The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-08
CRISIS AT HAND.
England's Cabinet Ministers
Assemble In Council
To Take Action In the Trans
Vaal Matter.
FOR PEACE OR WAR.
War Spirit Was Abroad Among
the People.
eneraIs EnthusiaStically
Cheered by the Crowd.
FOR PEACE OR WAR.

London, Sept. 8.-The cabinet council
here today attracted greater public in
terest than any meeting of the minis
ters for years past.
a well dressed crowd of people cor
daily greeted the most prominent of
the cabinet ministers and impatiently
thronged the precincts of the foreign
office throughout the session, eagerly
scrutinizing the faces of those coming
and going in the hope of obtaining
glimmering of the outcome of the mo-
mentous event. The war spirit was evi-
dent on all sides and the general were
enthusiastically cheered as they ap-
peared, the crowd evidently under
standing that they had been summoned
to be in readiness in the event of the
ministers wishing their advice.
A crowd of from two to three thous-
and persons assembled at the White
hall entrance to Downing street, where
the foreign and colonial offices are sit
uated at an early hour. Mr. Chamber
lain, the secretary of state for the col
onies, and the earl Of Selborne, the
under secretary, were the first arrivals
among the officials and they were fol-
lowed by Field Marshal Lord Wolse-
ley, the commander in chief of the
army. General Sir Redvers Butler, who
it is said will have the field command
in the event of a war with the Trans
Vaal, and General Sir Evelyn Wood, ad-
jutant general to the forces.
The arrival of Lord Salisbury, the
premier, was the signal for tremend-
Gus cheering. Next came the duke of
Devonshire, the lord president of the 10
cal government board and the earl or
HalSbury, the lord high chancellor, who
passed unnOticed.
AS showing the Importance of the
meeting of the council, Under Secretar-
les Wyndham of the war department
and Broderick of the foreign Office were
summoned to attend.
BY 1 O'Clock all the cabinet minis
tod p
Mr.. Balfour, the first lord of the treas
ury. would not agree with some of his
lords in the cabinet and&here was some
talk of a split.
The first indication of the possible
decision of the cabinet came from the
stock exchange where the tone recov-
cred on the report that the ministers
had decided not to send an ultiInatum
to the government, but to insist that
the Transvaal must agree to a confer
ence at Cape Town, but it is too early
yet to give this as definite informa-
tion of the action contemplated or an
ticipated.
BOERs ON THE MOVE.
London, Sept. S.-The Times in its
second edition published a dispatch
from Mafeking, which said:
Col. Baden Powell will review the
troops at Ramathlabama tomorrow
Large numbers of Beers are moving
about the border near there. There is
uneasiness over the number of Trans
vaaI Dutch here. It is feared they
might join the invaders in case of
ORDERED TO AFRICA.
Bombay, Sept. S.-The Nineteenth
Hussars and the Twenty-first field bat
leave Secunderabad for the Transvaal
STOCKS DROP.
London Sept 8-The stock today
opened weak and lower all round. Con-
soils declined 5-16.
Rand mines were IA below yester-
days closing prices. There was a
slight recovery after the opening. Spec
ulators are anxiously awaiting the de-
cision of the cabinet council, fears be-
ing expressed that the ministers may
decide on war There are also appre-
tensions in regard to the political sit
uation in France.
COUNCIL ADJOURNS.
London, Sept. S.-The cabinet coun-
ell was concluded at 8 p. m.
A reporter of the Associated Press
asked the president of the board of
Long, if any conclusion had been reach
ed. He said tAll I can say is that
we must have patience"
A LITTLE MORE DELAY.
London, Sept. S.-The ministers came
out of the council arm in arm, laughing
and chatting, greatly contrasting with
the manner in which they went in.
Lord Salisbury again received an ova-
ton.
Although the foreign office has not
given out statement, the general i'm
preston was that no ultimatum would
be sent to the Transvaal at present and
that a time limit will be placed for a
conference at Cape Town.
The short duration of the council and
the early departure of the military men
summoned were taken as indications
that the situation is more pacific, |
though, of course, this is only surmise.
The correspondent of the Times at
Newcastle, Natal says:
There would be little surprise here
if the Beers assumed the aggressive
Immediately. IT is matter of aston
ishment that so few British troops are
in the country especially on the west
ern border
BOTH ARMIES ACTIVE.
London, Sept. S.-A special dispatch
received here today from Lady Smith, |
Natal. says that the British troops
there are actively engaged in manoeuv-
res over the hilly country subsequent
to a parade of the force.
Continuing, the dispatch says: with |
finest ever seen in South Africa, and !
the health of the men excellent, every
thing is ready for war. All the ad- !
vices confirm the presence of a large
number of armed Beers on the border. |
They are described as being bel1icose
and it is rumored that they have COM
pleted arrangement to poison all pools
and springs that might supply the in
Vading army with water. Unrest is re-
ported among the Natal natives and |
this it is suspected is due to Boer in
fuences.''
offices of the admiralty and offered
their vessels as transports. They were
told, however, that nothing could be
done in this direction until the cabinet
council had decided on what action
would be taken in regard to the crisis.