The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-17
The DFtyiuS Case EXCGlS TranSVlal TrOu-
blGS in Popular Importance.
AN ALLIANCE WITH THE FREE STATE
1t is Hardly Possible That the Beers
Will Gain More Than Impassive
Sympathy from Their
Latest Entente

London, September 16.-Sunday will be
an anxious day for Great Britain. The re-
ply of the Transvaal government it is said
tonight, has been formulated. and is in
the hands of the British agent at Pretoria.
Furthermore, the wires at the foreign Of
flee are busy with long dispatch from
the British high commissioner in South
Africa, Sir Alfred Miner, to secretary of
state for the colonies Joseph Chamberlain.
which is being rapidly repeated to the lat
ter's Birmingham home, of the contents of
the Boer reply
Unless South Africa is peopled with false
prophets, the Beers have even evaded or
defed what practically amounts to an ulti-
matum from the British cabinet From
the tenor of their recent communications
to Mr. Chamberlain, they could scarcely be
expected to do otherwise. However as
frequently pointed out in these dispatches,
this presumed action on the part of the
Beers does not make war a certainty,
though 1t does place the British cabinet in
position where it must take steps so ag-
gressive that war or utter ignomlnious
submission will be the only alternative re-
manning to the Transvaal.
New and Serious Phase
This new, serious phase of the crisis also
gravely increases the probability that the
Beers will take time and diplomacy by the
forelock and raid Natal, confiseate the
mines, arrest the Uitlanders for high trea-
son and otherwise resent, while the British
troops are in mideocean, what they believe
is an attempt to rob them of their inde-
pendence.
If the course of diplomacy is not fore
shortened, the British cabinet will meet
again and formulate specific demands for
more sweeping than the last ones.
These will be transmitted to President
Kruger in the shape of an ultimatum. As
the members of the cabinet are scattered
throughout the country, 1t is improbable
a council could be gathered till Monday
night, at the earliest, and there is every
reason to believe that the British govern
ment will exhibit no undue haste in forcing
President Kruger's hand, for 1t is palpably
more important to have 1900 reinforce
ments on the scene of action than to gain
the gratitude of the importunate uitland-
ers, who for weeks have been crying for
immediate aggressive action.
Kruger May Yet Back Down
The logic of such policy must be equal
ly patent to President Kruger. 1t is hard
ly conceivable that he will await the arri-
val of the British endorsements before taxi
ing the initiative If he displays such hes
itation he will strengthen the belief that
at the very last moment he intends to back
down, an impression which has many sup
porters among ultra people
President Kruger's rumored refusal of the
latest franchise demands has lost him many
friends in England, and the pro-Boer par
ty has shrunk to small dimensions.
rba ed formal n 1lfanp 10 the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State has
done much to ALLEVIATE the feelings of those
Englishmen inclined to sympathize with
the Transvaal, though it is scarcely be-
lieved that the Orange Free State will take
an active part, more likely combining itself
to passive, unrecognized assistance, IN
the war of 1880 The selection of General
Sir George Stewart White to command the
troops in Natal meets with universal ap-
proval, as also does the announcement
that in the event of war General Sir Red
vers Butler will take supreme command IN
South Africa. Both are men of great ex-
perience. bravery and forcefulness.
Departure of the Troops
The departure OF the troops from South
ampton for Natal today was marked by
such scenes as have not occurred in Eng
land for many years. Wives, daughters,
sweethearts and friends crowded arounl
the Northumberland Fusileers, or, as they
are better known, THE Fighting Fifth"
on the stations and at the docks, crying,
waving hats and cheering, mixing grief and
patriotism men and women do only
when those dear to them go TO war. Most
of the special service officers wore civilian
clothes but as many of them We're well
known, they were quickly recognized, and
received oYations. The Fighting Firth
nearly all wore the Khartoum medal.
The long -wnded negotiations with the
Beers have apparently not infiamed the
British populace. Among the ordinary
classes the excitement is less acute than
some weeks ago. significant instance OF
this is seen at the Palace Music Hall.
which is packed nightly with all sorts and
conditions from the highest to the lowest.
Topical songs dealing with the confusion
of Kruger and the wping out of the Maju-
ba Hill defeat were received with faint ap-
plause, not approaching the patriotic en-
thusiasm, but biograph pictures Of the
Dreyfus case brought the audience to its
feet, yelling and waving hats, etc, and
women crying
Transvaal Maintains Its Position
Capetown, September 16-The Afrikander
leaders have received telegram saying
that the reply of the Transvaal government
to the British demands still maintains the
governments position as to British suzer-
ainty, offers a seven years franchise and
declares the Transvaals strict adherence
TO the terms of the 1884 convention. The
delegates of the Agricultural Union were
entertained at luncheon yesterday by Cecil
Rhodes. The delegates from the Transvaal
made speeches predicting that peace would
be maintained. Mr. Rhodes offered them a
fine lion, which, although somewhat em-
barrassed the delegates accepted aud took
to Pretoria today.