Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29
BRITAIN IN AFRICA.
Mar Now at Hand With The United
Dutch Peoples.
GERMANS IN THE TRANsvAAL.
~ mbers of Them Airiying-They
Aie Evidently soIdiers-BIood VIII
Flow Before Long, IL Il Feared
Spanish-Cuban Trouble.
Special London Cable Lottery


accept or reject the invitation Of Mr..
Chamberlain to visit London for the pur-
pose Of settling the questions that have
arisen between Great Britain and the
South African republic. In response to
this demand. President Kruger has tele-
graphed that the decision does not rest
with him, but with the Volksraad, the
parliament OF the republic. and that the
latter will only assent to his going to
London on condition that the Anglo-Boer
Convention Of 1884 be so amended that
the full Independence of the Transvaal
will be recognized and guaranteed by
Great Britain and the other Powers.
Mr.. Chamberlain declined last night to
tell the House OF Commons how the ne
the Ministerial circle the gravity OF the
position is known. A high official has
told the representative of the United
Press that Mr.. Chamberlain had, from the
outset Of the negotiations, dstrusted
President Kruger, and had not fall
cd to draw accurate conclusions
frolA his delayed acceptance of
theV invitation to visit England.
Mr.. Chamberlain still hopes, however, TO
OBTAIN a StlliCHltHl VI lnt Qutc-
tons at issue without President Kruger's
coming here, and without acceding to
revision of the convention.
The Ministers seem TO be more SAN
guine than the facts warrant, probably
not desiring to alarm the country until
the last resources OF diplomacy are ex-
hausted. The VoIksraad does not meet
until April 4th. President Kruger will
then have dallied over Mr.. Chamberlain's
invitations, which were sent early in
February, for three months. during which
time he has formed an alliance with the
Orange Free State, prepared an Afr.kan-
der Instruction In Cape Colony, and re-
organized the forces of the TFansvaal,
especially the artillery.
THE ISSUE WAR.
That the issue OF the negotiations would
be war has been contemplated by the
British for some time. The fact was
pointed out in this correspondence on
February 18th last, at which time it was
stated that the War Office, acting under
instructions from the government, had
prepared to send an army corps OF 2o.cOo
men to South Africa. or this force 1t was
intended that a large contingent should
be drawn from the Indian cavalry, artil-
lery, and infantry. There is reason to
state that this project has not been alter
Beers The tact and energy OF President
Kruger have made a successful invasion
OF the Transvaal by 10000 British troops
almost impossible. IL Is not the Transvaal
alone that the British forces Will have TO
face, but the united Dutch peoples of the
whole of South Africa.
That strictly Unconventional paper. the
Manchester Guardian, published yesterday
letters from Cape Colony. in which it was
int fHf. nfVuf 1gxsl a
would mean a civil war. the British
| against the Dutch, facing each other from
| Pretoria to Cape Town. The conquest or
| the Dutch would require as many troops
4 as were sent TO Crimea.
| 1t Is known accurately at the War
| ONCE what the strength OF the Boer
| forces alone Is that Is now ready 10
take the field. The reporter or the
| United Press learns from an official source
| that within three months $500 Germans
! are estimated TO have entered the Trans
| vaal as immigrants. and these are known
| to be obtaining Transyaal money. The
! force of Zulus trained and commanded
1 by Boer and German officers is estimated
| to number 60,OO0 Though their tribal
| fidelity to the Beers Is doubtful. they can
be trusted to fight against the British.
Viewing the whole situation, including
tho liOQDltS III ANSJPN dhA NioNNANANt ILL
| English people are not likely to approve
| the gigantic task of conquering the Trans
| vaal, yet they must face that or the al
| tentative Of declaration or independence
| Of the Transyaal. the Orange Free State,
! and probably Cape Colony, which would
for the United States Of South Africa.
RISING or MATABELES.
The rising OF the natives in Matabele-
l. f..sn
| difficulty. All of the Matabeles. including
| the women. number only 10000. The
men are supposed 10 have been disarmed
after the defeat Of their king. Lobengula,
| by the forces of the British South Africa
| Company. but 1t Is now suspected that
| they hid their weapons, instead OF turn
| ing them over to the company's officers.
Though the country Is denuded Of regu-
| lar troops, and the forces of the chartered
company are disorganized, owing TO the
| recent raid into the Transvaal, which
resulted in most of the company's officers
being placed on trial In London. a voun-
| teer force, armed with Lee-Mitford rifles,
| and also a force Of 1000 volunteer cavalry,
| are near the region where the rising oc-
| Cured. Bulwayo, the principal town OF
| Matabeleland. is protected by a number OF
Maxim-guns. and a few guns OF heavier
calibre. There Is plenty Of ammunition
| in the town. Though massacre OF set
| tiers and miners is possible. the rising
will undoubtedly be queiled without an
| engagement sufficiently serious to be
| called a battle.
The most serious news yet received from
| Rhodesla is that which came TO hand
this evening. saying that the native police
| had Joined the rising. The main anxiety
| OF the authorities here was conferred In
| the conduct OF this force. Though II is
| only $50 strong, II will be a powerful
| factor In spreading the revolt The ma
| tives who served as police were recruited
from tie, crack regiments OF the old Ma
| tabele Kingdom. They are well trained.
| well armed, and command a coplous sup
| ply OF ammunition.
| Altogether, the outlook is In nowise as
| favorable as IL was yesterday for putting
| down the revolt. The Globe. comment
| ing this afternoon on the subject, says
that the fever OF revolt is likely to spread
| TO the tribes beyond Matabsleland, in
| GLIDING the Zulus, who. II Is supposed
would tight with the Beers In the event
| OF hostilitles with the British. Inquiries
| made at the War-Office as to the strength
| Of the British troops within range OF
| the revolt only resulted in making eyiden,
| the official confusion on the subject swo
| companies OF the Black Watch Regiment
are stationed at Mafeking. on the Trans
| vaal border. and these are the only troops
| who are known with certainty TO me In
| Rhodesia- The War-Cffice hopes that Sir
| Hercules Robinson. the Governor OF Cape
| Colony, and High Commissioner In South
Africa, has strengthened the troops IN
Rhodesa recently. but there are no Off.
cial adyices TO that effect. The truth
seems TO be that Governor Robinson has
| not sent any troops into that country.
! To-day's adyices confirm the Importance