Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-10-13
DEMANDS OF BOERS.
They Present an Ultimatum to
Great Britain.
WAR CAN NOW HARDLY Be AVERTED.
Continuance of British Troops on
Border After Forty-Eight Hours
Will BE Regarded MS Formal
Declaration OF Hostilities.

So
Declaration OF HOstilities.
London, Oct. 1.-THE Transvaal ul-
timatum, which is signed by F. w.
Reitz, secretary of state, concludes
with the following four demands:
Her majesty's unlawful intervention in
the internal affairs of this republic in con-
fict with the London convention OF 1854,
by the extraordinary Strengthening OIL her
troops IN the neighborhood of the borders
of this republic, has caused an intolerapie
condition of things to arise. to which TINS
government feels itself obliged, in the in
terest not only of this republic, but also
of all South Africa, to make an end as soon
as possible, and this government REEFS
itself called upon and obliged to press ear
nestly and with emphasis for an lmifleu ls ~
termination of this state of things ana 10
request her majesty's government TO give
assurances upon the following four de-
mands:
First. That all points of mutual diifer-
ence be regulated by friendly recourse TO
may be agreed upon by this government
and her majesty's government.
Second That all troops on the borders
of this republic shall be instantly with
drawn.
.Third. That all reenforcements OF
since June /, 1899, shall be removed from
South Africa within reasonable time
to be agreed upon with this government,
and with the mutual assurance ana guar
antee on the part of this government tnat
no attack upon or hostilities against any
portion of the possessions of the British
government shall be made by this republic
during the further negotiations, WITHIN a
period of time to be subsequently agreed
upon between the governments; ana TINS
government WILL on compliance Herewith,
be prepared to withdraw the armed ourgh-
ers Of this republic from the borders
Fourth. That her majesty's troops
which are now on the high seas shall not
be landed in any part of South Africa.
Definition of Time Limit.
To these demands is appended the
definition of the time-limit for re-
ply:
'"This government presses for an imme-
date and an affirmative answer TO THESE
four questions, and earnestly requests her
majestys government to return an answer
before or upon Wednesday, October H.
1899. not later than five o'clock p. m.
ut desires further to add that IN the
unexpected event of an answer not salts
factory being received by it within the IN
terval, it will with great regret be com
PEELED to regard the action of her ma1esty's
government as a formal declaration OF
war and will not hold itself responsible
for the consequences thereof, and that, IN
the event of any further movement OF
troops occurring within the above-men-
toned time in nearer direction to our
borders, this government will be compelled
to regard that also as formal declaration
of war.
.'I have the honor to be, respectfully
''F w. REITZ. State Secretary"
Causes Sensation.
London, Oct. 11.-The more peaceful
tenor of the mornings news and COM
ments had scarcely been digested and
aroused hopes that President kruger's
birthday would also mark the dissipa-
ton, or the commencement of the dis
sipation, of the clouds hanging over
South Africa, when the sensational an
nouncement that the Transyaal gov
eminent had handed defiant ultimat
UNI to the British diplomatic agent in
Pretoria caused rapid slump in the
hopes Of those who believe that diplo.
macy will yet save the situation.
Apart from this, the news tends tc
show that so long as the Beers remain
inactive Great Britain will continue to
adhere to her present persuasive meth
DDS.
The reports from all the military cen
tiers show that the mobilization orders
are received with the greatest enthus
iasm, now that President Kruger ha.
crossed the Rubicon and taken the ir
revocable step of issuing an ulti
matum.
The Only Wonder.
The only wonder is why, if Presi
dent Kruger is resolved upon fighting
he has waited so long. The explanation
seems to be that his hand has beer
forced by the fact that the Beers hav,
got out of control, or that, if he awaited
the arrival of the British army corps
the chances of military success for hin
would be of the slimmest possible char
acter.
Britain Not Fully Prepared.
The expiration of the time limit O.
the ultimatum this evening doe
not leave Great Britain much time t,
strengthen the present military posi-
ton, although there are still few
troops at Durham, Natal, available TO
dispatch to the front, but the govern
ment will doubtless now adopt the sug
gestion to form the refugees from tn
Rand into volunteer regiments, thu
while relieving their distress utilizing
excellent material
Outside the momentous news of tn
ultimatum nothing of moment has bee,
received from the scene of action es
cept the announcement that the BoeT
have constructed forts commandin
Laing's Mex and that guns have bee
mounted on Mount Pogwane and Noun
Prospect.
Last Word Said.
The Westminster Gazette saws:
I'VE learn from a trustworthy sourc
that the British government has also dis
patched note containing stringent d.
mands, which must have crossed the Boo
ultimatum. Diplomacy has thus said II
last word; and the last word on each sid
is of the kind to which the other is nc
in the least likely to yield"
Special Urgency.
The text of the Boer ultimatum on al
irving Tuesday morning was sent wit
all speed to Lord Salisbury, who cam
to town Tuesday afternoon, and di
patch box was sent to the prince {
Wales, which is only done in cases
especial urgency.
The cabinet has been summoned I
meet at the foreign Office on Frida
next. War preparations by Great Bri
ain are being pushed with the create.
energy. The Woolwich arsenal has a
ready forwarded to South Africa ovt
q nm nm cartr;dpes for rifles and ma