germany
has the support of Russia and
France. The newspapers of Ger
many point out that their country
has large commercial interests in the
Transvaal, being principal owners of
the Delagoa Bay railroad, owning inn
portant factories and improvements
and having over 50,000,000 marks in-
vested in the gold fields. Emperor
William felt bound TO assure President
Kruger of Germany's sympathy and, il
necessary, support, and he deemed
himself bound to take this step by the
appeal of President Kruger, during his
stay in Berlin, to the emperor's grand
father, William 7. and to Prince Bis
marck. in 1894, when a promise was
made to help him in time of trouble.