The Portland daily press., 1899-05-17
ANOTHER RAID PLANNED.
But johannesburg Authorities
Nipped In Bud.
Arrest Of Former British O6cers Charg.
cd With Treason.

The arrest at Johannesburg early this
mornin of seven alleged former British
officers. named Nichols, Patterson. from
lett Ellis, Fries, Hooper aud Mitchell.
on the charge of high treason, has caused
Intense excitement here. The prisoners
were brought to Pretoria by spsci al
train. After they had been lodged in jail
they were visited by the British diplo-
matio agent here.
The arrests were effected by detective
who Joined the movement. which, 1t Is
asserted, was for the purpoas of enro ling
men in order to cause an outbreak of
rebellion.
Terminating documents wer found
upon the prisoners and it is expected that
further arrests will tie made.
Pretoria, May 16. The officers arrested,
who are eight in number. instead of
seven as previously cabled, are Captain
Patterson, formerly Of the Lancers. Col.
K +. Nichols, Lieut. X. ]. Tremlott,
Lieut.. A. Q. Ellis, lately private de-
Allen, Mitchell formerly Of the Horse
artillery; former sergeants. j. Fries,
r. p. Hooper and Nichols. None of them
has besn in the employ of the British
south Africa Charter company. 1t is
stated that the commissioner of police
who had the affair in hand, had been
working up the case for four months.
MIR. Beatty, the detective, who effected
the arrests, received his instructions last
week and secured the necessary warrants
) yesterday.
The executive of the Transvaal is sit
ting in secret session this evening, con-
sidering the arrests.
kL,- -, has hanV1 fcutt tnd
Is asserted that the officers already ar
rested were also preparing to organize q
corps In Natal, the British colony be-
tween the Orange Free State and the
Indian ocean, to assist the projected
movement at Johannesburg.
Cape Town, May 16-AcCording to ad.
vices from Pretoria, the charge against
the prisoners is that, while staying in
the Rand privately, they were really en-
gagged In enlisting men for the purposes
Of rebellion when they we're ready to give
the signal.
1t is stated that the enlistment roster
included COCO men and that a number of
discriminating documents were found at
the time the arrests were made.
BRITISH REGRET. 4, z..: ss.
Pretoria, May 16.-The sBritish agent
and charge d'afaires. MIR. Conynham
Greene, had an interview with President
Kruger this afternoon and expressed r.
gret that men who had worn the Queen S
uniform should be concerned In such
movement. President Kruger replied
that he would not believe the prisoners
were British officers until 1t had been
proved, adding that he hoped the affair
would not interfere with the proposed
meeting between himself and Sir Alfred
Milner, governor of Cape Colony and
British high commissioner for South
frica.
NOT SERIOUS AFFAIR.
London, May 16.-Mr. Joseph Chamber
lain, secretary of state for the colonies,
who was interviewed in the lobby of the
House of Commons this evening. said be
had heard nothing officially regarding
the arrests in the Iransvaal and did not
think that too serious Significance ought
to be attached to them. No Information
had reached him from South Africa, ht
asserted, that could lead him in any way
to anticipate or explain the arrests.
The news caused considerable excite
ment among the members of the House,
but little disposition was manifested tt
credit the rumors of rebeliious conspiracy
CECIL RHODES HADN'T HEARD.
London, May 16.-Mr. Cecil Rhodes
the former premier of Cape Colony ant
resident director of the British Char
tered and South Africa company and re
Gently elected president of the South AT
rican league, informs the Associated
Press that he has heard nothing regard
| ing the arrests made at Johannesburg
and that he knows nothing about til,
reason for which they were made.