Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-26
EAGER FOR A FIGHT
Beers Not Likely to Accept England's
Latest Offer.
TALK OF DEPOSING GEN. JOUBERT
His Conservatism Irritates the
Burghers' WarIike Feelings.
MIR. CHAMBERLAIN'S NOTE

indicated by articles in the afternoon news
papers today, is that the published dis
patch of the secretary of state for the
colonies. Mr.. Chamberlain, to the British
high commissioner in South Africa, Sir AL
fred Miner, clears the way for peace if
the Beers desire it. In any event, it is
pointed out, it affords further delay, which
in the case of Great Britain is certainly
advantageous. it gives time for the re-
enforcement of the garrisons at the Cape.
The papers generally, however, express the
hope that President Kruger will now see
his way to meet Great Britains views. and
the Westminster Gazette, which is not an
anti-Boer paper. says:
president Kruger and his advisors still
have a chance of securing peace with indie
pendence.'
In the meantime the dispatch of troops
to South Africa proceeds uDinterruptedsy.
Three field batteries arrived at Brkenhead
today and will embark for Durham, Natal.
Alarming Dispatch to the Times.
The Times today has a dispatch from
Pietermartzburg, Natal, reporting that a
meeting which has aroused a strong feeling
among the loyalists was held by the Afri-
kanders. A strongly-worded resolution was
passed asking the government to recall the
ence there is inimical to peace and is cal
culated to cause trouble with their fellow
Afrikan1ers.
A telegram from Premier Schriener was
read. saying the government was working
for peace. The meeting. Notwithstanding.
passed the resolution, which was supported
by two justices of the peace.
The indications at the agency of the
Transvaal government in this city point to
the belief that war is Inevitable Prepara-
a ro hAtn on1 1n fnrr n Cr hn
niture from the headquarters, and the
gloomiest impression in regard to the out
come of the crisis appears to prevail. Mr..
Montagu White, the consul general of the
South African republic in London. wished
to return to Pretoria. but was informed by
his government that in the event of war
he would be more useful at Brussels.
Move to Secure the Coal Mines.
A cablegram from Cape Town says:
Quantities of stores and ammunition are
leaving here daily. The movement of
troops to Natal is merely a precautionary
measure. to secure the coal mines, and is
nowise in the nature of a menace. There
are no imperial troops the immediate
border. Rumors of collisions should be re-
ceived with caution"
A dispatch from Pretoria says that a
Mauser rifle in the hands of a burgher,
who was practicing with it, burst recently
and nearly killed him, with the result that
a
concerned at the apparent insecurity of the
new weapon. They assert that the car
tridges are worthless and are appealing to
the government to revert to the Martini or
Investigate and remedy the weak features.
The Times has dispatch from Johan-
nesburg which asserts that the delay is
creating the worst possible impression in
the minds of the burghers. who tauntingly
boast that, while Great Britain deprecates
delay upon the part of the Beers she inten-
tionally and unnecessarily prolongs the
controversy because she is afraid to fol-
low up her own game of bluff with the
argument of force.
Beers Eager to Fight.
Reports are heard on all sides of the
eagerness Of the Beers to start hostilities,
and their postponement is said to be solely
due to the restraining influence of Gen.
Joubert. 1t is added that it is believed that
this influence cannot be exercised much
longer. \ circumstantial rumor that Gen.
Joubert has received imperative orders
from the armed burghers that unless he is
prepared to take the initiative within
brief period he must relinquish his COM
mand of the army. This is looked upon as
instructive Indication of Boer feeling.
Hopeful Signs Mt Cape Town.
CAPE TOWN, September 26.-The South
African News today prints a dispatch from
Pretoria saying the alleged change in
British public opinion and the absence of
alarming reports subsequent to the meet
ing of the council are considered hopeful
signs"
There Is no official news from Bleomfon-
tein, but there Is not the slightest doubt
about the attitude of The Orange Free
State. At a meeting of Scandnavians there
it was unanimously decided to support the
government Only twenty members of the
first raad are in town. and it is expected
that the legislature will dissolve at any
moment. The Jews at a meeting have re-
solved to support the government and have
offered to equip and provision police
corps of 300 men.
Piet Kruger, grandson of the president
of the Transvaal, in letter to the Volk-
stein asks whether or not it is the govern
ments duty to inform the imperial govern
ment that. any further landing of troops
will be considered a casus belli.
There is feverish activity in all the de-
partments and the dispatch of riders carry
ing instructions to towns removed from the
telegraph lines is continuous.
JOHANNESBURG, September ga
manifesto has been issued here by num-
ber of Irishmen urging the Irish to strike
a good blow at England, which has held
the Irish people in bondage.
Text of ChambcrlaIn's Note.
Officials of the British foreign Office last
evening gave out the text Of the letter of
the secretary OF STATE 1Or tHe cololiieS, MI.
Chamberlain, to the British high commits
sioner IN South Africa. Sir Alfred Miner,
dated September %. The British reply ex-
presses regret that her majesty's offer. No.
5, of September 8, had been refused. and
says:
1.-The obje,t her ma1esty's government had
in view in the recent negotiations has been
stated in a manner which cannot admit Of
Misrepresentation. viz to obtain such sub
stantial and immediate representation for
the Outlanders as will enable them to
secure for themselves that fair and just
treatment which was formally promised
them IN 1881, and which her majesty in
tended to secure for them when she grant
ed privileges of self-government to the
TransvaaI. No conditions less comprehen-
sive than those contained In the telegram Of
September can be relied on to effect this
object. The refusal Of the South African
government to entertain the offer thus
made coming. as it does after four months
of protracted negotiations, themselves the
climax of five years of extended agitation
makes it useless to further pursue the dis
cussion on the lines hitherto followed, and
the imperial government is now compelled
to consider the situation afresh and form
ulate its own proposals for a final settle
ment of the issues which have been created
In South Africa by the policy constantly fol-