The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-30
BOERS prepare TO FIGHT.
Expect u War for the Independence Of
South Africa.
THE POSITION OF KRUEGER
Says the Volksrand win Not Let Him Go
TO London Unless tho Complete
Independence OF the Trans.
vaai Is Recognized.

London. March 29-Advices confirm
the Importance of the Dutch agitation
fer the independence of South Africa.
a letter received here from IA member
of the Cape parliament says that the
English and Dutch political leaders
concur in the belief that the position
was never so threatening in the Trans
vaal. The heads of the movement are
first amply providing for their own Sc
curity against a British attack. Many
newcomers who are seen in Pretoria
are known to be German soldiers.
Every steamer sailing to Cape Town,
Durham, and Port Elizabeth brings
groups of so-called prospectors who are
unable to conceal the stamp of the
disciplined soldier who is still under
military command. Besides the Ger
mans the Beers are recruiting for
eisn legion. The letter concludes with
the statement that everybody knows
that there is war ahead, and that plenty
of British and Dutch blood will be shed
ere the summers grapes ripen.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of
state for the Colonies recently demand
ed of President Kruger of the Trans
vaal that he Immediately accept or re-
jcct the invitation to visit London for
the purpose of settling the questions
that have arisen between Great Brit
t'ii oii' 'h' '''uth fbtpuDlIt. III
response To this demand, President
Kruger has telegraphed that the deci-
sion does not rest with him. but with
the Nolksraad, the Parliament of the
Republic. and that the latter will only
assent to his going to London on con-
dition that the Anglo Boer convention
of 1854 be so amended that the full in
dependence of the Transvaal will be
recognized and guaranteed by Great
Britain and the other powers.
\ government officer has told the rep-
resentative of the United Press that
Mr.. Chamberlain has, from the outset
or the negotiations, distrusted Presi-
dent Kruger, and has not failed to
draw accurate conclusions from his de-
layed acceptance of the invitation to
visit England. Mr.. Chamberlain still
hopes. however, to obtain q pacific set
tlement of the questions at issue with
out President Kruger coming here and
without accediSg to a revision of the
convention.
MINISTER'S SANGUINE.
The ministers seem to be more sam
giihe than the facts warrant. prob
ably not desiring to alarm the country
until the last resources of diplomacy
are exhausted, The Voksrand does not
meet until April 4. President Kruger
will then have dallied over Mr.. Cham
berlain's invitation, which was sent
early in February. for three months,
during which time he has formed an al
lance with the Orange Free state, pre-
pared an Afrikander insurrenction in
Cape Colony, and reorganized the
armed forces of the Transvaal, espe-
cially the artillery.
That the issue of the negotiations
would be war has been contemplated
by the British government for sCme
Time. This fact was pointed out in
this correspondence on Feb. 10 last, at
Whlch time 1t was stated that the war
office acting under instructions from
the government had prepared to send
an army corps of 10000 men to South
Africa. OF this force 1t was intended
that large contingent should be
drawn from the Indian cavalry, artil-
lery. and infantry.
There lS reason for saying that this
project has not been altered, but time
has been on the side of the Beers. The
tact and energy OF President Kruger
have made successful invasion of
the Transvaal by 10000 British troops
almost impossible. 1t Is not the Trans
Vaal alone that the British forces
would have to face, but the united
Dutch people of the whole of South
Africa.
The strictly non-sensational paper,
the Manchester Guardian. published
yesterday authoritative letters from
Cape Colony in which 1t was said that
a war against the Transvaal would
mean civil war, the British against
the Dutch facing each other from Pre-
toria to Cape Town. The conquest of
the Dutch would require as many
troops as were sent to the Crimea. 1t
Is not known accurately at the war
office what the strength of the Boer
forces alone is that are now ready to
take the field. The representative of
the United Press learns from an official
source that within. three months $500
Germans are estimated to have en-
tered the Transvaal as immigrants,
and these are known to be getting
Transvaal money. The force of Zulus.
trained and commanded by Boer and
German officers, Is estimated to number
10000. Though their tribal fidelity to
the Beers Is doubtful. they can be
trusted to fight against the British.
Viewing the whole situation includ.
ing the troubles in Egypt and else
where. the English people are not like
ly to approve the gigantic task of con-
quering the Transvaal: yet they must
face that or the alternative of a decla-
ration of independence from the Trans
Vaal, the Orange Free state. and prob
ably Cape Colony. which would form
the United States of South Africa.