The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-14
Critical Relations With England Cause
him 10 Make Really for Defence,
SIGNIFICANT OCCURRENCES IN LONDON
The Disposition OF tho Troops at the
Queens SexagesimaI Celebration a
Serious Iem-Arrancements
Being Made for Her Comfort.
(Capyright, 1897. by the Sun Printing and
Publishing Association.)

] little notice has been taken OF the re@lly
critical relations now existing between
Great Britain and the Transvaal Re-
lieving that the English Government IL
seeking the earliest opportunity or ex-
cuse for making ono more attempt TO
crush the little republic, which 30 many
times has repulsed British invasions.
/ Secretary Chamberln IS credited with
Just such an outrageous policy, and hts
attitude on several recent occasions has
done much to justify the susl icion. He
emphasized repeatedly in his examina-
tion Of Mr.. Rhodes before the South
African Commission. his conviction that
the present regime in the Transvaal can
not continue, and openly intimated that
the British Government would have given
fun support to an ultimatum in the ques-
ton last October had It been necessary.
All of Mr.. Chamberlins incest liter
ances In Parliament In reference 10 tho
Transvaal have been sarcastic and in
tolerant. lie openly declares that the
present relations between the two coun-
tries are gravely strained.
There has been free talk within a few
days OF an uitimatum TO President Kru-
ger. with Lord Wolseey and forty thou
sand troops in the background. There
IS. Of course, every effort to make Il
appear that President Kruger is taking
tho offensive. but nobody need be dc
oeived thereby.
PRESIDENT KRUGER.
The keen old statesman Of that Rand
knows perfectly we'll that England IS
trying 10 pick a quarrel with him. and
he is simply making ready, as he should
do. for ono more gallant defence OF tho
Boer liberties against tho rapacious greed
pf gold-wOrshipping Englishmen. This
week he was making speeches in the
orange Free state, where he has been
on a mission. which is pretty well under
stood 10 include q scheme Of an ofien-
sive as well as a defensive alliance or
the two African republics against Eng
land.
Ills peculiar style OF oratory IS not
ielished I'm England where everybody IS
ready TO take onense whether 1t is in
tended or not. In one grafton be talked
chcerfully about the neat way his keen
eyed Burghcrs haC shot Engisnmen while
the foreigners invaded the Transvaal, and
{ tho fact does not sweeten II for British
palates. in another speech the old man
paid ponderous compliments 20 queen VIC
tora or ct any rate the world has been
given TO understand that they were
meant 10 be compliments. Among other
remarks. no declared that the Queen was
"eon Kwaje vrouw" and a controversy
is now raging as 10 the meaning OF this
phrase.
Reuters Telegram Company which is
the official Boer agency as far as South
African news IS concerned. translates the
remark as "a difficult woman The
Central News. which IN South African
I f-
Town that Mr.. Krugers words were
meant 10 be cOntempuOus and that their
literal end also colOquial meaning IS IAN
angry woman. or shrew." The London
Globe. which may be fairly regarded as
the organ Of Mr.. Rhodes, says the exc
preston IS frequently used In the Ifans-
vaal with reference 20 bad tempered AMI
mails, which when annoyed, kick or bite
Thus "eon Kwaje mannetio' is an ex-
preston applied TO "a cock ostrich which
is an habltual and vigorous kicker Mr.
Kruger. II SIS urged really intended 10 de-
scribe Queen Victoria as a vicious WO-
man. Whatever Mr.. Kruger meant, Eng
Ushmen are bound to put the worst con-
struction on Il.
HIS MISSION.
As 10 his mission 10 the Orange Free
State. private cables indicase that he
will probably fail as TO his main object
as the smaller republic has no desire for
high politics. one can scarcely take up an
English paper now without finding I'm
some form or another the obviously abb
surd accusation that President Kruger
has the design to provoke England 10
war. Certainly the valiant old Repuhli-
can shows O fine contempt or British sus-
centibllities and ftOutly declines 10 ac-
cept as a rule OF faith the proposition That
tho English are q Heaven-seut race
witch soonar or later must dominate
south Africa. Moreover, he vehementy
declines to allow England 10 Interfere IN
the domestic concerns Of his country, but
he has done absolutely nothing 20 Juati-
fv the charge that he would be such a
fool as 10 force q war.
II was announced to-day that a month
hence the Royal Arch Regiment, one OF
the finest corps Of the British army, VIII
sail for South Africa, nominally 10 relieve
certain troops at Cape Colony and Natal,
but it really IS intended as reinforce
ment to a garrison which is already large
lv in excess OF normal requirements. IL
NAV be added. and the announcement IS
made public for the first time that the
commanders OF several British regiments
now in India have been secretly warned
that their corps may be required for ac-
tive service In South Africa before tie
summer has far advanced.
A PROBLEM
The British War Office will have 70 put
some twenty thousand troops in the
streets on June 22d. the day when Queen
Victoria proceeds from buckingham
Palace 70 ST. Paurs Cathedral to offer
M thanks. for being enabled 70 beat the
record in royal reigns If the original
programme had been adhered 10, ten thou
sand men would have euflccd, and the
War Office could have managed that on
its head 50 to speak Now II IS nearly
off It's head at the prospect OF what is
regarded as the biggest military display
since the Crimcan war. over forty years
ago. There are no barrack accommoda-
tons in London for more than a normal
garrison. and twenty thousand additional
troops cannot. IL seems. bequartered IN the
garrison towns within easy distance OF
the metropolis. because the railway man
ayers say they viii have quite enough 10
DO on the great day 10 bring the hundred
OF thousands Of siFhtseers safely 20 town
and back again. The soldiers, therefore,
10 all appearance. will have 20 camp in
the parks. which will be q novel sight
There is not the slightest doubt that the
display next June will The grandest and
largest ever seen In London. The royal
procession itself will probably be a mile
long and the array Of princes and prin-
cesses in II will exceed that OF the Jubi-
lee show in numbers and gorgeousness.
Physicians and courtiers are already
shaking their heads and predicting al
sorts OF evils as likely 10 result 10 the aged
a.. s..... 49,. ,.roffo fofatts .ff~iin ettan