New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-10
THE NEWS OF LONDON.
MILITARY MEN BELIEVE WAR WITH
THE TRANSVAAL WILL BE ANERTEp.
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN FEELS THE RESTRAIN
LORD sAIsBURY-LONDON SHOCKED
AT DREYFUs's CONVICTION.
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.


AT DREYFUs's CONVICTION.
[BY CABLE TO THE TRBuNEl
London Sept. 9.-Whether the Cabinet meet
ing resulted in q decision TO send strong dis
patch to KrGger the closely approaching
ultmatum. or whether Mr.. Chamberlain was
placed under restraint by the queen and Lord
Salisbury, and urged TO exercise patience IN
dealing with his willy antagonist there Will be
a renewal Of the active preparations for war.
This seems certain. and the war party In the
press is exultant this morning Sir Alfred NIL
ner's brusque reply to the Boer demand for ex-
plantations OF the massing Of British troops on
the frontier suits the tone Of all warriors on the
press and fires their blood.
This concentration OF the British forces on
the edge of Natal is wise precaution in an
ticipation Of war and IL also safeguard for
the maintenance Of peace. 1t secures to the
English the possession Of Rocky Tunnel. where
,he Boers could fight 10 the best advantage. and
exnoses the Transvaal to invasion in a quarter
where their usual tactics would be least sue
cessful The Beers will he less likely 10 fight II
they are shut out in advance from their
favorite battle ground I'm the broken country
around Laing's Mex. where every marksnan
can crouch behind the rocks. If English troops
command the approaches 70 this field or opera
tions the Beers will have 20 fight In open c"uh-
,rv and they may think twice before declaring
war The continuance OF the negotiations WIN
renewed activity and preparations Tor cam
na,gn will allow the British forces addiuonal
time for strengtheninR their hold upon the nat
ural theatre Of BoeT warfare.
O,or,oua as are the signs of war, military men
% not expect that hostilities Will come. Ihey
observe the caution with which KRUGER at every
turn in the negotiations leaves Drug' "Pe"
behind him for retreat. and they smlle S'ilily
over the necessity for preparing for war WHO"
,bev think will be averted at the las' hi'"'ei''
-, ,ha timely intervention of peacemakers from
cane Colony. While they do not AFFECT 10 ce-
snise the military qualities Of the B"efs' 'hey
consider that undue stress is laid upon them.
rr.ev assert that the Beers are not as g"oc
oarLsnoen AS they were at the time or the ha'-
tics q, Maiuba Hill InGogo and LalfE 5 MEX
s,nce they have grown rich. indolent ana iuNur-
ous and are not constantly hunting ana III as
GOOD shooting practice az they were When 'heY
won their victories. Jamesons troopers now
over could testify that the Boer farmers SUI
know how TO shoot
While the dispatch Of ten thousand fr'fh
troons from India and England is described as
n defensive rather than an offensive measure II
is evident that ample resources TOT 'oeiC'"" VIII
he available when the military forces are IN
creased 10 twenty-five thousand men N'll'
this is nothing less than a menace OF war the
! negotiation for peace goes on, but with 'ls-
,,nct reminder from Mr.. Chamberlain that plsln
arswers must be given when explicit questions
ore asked about the precise effects Of the fran
ohise proposals
Kruser's evasive and disingenuous method OF
conducting negotiations has had the erect OF
o,,renine English public opinion and MI Nor
Continued ninth pnge.