Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-01
WAR SEEMS CERTAIN,
Boer-BritSh Negotiations Have
Reached an +" Inpasse, y
BRITA|N'S REAL OBJECT,
II Is 10 Prevent a Dutch Fedora
ton In Africa.
TRANsvAAL TROOPS MOVING.
Preparations for HostiIities, on Both
Sides, More Active, If Possible,
Than Evcr-Outbreass Probable This
Week.
TRANSVtAL TROOPS
MOVING.
Especial London Gable Letterl
Week.

| Copyright, 1889. by the Associated Press)
! LONDON, September 3O-War now
| seems certain. The extraordinary delay
Of the Beers in taking a hostile initia-
| tive, as pointed out in the dispatch TO
| the Associated Press September 23d. is
| still a pacific circumstance, but It has
doubtful significance, when compared
with the genuine and far-reaching pre-
parations they are making for hostilities.
AS frequently mentioned these dis
| patches. the attitude Of the British Gov
eminent in always insisting upon soye-
reign power has practically undergone
no change throughout the entire nego-
| tations. Every stage has depended upon
| President Kruger If he would not back
down when the British demands were less
| sweepingly expressed. he can scarcely
do so now, when they are formulated
with almost brutal frankness. The ne
gotiations. according to President Kru-
gers own statements, and judging
from all the available information, seem
to have reached an "impasse." Rumors
of the interference Of q foreign Power
continue to crop up, but the most san
guine scarcely believe this would turn the
British from their determination. evident
from the first, 10 attempt to compel Pres
ident Kruger 10 submit absolutely 10
their terms, though speculation is rife
regarding the awkward complications
that might ensue by reason Of German or
Russian diversion in various parts Of the
/ esf,Ia
THE SITUATION.
Bereft of the countless confusing
phrases. due TO secrecy, regarding the in
! tontions of the governments involved,
and the contradictory reports from the
| troubled territory the most probable So
luton Of the present situation seems this:
| The Beers. who must have plainly seen
the efforts Of the British Government TO
avert hostilties until the arrival Of REIN
forcements. having, weeks ago planned
campaign will put it into action, per-
haps as early as this week. They will
| probably avoid engagements, deyotng
| their energies TO the destruction Of pro-
perry and the capture Of prisoners, per
/ haps including raid on Delagoa Bay. IT
seems unlikely that they will attack via
! Laing's Mex and other passes of that
| boundary, for the simple reason that
/ these points are so openly talked about
as their probable points Of aggression,
! the kccnest observers believing il 10 be
more likely that the Beers will operate
through Zululand, thus creating a diver
sion of the 1900 British troops now chief
/ ~ massed at Ladysmth or in its neigh
borhood. In the meanwhile, or, perhaps,
previous 10 this. a British army corps,
consisting of 40CO men or more, will be
sent out. Parliament Will be summoned,
and no doubt, the necessary supplies will
be granted, though there will be some hot
debating
Regarding the plans of campaign OF
the respective armies, there is no reliable
information, though it is the general as
sumption that the main object Of tho
British will be the capture Of Pretoria.
The duration Of the conflict Is a matter
Of the widest surmise, though the Con-
unental and British papers do not express
the faintest doubt that 1t Will result
i'm the defeat of the Beers and the addi-
ton Of their country to Great Britain's
colonies.
BRITAIN'S real. OBJECT.
Were peace or war dependent merely
upon the matter of suzerainty or fran
I fllSe. UOSIlAllts llIEAl ne 0Ntl Atl at NiAN
last moment but apparently there is
truth in what the peace party papers
have often limited at, that is to say, that
the underlying motive actuating the Brit
fsh Government throughout the negOtia-
tons has been the suppression Of
what they have reason 10 believe Is
far-reaching conspiracy for the establish
ment Of a Dutch federation from the
Zambesi TO the Cape. The authority for
this statement is Mr.. Chamberlain him
self In conversation, so reporter or
the Associated Press was reliably In
formed. the Secretary Of State for the
Colonies said that one great factor OF
the situation, which could not be brought
before the public for fear :hat the gov
ernment's objects might be misinter-
preted was the Cabinets well-dehned
Understanding that for months a care
fully fostered plot has been I'm progress
TO form a Dut federation. He also re-
ferred 10 the action of the Orange Free
state and that of the AfriSander mem
bers of the Cape LEGISLATURE, which
somewhat confirms Mr.. Chamberlain's
view. for II IS impossible 70 believe that
such important steps would result from
mere spontaneity Of sentiment on cur
rent DISPUTE.
II has long been suspected that the
Cabinet was prompted by more vital ques-
lions than the Outlanders rights. and II
Mr.. Chamberlain is correctly quoted, II
would appear that Great Britain will not
stop until treasured OF the absolute safety
OF her supremacy in South Africa.
WAR PARTY IN ASCENDANT.
The Speaker peace advocate, admits
reeretfully that the war party Is in the
ascendant in Great Britain, and every
London daily, except the Chronicle, sup
ports Mr. Chamberlain. with every after
noon paper except the Westminster Ga
zette. the Star, and the Echo.
Among the country papers. some OF the
influential ones bitterly oppose war.
Their feelings are well voiced by tine
Speaker saying:
1--WE seem fated 10 be plunged into a
yer. for which the historian Will be un-
able to find adequate justification, or even
a plausible excuse
DEWEY.
Next 10 the Transvaal, Admiral Dewey
reception at New York captures pubic
interest here. Lengthy comments on the
festivities continue TO appear. The event
Is taken by the British press as an oc-
casion 10 express opinions and give ad-
vice TO the United States regarding ex-
pansion. The only discordant note Is