Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-30

LONDON, September 29.-The meet
ing of the British cabinet, on whose de-
alterations practically hangs war or
peace in South Africa, began at one
o'clock this afternoon. President Kru-
gers reply to the last note of the i'm
perial government has been received,
and will be the pivot of to-day's dis
cussion.
The cabinet adjourned at 3:15 p. L..
The ministers were heartily cheered by
the waiting crowds.
1t is said from Boer sources that Mr..
Chamberlain's proposals submitted to
the cabinet include an indemnity for
the cost of sending out Of the troops,
the disarmament of the Transvaal
forts, the suppression of DR.. Leyd's
legation, Indicative and legislative in
dependence for the judges, the equality
of the English and Dutch languages and
the full and complete admission of the
supremacy Of the British interests
throughout South Africa.
The dispatch from Cape Town cabled
to the Associated Press is given the
leading place in the afternoon newspa-
pers. While the dispatch is too brief
to give an idea of the Transvaal atti-
tude, the impression it produced was
rather favorable than otherwise.
The crowds began to gather in the
vicinity of the foreign Office as early
as II o'clock. The home secretary, Mr..
Matthew White Ridley, was the first to
arrive, at Ills. Mr.. A. ]. Balfour, the
first lord of the treasury, came down
from Scotland, and Lord Salisbury
came from Hatfield. They reached
Downing street shortly after noon.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the secre-
tary of state for the colonies, drove TO
the colonial Office at 1915 p. m. As
he passed through the crowd assembled
in Whitehall he. was greeted with
cheers, which were renewed when he
alighted.
A large force of police was stationed
about Downing street, but perfect or
der was maintained.
Meanwhile dispatches from the Cape
continue the story of military activity
in the Transvaal, Natal and the Colony.
The Beers are concentrating in the
country contiguous to Natal, where the
hrst outbreak of hostilities is likely to
occur. Large ~contingents of burghers
are converting from various parts on
this probable battlefield. The excite
ment continues at fever heat. The
c~ommandant general has issued a notice
ordering the commanders to assemble
at a specified spot on the Natal border.
The commanders from Krugersdorf.
whose burghers checkmated the jane
son raiders, will embark on trains for
the frontier tonight.
From Bloemfontein, Orange Free
State, it is said that at a secret session
the raad has passed a stringent COM
mando law. Burghers who have left
the Orange Free State recently have
been ordered TO return, in default Of
$500 fine. five years Imprisonment
and the confiscation of their property.
From the British side come a few
further particulars Of military move
ments of a minor character. but all
pointing to preparations to safeguard
the frontier line in the event OF war.
until a sufficient force is assembled to
take the offensive.
A dispatch to the Times from Pre-
toria says: 1T is generally expected
that a state of war win be proclaimed
at any moment. President Kruger
granted me an interview to-day and
declared that he had done all possible
for the sake of peace. He had accepted
Mr.. C~hamberlain's own offer Of a COM
mon inquiry, but Mr. Chamberlain de-
liberately broke the thread of the ne
gotiations, troops were massed on all
sides and war was forced upon him.
II was impossible to accede to the dis
patch of the 18th. Such a course would
have given the land and the people into
the hands of the strangers. As it was,
mis- seven years proposal would, ac-
cording to the field comets books, en-
franchise 5 10000 persons, which was
more than the whole number OF the
old burghers, yet not one has come
forward to take it. The %outlanders
never really wanted the franchise.
From the first they refused to go on
| the commanders and register them
| selves as aliens. After Lord Loeb Sc
| cured exemption for them on the same
terms as the Portuguese. He wished
to Indignantly deny Mr.. Chamberlain's
charge that he had broken his PROM
| ise made during the discussion proceed
| ing the Pretoria convention OF 1881 that
he would treat with new immigrants
| equally with the old burghers. He had
always been ready 10 treat them SO
and they had always refused In con-
clnsion | asked If there was still a pos
sibility Of peace. No. he repliedt adj