Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31
Situation in South Africa Has
Probably Reached q Point
Beyond Diplomacy.
THIS VIEW is GENERAL
Both sides Making Active Propositions
for Hostilities, Which May Come
First From England-Afrlk.
anders Look for Peace.

London, Aug. 30.--There is no ditii.
mutton in the tension over the Traps-
vaal crisis, although it is now stated
that the Boer refusal Of the Chamber-
lain offer was unofficial and only COM !,
municated to the Cape Dutch.
Both the Transvaal and Britain,
however, are busy seeing to their mil
itary preparations, and in Pretoria
most gloomy view is taken as to the
outcome.
Indeed, in kilograms received in
London it is stated that war is certain,
but the papers hesitated to publish
them owing to their gravity.
1t is certain that the johannesburg
messages ought to be treated with q
certain amount of caution, since scarss
are frequent on the Rand.
Still there is reason to believe that
matters are becoming more and more
serious, and that probably Secretary
Chamberlain will issue another state
ment in the course Of few days, re-
viewing the entire situation and throw
ing the blame on the Beers, and final
ly outlining a firm British policy
which will take the form of acts II
necessary.
The government will then Increase
its troops in South Africa, and then
probably take some slight hostile step.
This would mean war
The Pretoria correspondent OF the
Daily Chronicle, telegraphing ON Tues-
day, says:
turn. Great Britain, at the. request. OF
the Uitlanders' Council, has enlarged
the original demands of Sir Alfred Mil
ner, the British high commissioner.
and is adopting the view of Cecil
Rhodes that President Kruger will
never Withstand an ultimatum. Is.
have, however, high authority for
asserting that President Kruger, the
Volksraad, and the nation will united-
~ resist an unconditional demand .ifor
giving effect to the Miner program,
but will concede reforms on the coi,li.
tons already reported
The Times referring this morning
editorially to the statement of William
p. Schreiner, the Cape premier, that in
the event of war he would do his best
to keep the Cape Colony aloof from
the struggle says:
s"This is a startling misconceptions
OF duty. When the government of the
queen declares war it is the duty Of all
loyal subjects, whatever their position,
not to keep aloof, but to do their ut
most to bring the struggle to a suc-
cessful end.''
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Daily Mail says:
A pitiable scene was witnessed aid
the railway station today on the ar
rival from johannesburg of $50 chill.
dren whose parents are too poor to
come themselves. 1t is estimated that
$4,000 people have left the Transvaai
since the crisis began.
I'm the house of assembly TODAY the
government announced that II was
considering proposal to afford great.
er facilities for women and children
to leave Johannesburg"
Bechuanaland is in state of fer
ment, owing to the fears of Boer
raid. Colonel Baden-P owelps forces
there are wholly inadequate to protect
such an extended frontier, and the
Beers appear to be quietly concentrat.
ing in the western part of the Trans.
vaal. f0s sV,
A Boer spy has been arrested in RAJ
mattabama camp in British Bechuana.
land.