The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-01
WAR SEEMS Inevitable,
Between England and
the TranSvaal.
ACTIVE PREPARATIONS
Far Ho.tiiities Being Made on Both
sides-Engiaud Ready for the Hall 20
Opeu-She wiz Wake No Moro Repre-
sentations 10 the Boers-The Latter
increasing strength OF Their Fortia-
cations-Kruger's Personal Prepara-
ton for a Siege

ton for a Siege
Pretoria, August sO.-The British Dip
lomatic agent here Mr.. Conyngham
Green, has handed TO the secretary or
state, F. w. Reitz. the reply or tho
British secretary Of state for the colo
nies, Mr.. Chamberlain, to the Trans
walls alternative proposals TO the joint
commission suggested by Great Britain
to inquire into the effect which the
proposed franchise reform measures
will have upon the Outlanders.
Mr. Green afterwards had a long au-
dience with the state officials. The na-
ture OF the dispatch is not disclosed but
was subject to the consideration of tho
executive this afternoon. 1t is UNDER
stood that another conference may oc-
cur at Capetown. The result IS anx-
iously awaited.
London August 3l.-The Pretoria
correspondent OF The Morning Post
says:
THE Boer officials, after reading the
cabled reports OF Mr.. Chamberlain's
Birmingham speech consider that war
is inevitable. The speech has undoubt-
edly inflamed the war spirit here. Tho
Beers are now all armed, except those
in Johannesburg. Their commissariat
is fairly good. AL the forts are amply
victualed. The johannesburg fort has
been strengthened with several quick
firing guns.
President Kruger does not hesitate
to express the view that war Is almost
inevitable. He has stocked the presi-
dency with ample supplies OF provis-
ions to secure his own person from
privation, and he is often heard repeat
, ing the Eighty-third Psalm
The Times says editorially this MORN
ing:
There is the best reason to believe
| that the recent note OF Mr.. Chamber
! lain will be almost the last occasion
| on which Great Britain will ask Pres
! ident Kruger whether he is in earnest
! in his promises of concessions. The note
( undoubtedly called for an immediate
answer and when a reasonable time
! for answer has elapsed Great Britain
! will no longer pay much attention to
President Kruger's word, but will form
| her judgment by his actions.
! The Beers should bear in mind that,
! throughout the whole controversy, The
! Cologne Gazette has warned the Trans
vaal that 1t was placing itself In an
: unfavorable position and that in the
: event of war nobody would lift a fin
ger to prevent the destruction OF the
republic"
Capetown, August 3O-There was a
violent scene in the Cape house OF as
| sembly today when Mr.. Cecil Rhodes
repeated his conviction that the Trans
! vaal secret service fund was largely
used during the last Cape Colony cleo
| tions for the expenses OF the Afrikander
| candidates. He said he hoped that, in
! the Forthcoming Transvaal settlement
| the secret service payment list would
be destroyed, as otherwise many Cape
families would feel uncomfortable.
Several ministerialists were after
! ward reproved froh> the chair for
| fiercely retorting against the state
| ment.
| The government has refused to pro-
vide facilities for women and children
to leave Johannesburg.
There is great activity at the Simons-
town dock yard in drilling men on
shore and overhauling vessels.
Seattle, Wash, August 30-David L.
wilson, who claims to be an agent of
the British government and TO have
important papers for the home office
mas arrived here en- route to London
from the Transvaal Mr.. Wilson says
. war.
Il have been three years in the
Transvaal and know the leaders of the
] Boer government well. President Kru-
ger does not want war. He is now an
old man. AS such, he has not the con-
troll OF the cabinet that he had once.
J The cabinet is composed OF young blood
who want independence and who. r
may say, will never give up until they
nave either attained IL or been wiped
out OF existence by the English forces.
This is why / say tfure will be war.
When the blow Is struck IL will be
a fatal one in the Transvaal. The
British for months have been massIng
troops and are practically ready at this
time, II necessity demands Immediate
! action"