The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-06
Both Governments, However, Pre-
pare for War;
SITUATION IS UNCHANGED
s
Neither Side Amks to Precipl'
tate aL55 gAict'
MuRAvElFF'S Q FERROUS TOUR
A Rumor Says That Martial Law Has
Been Proclaimed-Numero Out
RACES Have Been Reported
| from South Africa

London, October 5.-While there is no
diminution in the flood of dispatches from
South Africa recording with almost tires
some iteration the military preparations
and movements of both sides, with all
kinds of accurate and inaccurate rumors
and speculation, the real situation remains
unchanged. 1t is evident that strong ef-
forts are still being made to preserve peace
simultaneously with determined energy to
be prepared for any emergency.
1t is expected that 5000 reserves will be
called out tomorrow and that army will
be mobiized on the 10Th or goth of the
month.
In the meantime it Is interesting to note
that neither side shows anxiety to precipi-
tate conflict, but is rather inclined to give
opportunity for the play of peace influ-
ences
The mysterious visit of Count Muravief,
the Russian minister of foreign affairs, to
San Sebastian, where he saw the queen re-
gent and the king of Spain and had long
conference with Senior Silvela, the Span
ish PREMIER occupies political minds. From
Spain Count Muravieff will go to Paris.
Muravief's Tour Mysterious
Russia's attitude in the Transvaal matter
is common knowledge. Germany is official
ly neutral, but Emperor Williams famous
telegram to President Kruger Is not for
gotten, and this added to Frances bitter
ness since the Fashoda affair and Spain's
resentment of Engand's attitude during the
Hispano-Amercan war sets the people ask
ing what the motives for Count Muravief's
tour are.
The jingo press pooh poohs the idea of
European intervention, but in the same
breath eagerly seizes upon any incident,
such as the American cup races, to insist
on the growing Anglo-American friendship.
Advices from Capetown assert that both
J. H. Ho6meyer, the Afrikander leader in
Cape Colony, and Ex-Chief Justice Kotze
have expressed the opinion that the imper-
ial government acted in the interests of
peace in demanding the suppression of the
Transvaal agency in Brussels and the re-
call of DR.. Leyds, the TransvaaPs Euro
pean representative.
Disturbances at Meetings
Increased activity is being shown at
Woolwich and it is alleged that provision
is being made there to send supplies for
the two army corps. Four hundred tons
of material and munitions of war have al
ready been shipped to Africa. Peace meet
| ings held at Halifax and Birmingham last
| night were scenes of much disturbance.
| At the Birmingham meeting crowds OF
| iingoes invaded the nall cheering Mr..
| Chamberlain and singing Rule Britannia"
| and the orators had to be content to shout
| their speeches into the reporters ears The
meeting ended abruptly without any reso-
| luton being put.
Adyices from Johanneburg report that
| Kafirs are raiding business places ana
| houses in the East Rand. The whites have
! fred on them. special force OF police
| has been despatched to disperse the raiders.
! A special dispatch from Pretoria says that
President Kruger expresses himself strong
| ly at being prevented by the executive from
going to the front. He is reported to nave
said: "Some people say 1 am the cause
| of the present trouble and l want to take
INV share of fighting with my people. Inc
| same dispatches announce that Mrs.
| Joubert has started to join her husband ON
| the border.
Heavy Rains Have Fallen
| Heavy rains have fallen and the sahu-
| spruit river is flooded. The CapetoWh cor
| resnondent of the Daily Chronicle fur-
nishes little further light on the obscurty
| of the movements of Mr.. Hofmeyer, the
| Afrikander leader. The correspondent ad-
| mits that the report of conference be-
tween Mr. Hofmeyer and Sir Alfred Mil
ner on Tuesday and the departure of Mr..
Hofmeyer was premature. but says the
| conference actually occurred on Wednes-
| day, and it is believed no direct result was
| attained "The Rhodeslans," continued the
| correspondent, "are spreading the report
! that Mr.. Hofmeyer is unwilling to attempt
a settlement but this is inaccurate. He is
| far from well, but is anxious to mediate on
| the lines l have already Indicated"
, From this it appears that Mr. Hofmeyer
| has not started on a mission of mediation.
| The Times Pretoria correspondent sup
plies an explanation of the reported arrival
! of Mr.. Hofmeyer and Mr.. Schreiner, the
premier of Cape Colony, by alleging that
| 1T was hoax perpetrated on the proprie-
| tor of a hotel by an individual who order
ed rooms and supper for Messrs Hofmeyer
| and Schreiner.
| The Pietermaritzburg correspondent or
| the Times confirms the report that enough
| Indian troops have arrived to make the
| military situation secure, and says the au-
| thorities desire that further news regard
|