The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-28
LOOKS MORE LIKE WAR
Orange Free State Will Support
the Transvaal.
WOULD LAST TWO MONTHS
Beers win Not Fight in the OPENING
nsh Sovereignty the Only Guar
antee of Peace in South
: Africa.

London, Sept. 27.-Notice of an ad-
Iourned cabinet council were forwarded
this afternoon and the chief govern
ment WHIP will be on hand to give i'm
mediate effect TO any decision arrived
at regarding the reassembling of par
liament.
Information from Bloemfontein this
evening leaves little doubt that the Or
ange Free State volksraad is unani-
nous in supporting the Transvaal.
Most important light is thrown upon
the situation by frank statement to-
day to the associated press by Sir Wal
ter Peace, agent general for Natal
who fought against the Beers in for
mer years.
He said: THE attitude of the orange
Free State means its acquisition by
Great Britain. Peace in South Africa
can only be accomplished by war In
my opinion a war would not last more
than two months. In order to make
pacification effective Great Britain
must assume absolute control over the
whole of South Africa.
so far as the position of Natal Is
concerned, all this talk about poor I'M
defended Natal is nonsense. There will
be little or no fighting in Natal, if it
comes to a war, and ! fear that no other
issue is now possible. What do you
think 10000 British troops would be do
. ing while this much-talked-o Boer raid
was in progress? Our railways are in
good working order and our troops can
be transported quickly. The bad
weather conditions have been magni-
fed. A campaign could be carried on
now just as well Is in any other season.
1.-TWO months from the day General
Sir Redvers Butler lands the fighting
will be over. If the Free State had been
loyal, fighting would not have lasted Il
days 1t is the likeliest thing in the
world, however, that the Free State
will be foolish enough to take a hostile
attitude. The Free State win be and
always has been a disturbing factor in
the quiet of South Africa.
Great Britain has the power to work
out ultimate peace. 1t remains to be
seen whether she has the spirit. Upon
the conclusion of the war, which must
be unfiinching in order to be effective,
British control must be absolute over
all South Africa in Cape Colony, Natal
and other sections.
Half measures would only prolong
the unrest and produce more disturb
ances.
81 have know the Beers as well as
any man. 1 have lived among them
ana L nave IOuSnI them. 10 exist
peacefully so close to them is an utter
impossibility. For years the Beers have
been crying Throw the outlanders into
the sea- and out with them Possibly
they are not so virile as during the last
war, but there is little difference. My
idea is that If the Beers were caught
in the open once or twice the thing
would be ended. Kill 500 of them and
all that would remain for England tC
do would be to send for a shipload OF
Grape. They never have stood in the
open and since war comes now they
will have to do more than stay in the
hills. This is not optimistic twaddle
but an opinion based upon my expert.
ence in campaigns against the Beers
/ have not the slightest fear for tht
safety of my colony or it's towns. 1t II
possible that a few Boer incursion!
might get few miles into Natal bu
no further, and it must be remembered
that many of those living on thu
edge of the Natal border are themselve!
Boers.''
A few days now should witness {
definite settlement of the crisis in TIL
Transvaal. The volksraad has as