Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-06
Belief in London That They Are
Receiving Ammunition.
CANNON ORDERED IN FRANCE
Impression Grows That War is
Now Inevitable.
ULTIMATUM EXPECTED SOON

LONDON. September 8.-This morning S
news sheds no new light on the Transvaal
crisis. The signs which the English are
accustomed to see just previous to a war
continue, and from these any number Of
sensational deductions may be drawn.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, secretary of
state for the colonies, remains at the colonial
office. and the other cabinet ministers are
either here or on their way to this city.
General opinion tends 10 the belief that
the cabinet council will result in an ultima
tum followed by an immediate back down
of the Beers or the immediate commence
ment of hostiities by Great Britain
This feeling. however, is founded on the
trend of the recent negotiations and 1T Is
often forgotten that In these. Mr.. Chamber
lain had practically a free hand and was
not hindered by the cautious conservatism
which undoubtedly will characterize the
deliberations of the full cabinet council.
The Pail Mall Gazette today says:
1T IS feared that during the past twenty
four hours the probability of war has be-
come apprecfably greater"
The paper, however. prints no news ex-
cept that received yesterday to justify this
assertion.
Acute Tension Continues.
Advices from various sources Indicate
that the acute tension In all parts of South
Africa continues. But, unless the Beers
take the initiative, which at present is i'm
probable, it is pretty certain that the issue
of peace or war lies solely In the result of
Fridays cabinet council; hence public at
teHtion Is Centered more upon the signs of
the times exhibited at the army stations
and the dock yards than in South Africa
itself. though news from there is eagerly
awaited, chiefly owing to the uneasy feel
ing that the Beers MI ,ght end the diplomatic
tangle by raiding Natal.
1t is reported this afternoon that Mr.
Chamberlain has sent reply, through Sir
Alfred Miner. governor of Cape Colony
and British high commissioner of South
Africa, to the Transvaal government lat
est proposition. The latter is generally un-
derstood to be a withdrawal of the former
concessions and a tentative agreement for
furthe. conference. 1t seems improbable
that Mr.. Chamberlain has done this, as he
would probably have awaited the cabinets
decision before taking such action, and even
If he has it is not very likely that his reply
would bring matters to a head except by
irritating the Beers into aggressive action.
Beers Ready to Fight.
The second edition of the Times issued
this morning publishes a dispatch from
Newcastle, Natal which says that during
yesterdays debate ins the raad regarding
the proximity of British troops to Trans
vaal territory Herr Delarey, member of
The Beers only require half days no
tice to fight
The correspondent of the Times, continu
ing, says:
Many conclude that the defiant tone of
the speeches is not unconnected with the
fact that Mauser ammunition which had
be en- stopped at Delagoa bay has now been
received. The Pretoria government admits
that q consignment of cannon is now on Its
way from France. 1t is the evident aim of
the Beers to secure time until grass and
cgniZing the fact that a peaceful settle
ment of the difficulty is out of the ques-
ton"
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Times teegraphs as follows:
'In reply to the remarks of Sir John Cor
don Sprigg, former premier of Cape Colony
and leader Of the opposition, made at yes
telGay's session of the Cape house of
sembly, William p Schreiner. premier of
Cape Colony, said that permits had not
been granted for large quantities of ammu-
ny, but that small quantities for local i'm
rorters continued to arrive, and he had no
desire at present to stop such importations.
Beers Reply to England.
PRETORIA, September 6.-The latest re-
ply of the Transvaal republic to the Brit
ish demands has been published. In this
reply regret is expressed that the proposals
Of Great Britain are unacceptable. The
Transvaal government admits Great Brit
aims rights under the convention and In
ternational law to protect her SUBJECTS but
denies a claim of SuZeralnty. The reply
agrees to a further conference regarding
the franchise and representation.