The record-union., 1899-09-20
Summons Issued to Members Of
the British Ministry
To Attend Meeting Which II Is Under
stood VIII Occur on Friday.
The Government Officials Acting in
Deliberate Manner in the
Hopes of Landing the Rein
forcements Now Hurrying to
South Africa Before Showing
Their Hand.

LONDON, Sept 19.-Summons were
issued late this afternoon for a Cab
met council which, it is understood. Will
be held on Friday. This is regarded as
the result of the visit of the Premier,
Lord Salisbury, to London, whittier he
came this afternoon, remaining at the
Foreign Office from 4:30 D. IN. to $50
p. M Mr. Chamberlain, Secretary OF
state Tor the Colonies, was present in
the building at the same time, and as
private doorway connects the offices
1t is presumed that the summonses
We're the result of their joint deliber-
alton
The lack of all excitement in official
circles bears evidence to the deliberate
manner In which the highest officials
are handling the crisis. Nor is it by
any means certain that the Cabinet
council will adopt extreme measures,
In spite of the uncompromising nature
OF the Boer reply. This deIiberation on
the part of the Government is inter-
preted not only in London. but in other
European capitals, as a desire ON the
part of Great Britain to gain time
While the troops are hurrying to Cape
Colony.
The "Berliner Neuste Nachrichten,
commenting on this to-day, says: THE
present calm is meant only to deceive
the Beers When England feels equal
To the task of facing the Beers, this
peaceful tone will give way to a blat-
ant cry for war;
In the meantime the movement Of
troops proceeds. The Royal West Sus-
sex Regiment left to-day for Malta,
where it will replace the First Border
regiment, which goes by the same
steamer to Natal
1t is announced this afternoon that
the British first-class protected cruisers
Terrible and Powerful have been or,
dered to the Cape. They have reliefs
on board capable of forming a naval
brigade of a thousand men.
The steamer Jelunga will take 500
troops bound for Natal tomorrow, and
she will embark a rifle brigade at the
isssszz.1 of Crete for the Cape.
According to a dispatch from Dur
ban, Natal, the Premier of the Colony
says that the alarm of the people of
Natal at the unprotected condition of
the border towns is quite unwarranted,
and that all efforts to incite the Zulus
have failed.
RUMOR THAT KRUGER HAS SENT
A CONCILIATORY NOTE.
LONDON, Sept. 19-There is an un-
verified rumor from Cape Town to-day
that the Beers have delivered another
message to the British High Commits
sioner, Sir Alfred Miner, more concil-
iatory than yesterdays reply. The
rumor, however, fails to obtain much
credence, and is not taken as in any
way mitigating the seriousness of the
crisis The Uitlander press sees moth
ing but war ahead, and urges the Uit-
landers to leave Immediately.
The London press is now inclined to
take the view that the recent action
on the part of the Beers does not make
war a certainty, though it does place
the British Cabinet in position where
1T must take steps so aggressive that
war or utter ignominous submission
will be the only alternatives remain
ing to the Transvaal, and is by no
means so persistent in urging the Gov
ernment to move. except in the mat
ter of hurrying the troops to the prob
dDIS SCeue OI the
Nothing is yet known regarding the
date of the expected Cabinet council
POWERS MAY INTERVENE.
LONDON, Sept 20.-The lull in the
crisis gives opportunity for the con-
tinuance of the unofficial negotiations.
The Government of the Netherlands is
privately exerting it's influence in favor
of a pacific solution, and it, is UNDER
stood that President Kruger, through
DR.. Leids, the plenipotentiary of the
South African Republic, has unofficially
approached three Powers with a view
to their Intervention.
From Cape Town comes q report that
the Government of the colony contem-
plates introducing a motion in the Cape
House of Assembly urging the Trans
yaal to accept the demands of Great
Britain.
Sir Alfred Miner mas addressed
further inquiries to President Steyn Of
the Orange Free State. Whatever the
official attitude of the Orange Free
State may be, the temper OF its Burges.
judging from numerous me atings held
in Bloemfontein and elsewhere, is to
assist the Transvaal actively.
The Free State commandants in Pre-
toria are discussing the position with
the Transvaal Commandant General
and the meeting of the Free State
Volksraad tomorrow CThursday) will
have an important influence ON the sit
uation.
A curious rumor is spreading in the
lower ranks of the army that Great
Britain will be involved with Afghanis-
tan, as we'll as the Transvaal.
The correspondent of the Daily
MaiP' as Pietermaritzburg, Natal, tele-
graphs that the military authorities
there have received warning from Jo-
hannesburg that the Beers have Dur-
chased considerable quantities OF cya-
hide of potassium for the purpose OF
poisoning the streams in the Transvaal
likely to be used by the British troops.
Other special dispatches report vari-
Gus details of preparations for war on
both sides. Boer troops now control
both the Beira. and Newcastle railways
as they enter Transvaal territory.
The British authorities are shipping
troops daily from India to South
Africa.