Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-15
Transvaal Situation Reassumes
Unfavorable Aspect.
FORECAST OF REPLY in HAND
Information Regarding Its Contents, How.
ever, is Refused at the British Col
onlaa Office. strengthen ming tho
Defenses OF Pretoria.
(By Telcgraph.)

British note ended this afternoon.
President Kruger having left at 4
O'Clock and not having returned
u is understood that the government
will draw up the reply in its final form
tomorrow morning and Immediately
submit the same to the Volksraad. The
reply will be in terms strongly intu-
cnced by the Orange Free State, and
among other features. the maintenance
of the convention Of 1854 will be strong
ly asserted.
The situation this evening is not cons
sdered so Favorable as it was during
the forenoon.
FORECAST OF REPLY RECEIVED.
IlGNIDON. Sept. IA forecast OF
the first draft Of the Transvaal rep.y to
The last note OF the British secretary
Of state for the colonies. Mr.. Chamber
lain, is now under discussion but its
nature is not yet known.
AT the colonial Office a reporter Of the
Associated Press was Informed that
nothing will be given out for the pres
ent. 1t was regarded as significant
however, that the nature of the Boer
reply was sent to the COMMUNICATIVE
Chief, Field Marshal Lord Wolsley, who
at once communicated it to General
Sir George White, Y. c., former quar-
termaster general. the prospective
commander of the British forces in the
Natal.
The tension now existing here and at
the cape may be temporararily settled
at any moment by the publication OF
President krugers reply. On the
other hand, it may be several days be-
fore the general public learns what
answer the Transvaal has made.
aI,IN
If President Kruger has answered
defiantly it does not necessarily mean
the immediate breaking off of negat;a-
'tiOns. II is scarcely to the British al
vantage to bring about f1ostilities I'M
til the reinforceInentS are nearer the
scene of action than they are a. pres
emit Whatever the nature of President
kruger's reply it is probable that sew
eral more stages Of diplomatic process
SEES will be gone through with before
there is definite war or peace. unless.
of course, President Kruger should
take the initiative and raid Natal. Ii
is the possibility Of this move that
makes definite news of his reply so
eager and anxiously waited.
The consul general of the South At
l,can Republic. N1r. Montague White.
said to a reporter of the Associated
Press today:
II have good authority for believing
the Transvaal reply will be unsatisfac-
tory to the British government
THE REPLY ''BLASPHEMOuS.
The Morning Post, in a second eai-
ton, prints a special despatch from
Petermaritzburg capital Of Natal. say
ing the reply is "Truculent, loque-
cious and blasphemous.''
The Manchester Guardians CORES
pondent at Cape Town telegraphs that
the outlook is OF the gloomiest char
acter.
The Cape Town papers themselves
take a more hopeful view Of the stu
alton, basinls THEIR belief on the prob
able acceptance by Kruger Of the fran
chise measures suggested in MIR. Cham
berlain's latest despatch. But even
they admit it is impossible to learn or
foreshadow president Kruger's attitude
toward suZerainty OF Great Britain,
which after all is still the main Issue.
B1sRGIHnRs ApADY TO FIGHT.
rBIlOBMFONTEIN, Sept. 1.-THE
members OF the Rad of tine Orange
Free State have been notified to be
ready to be summoned for an extraor-
binary session at a moments notice.
The burghers of the Orange Free
State at meeting just held, passed a
resolution TO stand shoulder to Shout
der with the Transvaal in the case Of
hostilities. '"Ss'>s