Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-13
reports regarding the occupation

iepoIlS regarding the OCCupdtiOI VI
Laings Mex.
A dispatch from Durham says the ar
rangements for forming an outlander
corps have been completed.
NEW YORK, October PA dispatch
to the Tribune from London says: A
state of war has been philosophically
accepted since O'Clock p. m, London
time. Military officers agree that the
first act of war will be the invasion of
Natal and the occupation of the battle
fields of the first war of independence.
Laings Mex and Majuba Hill. AS no
British force is believed to be within
so miles of the tunnel leading into the
Transvaal immediate fighting is not ex-
pected in that quarter. Boer raids
against Mafeking and in the rear of the
British position at Ladysmith are con-
sidered likely. but a military expert
scoffed at the idea that the defensive
line already occupied could be broken
by any attack from the Transvaal.
"The campaign will not be a serious
one" he said, until the beginning of
December, when Gen. Sir Redvers Bull
Ter will be prepared to march through
the open country of the Orange Free
State and leave Sir George White well
entrenched in Natal. The Beers will
not be allowed to fight on their favor
lite battlefelds."
Mr.. Chamberlain reply to Secretary
Reitz's ultimatum is known to be brief
and barely civil. His work ended when
Reitz's insolent dispatch arrived. An
old whist player remarked that Kruger
had suddenly made a new deal of the
pack and put 19 trumps into the hand
of Mr.. Chamberlain, who had simply to
lay down his cards to win the game. A
veteran lawyer made this incisive COM
ment to-day: chamberlain had a bad
case in law under the convention of
1884, but laundering good case in
facts and natural equities; but Reitz,
by his incredibly foolish dispatch, has
changed the scope and venue and con-
verted technical dispute over the con-
ditions Of suffrage into a test case of
the supremacy of the British crown and
the unity of the empire"
There is a general revulsion of feel
ing throughout the country respecting
the whole controversy. The nation is
suddenly united as one man in defense
of the empire. The outgoing soldiers
received the greetings of excited and
enthusiastic multitudes. War is now
welcomed, since Kruger has justified
English resistance to a secession
movement within the empire. The
English conscience is no longer dis
turbCd by any misgivings respecting
the justice and necessity of war. Pres
ident Kruger, by single bad stroke,
has convinced everybody except Mr..
Stead that the English have righteous
cause. The greatest battle for the en-
pire since Waterloo is coming on, and
with $1,000 regulars in South Africa
victory will be certain.
A we'll known South African said
that, while President Kruger was get
ting old, he never had allowed anybody
to dictate policies to him, and that it
was a mistake to assume that he had
been rushed by young and restless
burghers. AS the birthday of the grim
old president conceded with the ulti-
matum, it is more natural to suppose
that he was influenced by faith in his
own destiny as the last Of the Dutch
conquerors. This informant added that
there was no rival who could resist
Kruger's will; Reitz was simply clay
in the potters hand. Joubert was the
best natured and most honorable man
in the Transvaal, but lacked the grit
required for opposing Kruger on any
question. Cronjo was a man after
Kruger's heart, who was glad to do his
bidding because he was ambitious to
succeed him. Side lights like these
help to explain the situation. but the
ultimatum, while undoubtedly Kru-
gers individual act, remains miracle
of folly.