Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-29
Situation in the Transvaal Has
Reached Acute Stage.
KRUGER'S REPLY an ULfIMATUM
London Papers Acknowledge Dip
Iomatic Stage Has Been Passed.
BOEKS A FORMIDABLE FOE

LONDON, August 29.-Commenting on
the declaration of President Kruger of the
Transvaal government to the effect that
the South African republic adhered to its
latest offer and would not make any
further concessions, the afternoon papers
here unanimously draw attention to the in
creased seriousness of the Transvaal crisis,
but at the same time they express uncer-
tainty regarding the nature of the conces-
sions beyond which President Kruger says
he will not go. No official announcement
has been made of these, though they are
generally understood to be five-year fran
chise and increased Outlander representa-
ton. If this is correct the Globe says,
''it cannot be long before diplomacy has to
stand aside as of no further service
The Pail Mall Gazette says: president
kruger's adherence to these would mean
adherence to impossible conditions; and if
SO, the situation has come to an ugly
head
The Westminster Gazette. while lament
ing the immoderaticn which, ii says led
to the present crisis. admits that the coun-
try is within sight Of a war which may
shortly be as unavoidable as, on the merits
OF the question, it would be inexcusable."
Beers a Formidable Enemy.
To whatever dispatch or conditions Presi-
dent kruger's defiant remark referred it
has brought home sharply the keen posi-
blllty of an impending war against no
Weak-kneed adversary. 1t is said that with
recruits from over the borders the Trans
vaal would have about G0,000 men at its
disposal, whereas the most the British now
could throw on the frontier would be 30 600
though, OF course, this number would be
materially increased within a month
The British public is taking intense in
terest in the preparations of their own
forces already in South Africa. Indignation
against w. +. Schreiner premier of Cane
Colony, who, in the Cape house of assem-
bly, yesterday, declared that, under the GUS
toms convention the Orange Free State
was justified in importing arms through
Cape Colony, is fairly general though that
section which believes that Boer war
would be a crime are making, by editorials
petitions, etc, what they appear to think
Is the last effort to avert hostilities.
Will Not Yield More
dispatch from Cape Town yesterday
says: Replying to the latest proposition of
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the British see
retary of state for the colonies, the gov
ernment OF the Transvaal has notified him
that 1t adheres to its latest offer and will
not make any further concessions
according to reports from Johannesburg
tne burghers are everywhere exchanging
Martini rifles for MauserS A heavy load
OF ammunition, including 800 Mausers ar
rived at Johannesburg from Utrecht on
Friday, in the Netherlands.
Ihe cape Town correspondent Of the Lon
don Daily Chronicle says:
British troops will be Immediately con-
centrated at Laings Mex and Mafoking 1t
Is believed that the British program will
be to surround the Transvaal and then to
negotiate new convention"
According to the Daily Nails Cape Town
correspondent the belief is still entertained
there that the British government is op-
posed to extreme measures. 1t is reported
tfat President Kruger is so well aware of
this that he has just cabled countermand-
ing conditional orders for large meat sup
plies.
Had kruger's Reply.
Although not definitely known, 1t is as
sumed in London that Mr.. Chamberlain
had the final reply Of the Transvaal gov
ernment before he delivered his Birming-
ham speech. 1t is also believed that on
the receipt Of President Kruger's offer of
five-year franchise and other concessions
Mr.. Chamberlain wired that they were un-
acceptable and suggested notifications
If this be so, and if the reply to that sug-
gestion-that the TransvaaI government
adheres to it's latest offer and will make no
further concessions-be President Kruger
final answer, the position is ominous
dispatch from Pretoria says: The re-
ports of Joseph Chamberain's speech at
Birmingham last Friday have been calmly
received here. President Kruger said:
Let the newspapers bring whatever they
like. l cannot say whether or not they re-
port Mr.. Chamberlain correctly. When he
speaks to me directly l shall listen and
shall know how to reply"
Commandant General Joubert, in an in
tervfew, declared that the whole republic
would resist like one man any interference
with its independence.
Secretary of State ReitZ said he believed
Mr.. Chamberlain was speaking for him
self only and not for the whole British cab
met. The situation, he said, had not grown
worse but there was danger that a spark
might fall into the magazine and do mis-
chief