The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-22


outward show of calm, Great Britain
is in practically the same condition to-
day as was the United States a few
weeks before the opening of the war
with Spain. Beneath the crust of dip
lomatic reserve, the military officials
are working night and day, preparing
for the signal to begin hOstilities,
whether that comes or not.
England is not going to be caught
mapping any more than the Transvaal.
While Lord Salisbury is quietly at
home in Hatfield house, Mr.. Chamber
lain is buried in work at the colonial
office, and double forces at the royal
arsenal and dockyards are straining
every nerve to equip and transport
troops to the Cape.
It may be set down for certain that
Great Britain will do nothing to pre-
cipitate matters, and the colonial Of
flee is far from admitting that the case
is hopeless. The report that Great Bri-
tain had demanded the dismantlement
of the forts at johannesburg, together
with a material reduction in the ar
mament of burghers, the colonial office
y,
although it is much doubted.
ACTIVITY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS
Meanwhile the Marquis of Lans-
dOWne, secretary of state for war, who
returned this morning from Dublin
has held long conferences with General
Lord Garnet Wolseley, field marshal,
and General Sir Evelyn Wood, adjutant
general to the forces, and the activity
at headquarters is reflected in the con-
tract, supply and transport depart
ments.
The departure of the transport Je-
lunga for the Mediterranean today
with LOO troops was witnessed by a
large and enthusiastic crowd.
AtWoolwich activity increases daily,
especially in the ordinance department,
where Maxim guns, Lyddite shells, bal
loon equipments, gas reservoir wag-
Ons for lime-light apparatus, water
carts, ambulances, army wagons and
other paraphernalia of modern warfare
are being hurried toward.
While rumors of the reassembling of
parliament are current, the fact is re-
called that in the Afghan war in 1873,
Great Britain declared war first and
then assembled parliament.
This evening the Marquis of Lans-
downe issued a strict order to the staff
of the war office, warning all subordf-
mates to refrain from giving the press
any Tile
OF their SuperiOrS, and calling atten-
ton to previous breaches of duty in
this respect, which, the order says,
will be no longer tolerated"
Advices from Cape Town this evening
are to the effect that the Afrikanders
declare that the Transvaal will not
yield further. and that if the imperial
government does not recede from it's
present position war is inevitable. The
South African News supports the con-
tention of the Transvaal that the con-
VentiOn of 1884 abolished the SuZer-
ainty.
According to other advices the bur-
gherS are rapidly going into Lager,
while the exodus from Johannesburg
yesterday reached 1000 persons.
The stock exchange at Johannesburg
has resolved to close the moment mar
tial law is proclaimed, but all current
contracts will be carried out until the
proclamation suspending all business
In the meantime the merchants are
erecting barricades in front of their
shop windows.
ORANGE FREE STATE TO HEEL P
TRANSVAAL.
At Preoria the interest seems to be
centered in the meeting of the Orange
Free State volksraad tomorrow
CThursday), which it is hoped may
somehow suggest a modus vivendi that
would save the situation.
On the other hand advices from
Bloemfontein announce the arrival
there Of large number of members ot
the raad, adding that the result of to-
morroWs sitting is already agreed upon
as the Orange Free State will throw ir
it's lot with the Transvaal, all the Free
State burghers being fully armed anG
ready to start at a moments notice
A special dispatch from Johannes.
burg says that $50 persons left by one
train today.
BOTH SIDES WRONG.
Right Hon. Sir William Vernon Har
court, liberal member of parliament
for West Monmouthshire, and former
leader of the liberal opposition in the
mouse or commons, in the course of al
address to his constituents this evenins
IN New Tredegar, said he could not rea(
the persistent attempts of the wal
press to aggravate the Transvaal sit
uation without indignation. "Grea
Brltaln, said the speaker, canno
claim general sovereignty in tn,
Transvaal when she has only partia
suZerainty, and President Kruger can
not claim for the Transvaal the posi-
tion of an international sovereign state
Both sides, therefore, have made allie
cations which cannot be maintained b,
either"
Sir William declared that there wa
no casus belli and expressed the hon
that a shameful catastrophe might b
averted.
PORTUGAL COMPLICATEs MAT
TIERS.
London. September 2O-The ar
rest Of Boer officials by the Portuguese