Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-09-22
IS IT WAR OR PEACE?
Conflicting Views In London Regard
ing Transvaal Situation.
KRUGER MAY BACK DOWN.
Intfmations That He Desires to Avoid
HostiIities-Prepar Fer War,
However, Continue EnerEet-
icalIy on Both sides.

London, Sept. 22--The speech Of Sir
William Vernon-Harcourt, the former
Liberal leader, to his constituents at New
Tredegar and the message Of the Cape
Town Afrikander members Of parliament
to President Kruger have proved red
rags" to the war at any price" party.
The Cape papers declare the action of
the members of parliament amounts al
most to treason, and the same term Is
applied to Sir William Vermont ar-
courts remarks by the English anti
Boer papers.
Those who claim the situation has not
yet passed the Rubicon Of pacific nego-
tations see In President Kruger's an
swer to the Afrikanders a genuine desire
to avoid hostilities. The report that he
has personally petitioned Queen Victoria
to avert hostilities certainly does not
bear out the alarmist reports of the
English correspondents in South Africa
that President Kruger determined long
since upon war.
Nevertheless preparations for that
eventuality continue theoretically on
both sides. The Beers are laagering, and
British troops are reaching Kimberley
and Ladysmith, the onward march Of
the latter being marked by enthusiastic
ovations from the scared inha bitants and
hordes hurrying southwark for safety.
The latest report Of Boer activity ema-
mates from Newcastle, Natal, saying the
Transvaal forces are encamped at Zand-
sprint and intend to raid Natal immedi-
ately after they understand that Mr..
Chamberlan's reply is not satisfactory.
The British army nursing service sails
from Southampton at once, and Major
General French sails Saturday. He goes
to Durham, Natal, to command the eaval-
ry brigade.
Question Yet Involved.
The foregoing includes all the actual
developments. but they help little to solve
the universal question, will there be
war;"
The answer of President Steyn of the
Orange Free State to Sir Alfred Miner,
the British high commissioner Of South
Africa, Is not regarded ms a satisfactory
explanation of the Free States position
and by no means dissipates the increased
seriousness with which the situation is
regarded. Since the first it has been re-
ported that the Free State would ag-
excessively assist the Transvaal. -
Vanity Fair frequently we'll informed
regarding political secrets, today en-
phatically reiterates the assertion that
there will be no war. 1t says:
president Kruger is an old man, but
he is no dotard. He would like to get
his own way, but not at the cost of de-
feat. Climb down he will We main
tain the belief that there will be no
war"
Vanity Fair takes the view, which is
shared by several weeklies, that the
alarmist daily papers have created fic-
titious crisis.
Conservative sitting Of these conflict
ing opinions are rumors now prevailing
regarding the outcome of the dispute
will be more practicable after tomorrows |
cabinet meeting, though the official an
nouncement of the ministers decision is
likely to be delayed few days.
report is current here that Sir AL
fred Miner had wired a courteous mes
sage to President Steyn, assuring him
that the northward march of the British
troops was not meant as menace to the
Orange Free State and requesting to be
informed regarding the latter's attitude
The dispatch added that the British
and Transvaal governments were still
hopeful of a friendly settlement Should
this hope be disappointed, SIR Alfred
said he looked to the Orange Free State
to preserve strict neutrality and to pre-
vent military Intervention by any of its
citizens.