The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-03
THR TRANSVlAL PUZZLE
Premier Salisbury Insists That he
20 Is For Peace.
YET WAR PREPARATIONS 90 ON.

YET WAR PREPARATIONS 60 ON.
In the Event of war the Transvaalwfl
Have Nine Generals in Com mand Of
Coiumns-A Plan of Campaign With
the Orange Free state. - Ys--
London, Oct. 5.--No confirmation is
obtainable from any source of the re-
port contained In dispatch to the
Exchange Telegraph company that the
Beers have captured Dundee.
No exceptional activity was shown
at the government Offices yesterday.
Lord Lansdowne, General Lord Wolse-
ley and General Sir Evelyn Wood.
however, were busily engaged at the
war ONCE General Sir Redvers Butler
called at the war Office In the afternoon
and special board meeting was held.
Naturally nothing of tho discussion
was made public, but 1t il understood
that General Sir Redvers Butler will
not proceed for the Cape until next
week, except in case of unforeseen de-
velopmants.
Many members of parliament are re-
turning to town In anticipation OF an
early Summoning of the houses Of par
Lament. 1t is the general Impression
that, although some speakers may sx-
press disapproval Of the government
policy. few will 60 to the extreme Of
voting against the required credit.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, tho
Liberal leader, having, in speech at
Tredegar, said. THE first and last
word OF these gold hunters 10 war, in
order to lead to annexation" q CORE
spondent wrote to Lord Salisbury ask
ing II 1t were not true that the gov
eminent would make every effort to
avert war and had NO desire to annex
the Transvaal II settlement could be
obtained peacefully. Lord Salisbury
replied, answering aflirmatively. 4
Tho Duke Of Argyle, in reply to an
inquiry, said Sir William Vernon Har-
courts words were pure party clap
trap.
A letter from an outlander received
in Birmingham was published yestsr-
day. II 1t reflects the general feeling
of the British residents in Johannes
burg they must be In an awful funk.
The writer says:
III 1t comes to a fight / believe the
Beers will make massacre OF 1t, blow
johannesburg to bits and shoot us on
sight. In fact. have been told 80 by
one in Office"
Reports from various arsenals and
garrisons In Great Britain testify to
the active continuance of military
hn
ceiyed preliminary notice to be pre-
pared, and several regiments have
been notified to hold themselves in
readiness for active service.
The rumor that fighting had already
commenced Seems to have originated
at the Woolwich arsenal
Matters are at standstil1, and prac-
tically no dispatches from South A.
RIGA have been received this morning.
The Morning Post again complains
editorially that. although the govern
ment put their hands to the plow in
July, October has arrived without Wis
ible progress having been made. The
paper asks what they are waiting for,
and expresses the opinion that "the
expectant attitude maintained is hard
ly consonant with the high sounding
words that have been used"
1t is understood that the colonial Of
flee received an important dispatch
from Sir Alfred Miner, British high
commissioner for South Africa, yes
terday, the contents Of which, how
ever, have not been made public.
The Chronicle, which has lately been
advocating the policy Of sending an
imperial commissioner-susr esting for
the post the Marquis Of Dunerin and
Ava--to meet President Kruger and
try to arrange matters, today argues
that the ministers now see the mis-
chief which Mr.. Chamberlain has
brought on the country.
The paper goes on to comment on
the speech made by the Duke of Devon
shire on Saturday last, which it char
acterizes az remarkable appeal to the
peace party, and asks why Lord Sails
bury and the Duke of Devenshire did
not interfere before. 1t then suggests
that the Duke of Devonshire be sent
as high plenipotentiary to negotiate
with President Kruger
A special dispatch from Pretoria
says that General Jan Kock will com
mand the Boer forces on the Natal
border, Commandant Cronje on the
southwestern and General Schalkbur-
ger on the eastern frontier, while Gen.
eral Malan will be in command al
Rustenburg. Altogether there will be
nine generals in command of columns.
A complete plan of campaign has
been arranged with the Orange Free
State.
A rigorous censorship Is maintained
over all press kilograms.
President Kruger addressed the
troops which started for the Natal bor-
der on Saturday, appealing to their
patriotism and wishing them godspeed.
Fighting is expected by tomorrow.
A rumor, which, however, lacks con-
firmation, is current at the clubs tnar
the Duke of Connaught will accom-
pany Sir General Redvers Butler to
Africa as imperial commissioner to
confer with President Kruger and
President Steyn.