New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
TO OVERAWE THE BOERS
AN INVASION THREATENED,
ENGLAND MAY SEND AN ARMY CORPS
TO SOUTH AFRICA.
THE GOVERNMENT DETERMINED 10 ENFORCE
SUBMISSION TO IT'S DEMANDs-rr IS NOT BE-
LrEvED THAT PRESIDENT KRUGER WILL
COME TO LoNDoN-HE WILL TOLERATE
NO INTERFERENCE IN TRANsvAAL
AFFAIRS NEWSPAPERS URGE
THE MINISTRY TO BE

THE MINISTRY TO BE
READY FOR WAR
London, Feb. 15.-The representative OF the
United Press learns from an official source thar
the War Office. acting under orders from the
Government has made every preparation 10
send an army corps OF 2Q.0O) men to South Ar
RIGA. Despite the silence Of the English papers,
and In face of possible denials. the absolute
accuracy Of this statement can be relied upon
The War Office was consulted by the Coy
eminent the week after Emperor William sent
his dispatch to President Kriiger as to how
long 1t would take to land a fully equipped army
In Natal Plans were prepared between the
War Office and the Admiralty. with the result
that 1t was reported that an expedition could
be ready within thre- months. The details %
the scheme are known only to the heads OF the
War Office and the members Of the inner Cab!-
net but the informal ion received by the repre-
sentative Of the United Press points to n large
contingen: being drawn from India, cavalry
artillery and infantry, including S.khs and
other native troops
The promise OF a peaceful settlement OF the
Transvaal difficulty does not appear to have
sufficed to induce the British Government TO
abandon its project. Final orders for the dis
patch Of the troops have not yet been given
but II the present designs are carried out, a
full army corps will Re in Natal some time In
May. What real use is to be made or this
force can only be surmised. The Conservative
organ The Globe" alone Of all the newspapers
seems to have received SONS hint OF the Gov
ernment's Intentions IL argues that soft words
with the Beers are sheer waste OF time. Eng
land 1t declares. Will only get what she wants
by display OF force, not an actual collision,
but a demonstration Therefore. the Govern
ment must increase its forces in South Africa
to such an extent to convince the Govern
ment at Pretoria that neither the Beers nor
the Germans will be longer allowed to prevent
submission to Engands Just demands THE
Globe does not attempt to estimate what force
will be required TO overawe the Beers. but says
that the Government; has not enough troops In
South Africa at present 10 do what at any
moment 1t may be imperative!y necessary to do.
BIG JOB FOR ENGLAND.
The English after their thorough defeao at
Matuba Hill In 1881. had 10000 troops opposed
to the Beers, who were not al all overawed then.
If to the projected expedition there should be
added the existing forces in South Africa there
would be from 5000 to 10000 men Of all arms
who could be used in demonstration against
the Transvaa,. The Republic might. and prob
ably would. nnd ar any In the olaIse iTSc
State, would receive assistance from Dutch
sympathizers In Cape Colony. and would prob
ably secure the active Intervention OF Europe.
1t would be big job for England to make even
a limited demonstration.
The Anglo Boer troubles arising from DIT Jane
sons raid into the Transvaal. or perhaps. from
a more remote cause do not appear likely TO be
settled by mere exchange OF diplomatic cor
n visit az President KRUGER
London On the surface all appears to be clear
sailing but Il can be said with certainty that
there IL something In the wind OF which the gem
eral public has as yet no knowledge Pretoria
advices Of Thursday showed that the Boer Gov
eminent was incensed. and with reason because
Of Mr. Chamberlain's dispatch 10 Sir Hercules
Robinson, British High Commissioner In South
Africa, in which the secretary OF State for the
Colonies set forth the alleged grievances Of the
foreign residents Of the Transyaal and suggested
q scheme OF reforms which included the granting
Of autonomy TO the residents OF the Rand. Presi-
dent KRUGER thought that this was an unwar-
ranted interference with the internal affairs Of
the South African Republic. and he did not hes-
tate to say sc plainly.
On the face Of things II appeared that the
moderation Of President krIger toward Or.
Jameson and his fellow fllibusters and the
tensble intention OF the British Government to
protect the Beers In their rights would. after
some diplomatic correspondence, result In the
restoration Of the condition OF affairs which pre-
vailed before the raid. Beneath the surface. how
not acting entirely In good faith
PRESIDENT KRUEGER's FIRM STAND.
Although Mr.. Balfour referred hopefully In the
House Of Commons last night to President Kru-
gers coming to England to discuss the questions
at issue nobody within without the official
circle believes that he Is coming On Thursday
night Mr.. Chamberlain announced Ills readiness
to abandon his proposal that home rule should
be granted to the residents Of the Rand and to
ask President Krtger to suggest an alternative
The sturdy Boer President stated the alternative
explicitly In his last dispatch In which he de-
clared that the Transvaal would allow Of no in
reference in Its internal affairs. With this dis
patch before him Mr. Bafour affirmed the deci-
sion Of the British Government to interfere to
secure to the foreigners In the Transvaal equal
rights with the Beers. The question Is
What form will this interference take?
INTERVENTION FAVORED.
The tone of the Conservative and Liberal
speeches in the debate last night in the House
Of Commons and the comment to-day of the
newspapers of both parties disclose the fact
that there is a current Of opinion favorable to
British intervention In the Transyaal on the
pretext Of defending the rights OF the foreign
residents Of that Republic. Sir William Yer
non Harcourt's morazing on the fate which
attends these who interfere in the arrange
ments Of domestic differences did not seem to be
taken seriously by the Liberals. whose leader
I'm the House he Is. THE Westminster Gazette"
which is n Liberal organ, replies to Sir William
saying that. so far as the domestic compari-
son goes, Great Britain has already secured a
locus stand by checking the fight between the
Boer husband and the Uitlander wife. 1t adds
that II the Boer laws make 1t impossible for
a me n to become burgler they must not at
the same time deprive hin. Of his rights as a
British subject.
POSSIBILITY OF TERRIBLE WAR
The gravity Of the situation Is becoming
recognized. THE Spectator says that the pos
sbity OF terrible war underlies the declara-
ton Of Baron Marschall Won Biebersteln. the
German Foreign Minister. that Germany will
not abandon her resolve to interfere In the af-
fairs Of the Transvaal. The paper declares II
thinks that II Great Britain was fairly reused
y: Clark. res.aurateur Twenty-thirds,.. opposite