The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-28
ANTICIPATES A SHORT WAR.
NATAL'S AGENT THINKS ENGLAND
MUST CONTROL.

Fears for the safety of Natal.
TrnnsVhnI Has Begun to Appoint
0mccrs-Grent Military Activity az
the Cape.
London, Sept. 2l.-Nouces for the ~
journod cabinet council were forwarded
this afternoon. and the chief government
whip viii he on hand to give immediate
effect to any decision arrived at regarding
the roassomhling of Parliament.
Information from Blocmfonten this
evening leaves little doubt that the Orange
Free States Noll1sraad is unanimous in
supporting the Transvaal
More important light is thrown on the
situation by frank statement to-day to
the Associated Press by Sir Walter Peace.
agent general for Natal in London, who
fought against the Beers in former years
lie said:
The attitude of the Orange Free State
means its inevitable 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 paclheation ef-
fective Great Britain must assume abso-
lutte control of the whole of South Africa.
80 far as the position OF Natal is con-
cerned, all this talk about poor, undecided
Natal Is nonsense. There will be little or
no fighting in Natal, if 1t comes 10 war,
and l fear that no other issue IS now
possible. What do you think 10000 British
troops would be doing while this much
talked of 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 wen as in any other season
Two months from the day GEN Sir
Redvers Butler lands the fighting win he
over. If the Free state had been loyal
lighting would not have lasted fourteen
days Ii Is the luckiest thing in the world,
however, that the Free State has been
foolish enough to take a hostile attitude
for that means her addition to the British
possessions. The Free State would always
have been a disturbing factor In the quiet
of South Africa.
Power 10 Work Out Peace.
"Great Britain has the power to work
out ultimate peace. 1t remains to be seen
whether she has the spirit Upon the con
clusion of war. which must lie undnchlnE
in order 10 be effective, British control
must be absolute over an South Africa
in Cape Colony, Natal and other sections
Half measures would only prolong unrest
ana produce more disturbances.
Il have known the Beers as well as any
man. | have lived among them and /
have fought them. To exist peacefully
so close to them Is an utter impossibilily
Negotiations are well enough in their way
but British control of the government must
come eventually.
For years the Beers have been CRYING
Throw the Outlanders into the sea- ana
out with tim. Possibly they are not so
virile as duriug the last war but there
Is little difference.
"My idea is that II the Boers were
caught in the open once or twice the thing
would be ended. kin 700 of them and all
that would remain for England to do would
be to send a few shiploads of Grape. They
never have stood i'm the open. ana If 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
experience in campaigns against the
BoeTc.
No Fears for Natal.
Il have not the slightest fears for the
safety of my colony or its towns. II IS
possible that a few Boer incursions might
get a few miles into Natal but no further
and il must he remembered that many OF
those living on the edge OF the Natal bor-
der are themselves Beers"
The situation remains unchanged though
If anything. the feeling of gloom has deep
ened Cablegrams from Pretoria and Cape
Town show that the general impression
prevails there that the Beers will not re-
cede from their position. and that the feel
ing of unrest al Pretoria has been lntensl-
fed. - ~
A dispatch to-day announces that the
Transvaal government has begun to APP
point officers TO go TO the front in case Of
hostAities.
A telegram from johannesburg says an
American named Blake is raising an Amer
lean corps Of 500 men for the Beers.
on the Cape side the dispatches show
great military activity in the direction Of
the frontier
Evidence of Unrest.
Most OF the British residents have left
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and the northern
part Of the Transvaal, whittier, Il IS an
nounced, commands of the go burghers
will shortly proceed.
A dispatch TO the Pall Mall Gazette from
Cape Town reports evidences Of unrest
among the Griquas and Pondos ana a Sec
ton of the Bechuans and Matabeles. Il
is feared they will revolt in the event Of
war The war office has ordered the whole
of the transports and supply ships for an
army CofDH 10 prepare " biDAN'h ~ fAif
Cape. THIS Is very important order and
implies the early dispatch of an army
corps.
The Currie Line has just received an
order from the admiralty to prepare the
Braemer Castle, of that line, to sail for
the Cape oct. with 400 officers ana
men. This Is an entirely fresh batch Of
troops. and the composition Of it is un-
known
In spite Of these warlike preparations,
South Africa circles In London believe
there will be no war and that the Beers
will finally concede the British demands.
Calls II Dutch Conspiracy.
London. Sept. 2s-The Daily Telegraph
publishes the following from its corre-
spondent at Cape Town:
II regret to note a universal opinion that
war Is very near. Everywhere the Beers
are active and bellicose. They are arm
ing. equipping and storing supplies for a
protracted struggle.
"The Transvaal government has failed
In an attempt to purchase 10000 sacks OF
wheat here, but Boer agents are securing
South Africa to buy campaign provisions.
proof accumulates Of the existence Of
a oreat Dutch conspiracy against British