Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-25

Ieged TO nave stated lldt THESE men VIII
soon be worth more to the Transvaal IN
Canada than in South Africa.
What gives to this alleged movement the
appearance of genuineness is the fact mat
large sums of money are being raised right
in New York by the local Holland Society,"
and men like Judge A. A Van Nyck, late
democratic candidate for governor OF Ne"
York and brother of the mayor OF tIfeat'
er New York: Robert B. Roosevelt, rela-
tive of Governor Roosevelt, and one or the
wealthiest citizens in the town, are inter-
ested in raising funds for the Transvaal.
Warnings Sent to Canada.
1t is not intimated that these men even
know about the proposed Canadian raids,
but men connected with societies to which
they belong are known to have been en-
ployed in sending men to South Africa and
it is known that recently these recruiting
agents ceased the shipment of men to the
old world and, it l. alleged, turned their at
tention to the Canadian borders. Natural
ly these movements have been kept as
secret as possible The men directly inter-
esied will not talk; the men financially re-
sponsible not saying anything. But
despite all the secrecy possible, 1t is be-
lieved hat agents of the British govern
ment have been informed of the program
possibly through the treachery of some or
the men high in the councils of the various
Irish societies and Holland organizations
Certain it is that within the last three
days orders have been sent to generals IN
command of troops in Canada to be on
guard against a surprise. The nature OF
this surprise, it is thought, has not been
communicated to the officers in Canada
Possibly the war office in Great Britain IS
itself puzzled and not possessed of details
sufficient to justify any direct statements
that would appear to even reflect upon the
government at Washington. But as evil
dence that an inlling of the situation has
been obtained it is known here that an or
der has been promulgated to the effect
that hereafter all merchant vessels wish
ing to enter Esquimault harbor must come
to dead stop at the entrance and signal
their presence by means of special series
of whistles, which have been communi-
Gated privately to the local pilots and the
masters OF such steam craft as may natu-
rally be expected to visit the naval port,
and which Will be answered from the shore.
Much comment has been excited through
out British Columbia by these unheard of
orders taken in conjunction with the strict
precautionary measures adopted at the
dock and navy yard there.
DeniaIs by Pro-Boer Leaders.
The order regarding merchant vessels
was issued only last Saturday. Local lead
ers connected with the pro-Boer organiza-
tions, while substantially admitting ,neir
plans along the Canadian border farther
east, emphatically deny that they have
ever intended to start d flibustering expe-
dition in the direction of EsQuimault har-
bor These denials it is thought, may be
for the purpose of keeping their movements
in the British Columbia ana Alaskan wa
ters even more secret than their program
for the invasion of the Canadian border
farther east
In this connection, though having moth
ing to do with the matter directly, it may
be stated that labor organizations in New
York city have extended an invitation to
William Jennings Bryan to address an i'm
mense mass meeting TO be held at Madison
Square Garden during the month of Janu-
AIRY. Representative w. d. Daily OF New
t. ,F,rTfrr fla
Mr. Bryan is TO come to New Jersey be-
fore the LIST of February, and the welcome
rendered Bryan will be of the nature of an
anti-imperialist pro-Boer demonstration. 1t
is believed that sentiment be created
by this and other mass meetings which
Senator Mason of Illinois and others are
to address so strong that President MckIn-
ley VIII be forced to take some measures
looking to mediation between Great Britain
and the Transvaal-
This news that Bryan has been invited
to address mass meeting in New York in
this connection has been kept a secret for
the purpose of preventing complications
similar to the announcement of the famous
so and 81 dinners, but it is known that he
has been asked to come, and there are the
best of reasons for believing that he will
accept
By Associated Press.
Regarded More Than Likely.
OMAHA, Neb., December "a. - The Bee
says: There is something more than like
lihood that the pro-Boer agitation, now
general throughout the United States, will
lead to the resuscitation Of the once cele-
brated organization among Irish-Americans
known the Fenians, which planned and
executed an invasion of Canada in 1866 out
of hatred of England for the wrongs that
for several hundred years had been in
fiicted upon Ireland.
Intimations have reached Omaha from
address 81
renewal of the Fenian organization and the
Clan-na-Gael had been sent out from this
city to enthusiastic Irish-Americans in
other places, but inquiry among prominent
Irishmen failed to disclose the identity of
any persons who may have sent out such
address. AS far as could be learned
there are no organized branches of the So
cietieS named in this city, although there
are some men in Omaha who were proud of
their membership in the Fenian organiza-
ton.
Inquiry, however. did develop the fact
that there IS some sort of secret move
ment on foot among the Irish enthusiasts
in this and neighboring cities which has for
its object some decisive steps of a more
belligerent character toward England than
a simple declaration of sympathy for the
Beers. far away III South Africa. The move
ment here will be inaugurated by meet
ing to be held next Sunday, when some
measures are expected to be taken. One of
the leaders. a prominent Irish-American of
this city, in speaking of the matter, said:
Ready to Go to the Front.
There are in Omaha today a respectable
number of Irishmen who are ready to go
to the front, and they don't care whether
it is to the Transvaal or to Canada so long
as the same end can be accomplished. More
will be known after the meeting next Sun
day. There will be great deal of work
done by those on the inside between now
and that date, the nature of which I can
not tell you. 1t will be done secretly. There
will be wheels within wheels and more than
one organization of lrishmen will be in
volved."
Conference with a number of Irish-Amer-
leans, who pretended at least that they
knew nothing of the movement, disclosed
the fact that the conviction is quite general
among them that there should be an organ
ization effected among them which could
make its existence effective, If only by a
threat of repeating the Fenian invasion of
1866, as it would deter the British from
sending any more troops to Africa.
Prominence has doubtless been given to
Omaha and Nebraska and the rumors of
this movement because of the activity of
the Irishmen of Nebraska IN Land League
I ITfF 4 i