The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-02
B0ERS WANT WAR.
Great Britain Seems to Be
Dilatory About Prepar-
ations.

[By Cable to The Associated Press.1
LONDON, Oct. 2, 1sss-The announced
intention of the British Cabinet to meet
tomorrow has, apparently, been reconsld-
cred It is now said that the meeting de-
pends largely on the developments In the
Transvaal. The date for summoning Par
Lament has not been definitely settled,
though 1t is expected to be about October
10. Queen Victoria will hold q Prfvy
Council at Balmoral, Scotland, at an early
date when the necessary proclamation
will be signed
The remarkable absence Of news from
South Africa this morning leads to the
belief that there has been a widespread
cutting of telegraphic wires, OR that extra
censorship has been established. There
Is no Transvaal news yet today, so there
is nothing to soften the extreme belli-
costly of yesterdays dispatches. Still. it
must be borne in mind that CONSUMPTION
is enforced in the Transvaa1, so the
preparations for war necessarily entail
the upsetting Of the civil machinery and
the closing OF the courts, as the
Burghers have all been commandeered.
On the other hand, there is nothing what
ever to Indicate that the authorities at
Pretoria have the slightest desire to come
to terms peacefully with Great Britain
Had the Beers not determined to fight 1t
out, or If they were not prepared for hos
tilities. they would. it is thought, have
sent some temporizing reply to Great
Britains despatch. All the hanging back
seems to be on Great Britain's side, where.
in spite Of the newspaper and War Onice
talk Of the mobilization Of an Army Corps.
the work is apparently proceeding In q
curiously dilatory fashion.
A prominent EngIishman. DR.. Wilson,
has been Communicated at Harrismith By
the Orange Free State.
The Natal Field Artillery, carbineers
and other military commands are en-
camped at Showground, on the road lead
ing to the Orange Free State
General Sir William Symons. the second
in command under Major General Sir
George Stewart White, commanding the
Natal forces, is expected t3 arrive at
Ladysmith shortly.
Reports from Cape Town declare that
an immediate rupture of the diplomatic
relation between Great Britain and the
Transvaal is expected.
The South American News" a semi
official newspaper, announces thar
special train has left to fetch Mr.. Con-
yngham Greene, the British Diplomatic
Agent at Pretoria, and his staff It adds
tina the formal hauling down of the Brit
ish flag on the Agency building at Pre-
toria is imminent.
The general drift Of news indicates that
the position OF the British troops in South
Africa is critical owing to the delay IN
sending reinforeements and, in the event
of hostllities, early reverses are regarded
as probable.
A special despatch from Johannesburg,
dated September %, gives the report OF
the arrival of the notorious lyman
cape Town has secured as sn o
cial denia ! of the statement OF the
South African News" that train has
been despatched to fetch Mr.. Conynghan
Green from Pretoria. No Instructions
have yet been issued to Mr.. Greene AL
is quiet at Pretoria.
The latest advices show that the Trans
vaal mobilization has been rapid and COM
prehensive. Many Beers. IT. is said, Old
not wait to be Communicated but proceed
ed to the border spontaneously. The mem-
bers of the Executive, State secretaries.
President Krugers relatives, members OF
the Raad, Judges and other professional
men are all eagerly giving their services
and the women are bidding the men-foik
die rather than return beaten.
1t is calculated that the Orange Free
State already has seven thousand men on
the border.
Great excitement prevails at Cape Town.
where it is reported that the Beers have
occupied Laing'S Mex.
satisfaction at the fact that matters have
reached a stage when definite settler
ment of the difficulties is inevitable.
The cable company officials at the cape
say it is impossible to reach Pretoria over
the Durham line. The Cape Town to Pre-
toria line is still working, but it Is Quilted
with official messages
It is announced that General Butler VIII
sail for the Cape either Friday or SAT-
r1rdav next.