The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-21
ENGLAND
SAYING NOTHING,
SAVING WOOD.
Despite Outward Calm the Gov
ernment Is Engaged in Active
Preparations for War.
INTEREST IS NOW CENTFRED
In the Action OF the Orange Free
state.-A Modus Vivendi May
Possibly be Suggested.

ward show Of calm, Great Britain Is in
practically the same condition to-day
as was the United States few weeks
before the opening OF the war With
spain. Beneath the crust OF diplomatic
reserve, the military officials are work
ing night and day preparing for the
signal to begin hostllIties. whether that
comes or not
England Is not going to be caught
mapping any more than the Transvaal.
While Lord salisbury Is quietly at home
in Hatfield House, Mr.. Chamberlain is
buried in work at the colonial office,
and double force at the royal arsenal
and dock yards are stralning every
nerve to equip and transport troops to
the cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain viii do nothing to pre-
cIpltate matters. and the colonial 'ofiice
is far from admitting that the case is
hopeless. The report that Great Bril-
tain demanded the dismantiement of
the forts at Johannesburg, together
with a material reduction in the arma-
ment Of the burghers, the colonial office
to-day would neither confirm nor deny,
although 1t Is much doubted.
Meanwhile the Marquis Of Lans-
downe, secretary Of state for war, who
returned this morning from Dublin, has
held long conferences with General
Lord Garnet wolsely. field marshal,and
General Sir Evelyn Wood, adjutant
general to the forces, and the activity
at headquarters is reflected in the con-
tract, supply and transport depart
ments.
War Preparationt.
The departure Of the British transport
JelunEa for the Mediterranean to-day
with 1,1OO troops, was witnessed By a
large and enthusiastic crowd. AT Wool
wlch activity increases daily, especially
In the ordnance department, where
Maxim guns, Lyddite shells, balloon
eQulpmenth, gas reservoirs, wagons for
lime light apparatus, water carts. am
balances, army wagons and other par
aphernaIia Of modern warfare are be-
ing hurried forward.
While rumors OF the reassembllng OF
parliament are current. the fact is re-
called that in the Afghan war In 1878,
Great Britain declared war Grst and
then assembled parliament.
This evening the Marquis Of Lans-
downe issued a strict order to the staff
OF the war office, warning all subordi-
mates to refrain from giving the press
any Information without the authority
OF their superlors and calling attention
to previous breaches of duty in this re-
spect, which the order says, ''wih be no
longer tolerated"
Advices from Cape Town this after
noon are to the effect that the Afriiany
ders declare that the Transvual VIII not
yield further, and TINT II the imperial
government does not recede from Its
present position war is inevitable. The
South African News supports the con-
tention of the Transvaal that the con-
vention Of 1884 abolished the suzerainty.
According to other advIoes the
burghers are rapidly going into Laa-
ger, while the exodus from Johannes
burg yesterday reached 1000 persons.
The stock exchange at johannesburg
has resolved to close the moment mar
tlal law is proclaimed. but all current
contracts will be carried out until the
proclamation, suspendIng Rll business.
In the meantime the merchants are
erecting barrIcades In front Of their
Bhop windows.
The Orange Free State.
At Pretoria the interest seems to be
conferred in the meeting of the Orange
Free State volksraad tomorrow
CThursday) which 1t is hoped may some
how suggest a modus vivendI that
would save the situation.
on the other hand advlces from
Bloemfontein announce the arrival
there OF a large number of members Of
The rand, adding that the result of to-
morow's sitting is already agreed upon,
as the Orange Free State Will throw In
Its lot with the Transvaai, all the Free
STATE 5a'rhera being fully armed and
ready 20 atart at moments notice. A
special dispatch from Johannesburg
says that $50 persons left by one train
to-day.
Right Hon. Sir william Vernon Har-
court. Liberal member OF parliament
FOR West Monmouthshiro. and former
leader OF the LlReral opposition in the
house Of commofs, in the course Of an
address to his constituents this even
Ing In New Tredegar. said he could not
F'al the persistent attempts Of the war
press N aggravate the Transvanl sItu-
alton without Indignation.
Great Britain" said the speaker,
e."n.t claim general sovereignty in the
Innayaal when she has only partial
tuf MY and President Kruger can
Fot o.aIm FOR the Transvnni the posi-
uon Of an International sovereign state.
Both sides. therefore. have made ale
ga'ouH which cannot be maintained
BY either"
5.r wIIllhm declared that there vas
no casus bclll and expressed the hope
hn. @ 7hameful catastrophe might be
ayural
Dear Queen"
LONDON, Sept. 2i.-Accordlng to the