The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-21
PREPARING FOR HoSTILITIEs.
GREAT ACTIVITY IN ENGLAND AND
IN THE TRANSVAAL.

troops ana turning Out ordnance
Stores-BOers Are Putting Up Bar
rlcadcs-IIarcOurt Says Both Sides
Have Made Mistakes
London, Sept 2O.-Despile all outward
shov of calm, Great Britain is in prac-
tically the same condition to-day as was
the United States a few weeks before the
openirB of the war with Spain.
Beneath the crust of diplomatic reserve.
the military officials are working night
and day preparing for the signal to be-
gin hostitles whether that comes or
not.
England is not going 20 be caught nap
pins any more than the Transvaal. Whlle
Lorl Salisbury is quietly at home In Hat
field House, Mr.. Chamberlain is buried in
woriS at the colonial office and double
forces at the royal arsenal and dockyards
are straining every nerve to equip and
transport troops to the Cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain viii do nothing TO precIpi-
tate matters and the colonial office Is far
from admitting that the case is hopeless.
The report that Great Britain had de-
manded the dlsmantlement Of the forts at
'N''N''A'ANNf''iHh
reduction in the armament of the bur-
ghers, the colonial office to-day would
neither confirm nor deny, although II is
much doubted
Activity Is Increasing.
Meanwhile the Marquis of Lansdowns,
secretary Of state for war, who returned
this morning from Dublin, has held long
conferences with Gen. Lord Garnet Wo,se-
ley, field marshal, and Gen Sir Evelyn
Wood, adjuiant TO the forces and the ac-
tivlty at headquarters Is reflected In the
contract, supply and transport depart
ments.
for the Mediterranean to-day with LOO
troops, was Witnessed by a large and en-
thuslastc crowd
At Woowlch activity Increases daily,
especially In the ordnance department,
where Maxim guns. lyddite shells, balloon
equipments, gas reservoirs, wagons for
lime-hght apparatus, water carts ambu-
lances, army wagons and other parapher-
MALTA OF modern warfare are being hurried
forward.
While rumors of the reassembling of
Parliament are current the fact is re-
called that In the Afghan war In 1878 Great
Britain DECLARED war first and then assem-
bied Parliament.
This evening the Marquis of Lansdowne
issued a strict order to the staff of the
war once warning ali SuDOTulHdttE 10 re-
frain from giving the press any Informal
ton without the authority of their supe-
riors and calling attention 10 previous
breaches Of duty In this respect. which,
the order says, "wil be no longer toler-
ated"
VIII Not Yield Further.
Advlces from Cape Town this evening
are to the effect that the Afrikanders de-
clare that the Transvaal Will not yield
further, and that If the imperial govern
ment does not recede from its present POSI-
ton war is inevitable
The South African News supports the
contention of the Transvaal that the con-
vcntion of 1884 abolished the suzerainty.
According to other advices the burghers
are rapidly going into lager while the
exodus from johannesburg yesterday
reached 900 persons. The stock exchange
at johannesburg has resolved TO close the
moment martial law is proclaimed but
all current contracts will be carried out
until the proclamation comes suspending
all business. In the meantime the mer-
chants are erecting barricades in front OF
their shop windows.
At Pretoria the interest seems to be cen-
tered in the meeting of the Orange Free
State Volksraad tomorrow Thursday,
which il is hoped may somehow suggest n
modus vyendi that would save the situa-
ton.
On the other hand, advices from Bloem-
lODlGln announce AUt dTTiNhi NutIG Ol ~
large number OF members Of the Raad,
adding that the result of to-morrows sit
ting Is already agreed upon, as the Orange
Free State win throw in its lot with the
Transvaal all the Free State burghers
being fully armed and ready 10 start at
moments notice.
special dispatch from Johannesburg
says that $50 persons left by one train to-
day.
Roth Sides at Fault.
Rt. Hon. Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, Liberal member of Par
lament for West Monmouthshire,
and former leader of the Lib
eral opposition In the Houst Of Commons,
in the course of an address TO his constit-
uents this evening in New Tredegar, said
he could not read the persistent attempts
Of the war press to aggravate the Trans
vaal situation without indignation.
Great Britain" said the speaker, 'can-
not claim genera. sovereignty in the Trans
vaal when she has only partial surzeraln-
ty, and President Kruger cannot claim
for the Transyaal the position OF an inter-
national sovereign state. Both sides.
therefore, have made allegations which
cannot be maintained by either"
Sir william declared that there was no
casus belli and expressed the hope that
a shameful catastrophe might be averted."
Kruger Appeals TO Queen.
London. Sept 2-The Cape Town cor
respondent Of the Daily Mail says:
president Kruger has cabled a strong
personal appeal to the Queen, beseeching
her to intervene to prevent bloodshed IL
is about a column in length, and Is in
tended to scarfy the conscences OF the
'unco guild when published.
Sir Alfred Miner has wired a courte-
Gus message to President Stoyn, assuring
him that the northward march OF the
British troops is not meant as menaee
to the Orange Free state and requested
to be informed regarding the latter's at
titude. Reliable information has been re-
ceived here that large command Of free
state burghers has been concentrating
near Bushof. on the Kimberly border.
Two hundred burghers were dispatched to-
that point from Bloemfontein during the
week past. IL the Free State joins the
Transvaai the first battle Is likely to bc
fought at Boshof
"The Cape cabinet has determined TO
prolong the session Of the assembly in
IA -ssN