The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-11
Great Britain Has Purchased it
From Portugal.
AND SENT a FLEET THERE
The Latest Development in The
Transvaal Situation.
ANOTHER SPECIAL SQUADRON
A Feeling of Backdown is Said to be
Noticeable in the German
Press---President Krugers'
Message.

Press---President krugers
Message.
London, Jan. 10.-The most inter
esting developments on the South Afri-
can situation to-day is the fact, that
| in spite of all denials it is now found
| from many quarters that there is some
| truth in the ruomrs that Great Britain
| has purchased Delagoa Bay from Por-
| tugal.
If this be the case an entirely new
| complexion will be thrown upon the
political situation and it may turn out
/ to be the real cause for the assembling
| of such powerful British fleet as the
| one which will be anchored off Port
| land on Tuesday next. As it is under
| stood the government of the Trans
vaal has demanded among other things
| that Great Britain forego her right to
| obtain possession of Delagoa Bay and,
| as Germany may look upon this as a
move which will seriously threaten
| the future of the Transvaal, the situa-
| tion if the report is true viii have be-
| come more serious. 1t is impossible to
secure q confirmation or denial of the
purchase of the Delagoa Bay by Great
Britain.
| President Kruger, it was announced
| to-day has sent the following telegram
| in reply to Sir Hercules Robinson, the
| governor of Cape Colony, for trans
mission TO Mr.. Chamberlain. After ac-
| knowledging the receipt of the
Queens message, President Kruger
says: ''It is my intention to hand
| over the prisoners so that DR.. Jameson
| and the British under him may be pun
ished by Her Majesty's government.
| will make known to your Excellency
my final decision in the matter as soon
as Johannesburg shall have reverted
to a condition of quietness and order.
I'm the meantime, I request your
| Excellency TO assure the Queen of my
| high appreciation of her words and in
1 proffering my respectful good wishes
to express my thanks for the same"
| ANOTHER SPECIAL SQUADRON.
| Portsmouth, Jan. 10.--It is reported
| here that a second special squadron of
warships consisting OF fast cruisers
has been told off and will be held in
readiness for commission at a mo-
ment's notice.
There is feeling abroad in London
| tonight that there are many details
| of the complication into which the
| foreign affairs of the empire has been
i placed which have not been published
i and much speculation is indulged in
by the public. So far as official i'm
| formation goes the situation seems to
| be improved
| The mystery of naval preparation
| occupies a large place in the public
/ mind and the conclusion arrived at by
the attentive public after thus think
| ing it over is that the tremendous ae-
| tivity displayed, not only in the fitting
/ out of the flying squadron, but in the
| rushing forward of work in the navy
| yards, arsenals and supply shops for
\ war material do not appear wholly
| necessary on account of the condition
of relations with Germany. 1t is also
felt that it is difficult to see what point
| the flying squadron which together
| with the existing available squadrons,
which it is proposed to join 1T, will
/ form; it is said, the most powerful
/ fleet of war vessels ever put ahoat, rs
| destined to be formed.
| The situation in the Transvaal is
| undoubtedly greatly improved and un-
under President Kruger has made ex-
| tortionate demands, such as for the
| complete independence of his republic
4
| Great Britain and has received the sup
port Of Germany in favor of these de-
| mands, such powerful fleet as is be-
| ing proposed will not be needed at
| Delagoa Bay. In fact the whole future
| of South Africa now depends upon the
nature of the demands made by Pres
| ident Kruger, whose response to the
4 Queens message, addressed to him
| in the third person, through Colonial
| Secretary Chamberlain, is to say the
least not effusive.
| In fact it partially declares that the
T. President will hold DIR. jameson and
| the other members of his expedition
who were taken with him as hostages
| for the disarmament of johannesburg.
| The time of grace for the surrender
of the arms held by the Uitlanders ex-
| pires at o'clock this evening. Right
| Hon. Jos. Chamberlain, Secretary of
| State for the Colonies, went to Osborne
| to-day, and he will stay there over
night. Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, First
| Lord of the Admiralty, made special
visit to Portsmouth to-day, and in
| spected the ships OF the flying squad
| ron and saw the guns of their arma-
ment worked. The workmen at Chat
| ham, Portsmouth and Plymouth work
| ed late tonight by electric light for
the fitting out of the ships of this
squadron. 1T is expected that those at
the Portsmouth dock yard will contin-
ne the work of preparation on Sunday.
1t is announced this evening that the
government has ordered the stores of
small arm cartridges to be increased
from 60,000,0 900 to 100000
All these preparations, of course,
means an enormous outlay of treasure.
| The wages of worl5men alone are ESQ.,