The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-08-31
ON THE BRINK OF WAR
Eostilities In South Africa
Seem Almost Inevitable.
COMMENTS OF THE LONDON PAPERS.
Intense Interest Displayed by BRIT.
ish Public and Great Indignation
Expressed Against Premier
Schrcinor-Lntcst Moves.

LONDON, Aug. 3O.-Commcntng on
the latest utterance of President Kruger
of the Transvaal government as cabled
from Cape Town. that the South African
Republic adhered to its latest offer and
would not make any further concessions,
the afternoon papers here unanimously
draw attention to the increased serious
ness of the Trnnsvaal tension. But in
the same breath they express uncertainty
regarding the nature of the concessions
beyond which President Kruger says he
will not go. No official announcement
has been made of these. though they are
generally understood to be five year
franchise and increased uitlander repre-
sentation.
''lf this Is correct" The Globe says, 'it
cannot be long before diplomacy has to
stand aside as of no further service"
The Pail Mall Gazette says, President
Kruger's adherence to these would mean
adherence to impossible conditions, and if
so the situation has come to an ugly
head"
The Westminster Gazette, while la
menting the immoderation which, il says.
LED to the present crisis admits that "the
country Is within sight of a war which
may shortly be as unavoidable as. on the
merits OF the question, 1t would be mex
cusable"
70 whatever dispatch or conditions
President Krugcr's defiant remark re-
ferreI, it has brought home sharply the
keen possibility of an impending war
against no weak kneed adversary. 1t is
said that. with recruits from over the
borders, the Transvaal would have about
GO,OOO men at its disposal. whereas the
most the British now could throw on the
frontier would he 10000. though. of
course, this number would be materially
increased within Il month
The British public is taking intense in
tcreSt in the preparations of their own
force already in South Africa. Indigna-
ton against Hon. w. Z. Schreiner. pre-
mier of Cape Colony. who in the Cape
house of assembly declared that under
the customs convention the Orange Free
State was justified in importing arms
through Cape Colony. is fairly general.
though that section which believes that
Boer war would be crime are making,
by editorials. petitions, etc. what they
appear to think is the last effort to avert
hostilitics
The johannesburg correspondent Of
The Morning Post says, president Kru-
ger, in the course of an interview today
CTuesday) regarding the crisis. said he
considered the Boer position best defined
by psalm So"
The Pretoria correspondent of The
Daily Chronicle says: Events have TAX
en- an alarming turn. Great Britain, at
the request of the uitlanders' council, has
enlarged the original demands of Sir Al
fred Miner, the British high commits
sioner, and is adopting the view of Cecil
Rhodes, that President Kruger will never
withstand an utimatum. / have, how
ever high authority for asserting that
President Kruger, the volksraad and the
nation will unitedly resist an uncondtion-
al demand for giving effect to the Miner
programme, but will concede reforms on
the conditions already reported