The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-21
Declaration of War May BE Based on
the Ground that Britain Is Mass.
ing Troops in Natal.
FINAL APPEAL TO THE QUEEN
.sOOM PAUL" SAID TO HAVE BE.
.sEECHED HER INTERVENTION.
Great Activity at the WOOlwich Ar
senal-The Orange Free State to
Aid the Transvaal Republic.

LONDON, Sept. 2O.-Latest dispatches
from South Africa to the morning papers,
while throwing no light on the diplomatic
phases of the Anglo-Transvaal crisis, show
that the Beers are ready for war. The
johannesburg correspondent of the Morn
ing Post says: 1.-The Boer preparations are
as complete as the government can hope
to make them. 1t is believed that martial
law will be proclaimed on Thursday If no
reply has been received from England by
that time. 1t is understood the dispatching
of British troops to South Africa will be
regarded as a casus belli. The Boer officers
are urging the government to begin hos
tilities forthwith. 1t is felt that the Orange
Free State can best be forced to action by
a successful military demonstration on the
part of the Transvaal."
According to the Cape Town correspondent
of the Daily News. President Kruger has
made a personal appeal to her Majesty. in
which he addresses the monarch as Dear
Queen"
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail says: President Kruger has
cabled a strong personal appeal to the
Queen, beseeching her to intervene to pre-
vent bloodshed. 1t is about a column In
length, and is intended to scarify the con-
Ci( "a tHO oANO -
."Sir Alfred Miner has wired a courteous
message to President Steyn. assuring him
that the northward march of the British
troops is not meant as a march to the
Orange Free State, and requesting to be in
formed regarding the latter's attitude. Re-
liable information has been received here
that a large command Of Free State burgh-
ers has been concentrating near Boshof. on
the Kimberly border. Two hundred burgh-
ers were dispatched to that point from
Bloemfontein during the week past. If the
Free State joins the Transvaal the first bat
| tie Is likely to be fought at Boshof. The
Cape Cabinet has determined to prolong the
| session of the Assembly indefinitely, so that
| it may be sitting when hostilities begin"
Several warlike speeches were made yes
terday by members of the House Of Com
mons. William Hayes Fisher, a junior lord
of the treasury and formerly secretary Of
| Arthur B~alfour, the government leader, now
| representing Fulham in the Conservative
interest. in the course of an address last
evening at Kenilworth, said: THE sands
| have already run through the glass for
President Kruger. We must have enough
| troops in Africa when the ultimatum is
presented to insure the achievement of our
objects. Then, perhaps, the Beers will listen
to reason and not enter upon an unequal
| contest nor invite us to infiict a crushing
| defeat and to take their cherished country
from them"
Mr.. Geo. Wyndham. parliamentary under
| secretary of state for war and member OF
| Parliament for Dover, addressing his CON-
stituents last evening, likened himself in
official knowledge TO a full bottle, but said
he must not allow the contents to escape.
He proceeded to declare that the govern
ment's duty was plain and that ministers
would not shirk their responsibility.
Sir Walter Peace. agent general for
| Natal, addressing the Australian mining
| officials at Earls Court, London, also re-
ferred to the probability of war. He said
he hoped peace was still possible. but that
if war came he prayed the sword might
never be sheathed until Great Britain had
| gone to the root of the evil which had
caused the present difficulties.