The record-union., 1899-09-28
In Order to Make Pacification in
South Africa Effective,
Great Britain Must Assume Entire Control
Of All the Territory.
Statement Made by the Agent
General Impression That the
Beers Will Not Recede From
Their Position, and the Feeling
of Gloom Has Deepened.

Beers Will NOT heceue rOm
Their Position, and the Feeling
of Gloom Has Deepened.
LONDON, Sept 27.-Notices for the
adjourned Cabinet Council to reassem-
BILE were forwarded this afternoon, and
the chief government whip will be on
hand to give immediate effect to any
decision arrived at regarding the reas-
sembling of Parliament.
Information from Bloomfontein this
evening leaves little doubt that the
Orange Free States Volksraad is unan-
imous in supporting the Transvaal.
Most important light is shown upon
the situation by a frank statement to-
day to the Associated Press by Sir
Walter Pierce, Agent General for Natal
in London, who fought against the
Beers in former years. He said:
THE attitude of the Orange Free
State means it's inevitable acquisition
by Great Britain. Peace in South At
rica can only be accomplished by war.
In my opinion war would not last
more than two months. In order to
make pacification effective, Great Bri-
tain must assume absolute control over
the whole of South Africa.
$50 far as the position of Natal is
concerned, all this talk about poor, un-
defended Natal is nonsense. There will
be little or no fighting in Natal, if it
comes to a war, and l fear that no
other issue is now possible. What do
you think 10000 British troops would
be doing while this much talked of
Boer raid was in progress? Our rail-
ways are in good working order, and
our troops can be transported quickly.
The bad weather conditions have been
magnified. A campaign could be car
ried on now just as we'll as in any other
season.
1.-TWO months from the day Sir Red
vers Butler lands the fighting will be
over. If the Free State had been loyal,
fighting would not have lasted fourteen
days 1t is the likeliest thing in the
world, however, that the Free State
will be foolish enough to make a hostile
attitude, and that means her addition
to British possessions. The Free State
would always have been a disturbing
factor II the quiet of South Africa
Great Britain has the power to
be seen whether she has the spirit
Upon the conclusion Of war, which
must be unf1inching in order to be eff
fective, British control must be abso-
lutte over all South Africa, in Cape
Colony, Natal and other sections. Half
measures would only prolong unrest
and produce more disturbances.
''I have known the Beers as we'll as
any man. l have lived among them,
and I have fought them. To exist
peacefully SO close to them is an utter
impossibility. Negotiations are we'll
enough in their way, but British con-
troll of the Transvaal must come event
ually. For years the Beers have been
crying throw the Uitlanders into the
sea- and out with him. Possibly they
are not so virile as during the last war,
but there is little difference
MY idea is that if the Beers were
caught in the open once or twice the
thing would be ended. Kill five hun
dred of them, and all that would re-
main for England to do would be to
send a few shiploads of Grape They
never have stood in the open. and if
war comes now they will have to do
more than stay in the hills. This is not
optimistic twaddle, but an opinion
based upon my experience in cam
paigns against the Beers I have not
the slightest fears for the safety of nv
colony or its town. It is possible that
a few Boer incursions might get a few
miles into Natal, but no further. and it
must be remembered that many Of
those living on the edge of the Natal
border are themselves Boers''
FEELING OF GLOOM DEEPENS.
LONDON. Sept. 27.-The Transvaal
situation remains unchanged, though,
if anything, the feeling of gloom has
deepened.
| Cablegrams from Pretoria and Cape
Town show that the general impress
sion prevails there that the Beers will
not recede from their position and that
the feeling of unrest at Pretoria has
| been intensified.
A dispatch to-day announces that the
| Transvaal Government has begun to
| appoint officers to go to the front in
case of hostilities
The Executive Council Of the Trans
vaal had a prolonged sitting yesterday.
| and has been in constant telegraphie
communication with the Orange Free
! State. No decision it is now said re-
/ garding the attitude of the Free Stat
| has yet been reached.
/ The Transvaal's reply to the dispatch
| to the Secretary of State for the Colo
nies, Mr.. Chamberlain, will be drafted
4 to-day and submitted to the RaatI in
+ secret session. The members annear
/ convinced that Great Britain is deter
mined on war. Being anxious not to
: force Great Britain's hand. the Beers
will not take any definite steps until
the draft of their reply is considered
i but notice has been issued to the
burghers to be in readiness for ..eom-
mandeerlng, which commences short
ly A quantity of arms chiefly Mar
TIM rifles, nave been distributed.
The Orange Free State Raad contin-
ues in secret session.
A telegram from johannesburg saws
an American named Blake is raising an
American CORPS of 800 men for the
Beers. On the Cape side the dispatches
show great military activity in the di-
rection of the frontier The camp at
Dundee now consists of two regiments
of infantry, a Hussar regiment, two
field batteries, one mountain battery
and a detachment of engineers.
The kings Rifles are now encamped