The record-union., 1899-09-24
Think an Outbreak in the TransVaaI
Cannot Be AVorted.
Regard War as a Question Of a Few Days,
or at the Most a Few Weeks.
They Disapprove of Such a War,
and without Exception Blame
Great Britain for Badgering the
Transvaa1 Beyond Endurance.


Transvaal Beyond Endurance.
copyrighted, 1899. by Associated Press.)
BERLIN, Sept. 23.-An outbreak OF
war in the Transvaal is regarded here
as a question of a few days or at the
most a few weeks. The whole press
devotes considerable space TO the mat
ter. Neither the attitude of the peo-
pie or of the press has changed ma
terially. Without exception they disap-
prove of such a war, and blame Great
Britain for badgering the Transvaal
beyond endurance.
The Liberal press also blames the
Transvaal for it's illogical stand in first
sanctioning Great Britain's attempts
at interference in it's internal affairs,
and then rejecting such attempts and
making there of casus belli. Thus
argues the "Vossische Zeitung," !" "Co-
logne Gazette" "Tageblatt'' and others.
The whole Conservative jingo, Anti-Se-
mite, Agrarian, ultra Montaine and
Center press sides with the Beers.
The .Kreuz Zeitung" says: mo
matter how things may develop, it is
certain England is. preparing for an
other act of brutal coercion"
The National Zeitung" doubts whe-
ther it is still possible to adjust things
in South Africa except by force of
arms
The "Vossische Zeitung" says: WAR
is a foregone conclusion" England is
only delaying hostilities in order to
gain time to prepare a sufficiently large
army of invasion. 1t will not be ready
until the middle of October. The Beers
just now are stronger in a military
sense"
The "Deutsche Tages Zeitung" says:
Germany unquestionably has the
strongest interest in maintaining the
independence of the Boer States, which
form a natural wall of protection
against the British possessions. The
people must demand that the Govern
ment vigorously protect these impor-
tant interests. The only way to avoid
the humiliation of the German Colo
MES is to get Germany, Holland and
Belgium to join in any direct emigra-
tion there, especially to the Boer
States"
asserts that if the Transvaal loses
German South Africa no longer can be
held, Great Britain then being enabled
to isolate it economically, until it be-
comes worthless and drifts into English
hands" adding: 1.-THE Beers should
defend the advance post of German civ
ilization against Anglo -Saxondom, and
fight as our advance guard
The "Deutsche Zeitung' severely
blames the Government for its mac
tivity. in the quarrel, saying: "This is
a dangerous game for German inter
ests.''
In spite of these criticisms, many of
which are most bitter, the Government
has not altered its views or attitude.
This is evident from the inspired utter
ances of the Government press.
The Hamburger Correspondent
again points out that Germany can
only look on in the struggle, adding:
Germany, in this respect, is situated
precisely like France, whose sympa-
thies are with the Boers''
A foreign official said to the cores
pondent here of the Associated Press
"Of course it is in no sense to our in
terest to have England and the Trans
vaal go to war. That little Boer ma
tion will finally succumb, and prob
ably will be wiped out of existence. IT
is only too likely that this will diminish
our prestige in South Africa, and in
jure our not inconsiderable material
interests there, for our trade with the
Boer States is increasing, and is only
fn tbof Of
terests will also be jeopardized and in
jured in such struggle. Still, there
there is no occasion and no political or
moral right for us to interfere So
long as our undoubted rights are re-
spected by the belligerents, we shall
not interfere
The informant of the correspondent
refused to say whether it was a dis
tinct formal understanding with Great
Britain, or. whether the agreement of a
year ago on the subject of South Africa
included German neutrality in the
event of war with the Transyaal.
Experts are beginning to speculate
on the probable outcome of the war
and the losses on both sides. The
'Kreuz Zeitung'' says: .The British
plan is an invasion on three plans sim
ultaneously from Rhodesia, Natal and
Mefeking or Kimberly. The best and
most effective part of the English
forces will probably be the volunteers
raised in South Africa There are Z. .OO0
mounted men already in Rhodesia
who, with other volunteers, will be the
real corps of the expedition"
In the frankfort Zeitung," General
Won Boguslawsky, a military writer OF
note, predicts that the British will sus-
tain enormous losses in the Transvaal
owing mainly to the inferiority of their
officers and their inability to under
stand or apply modern tactics.
The Dreyfus excitement has largely
subsided here since the pardon, though
many papers express the belief that
the mystery surrounding the case will
one day be removed. Others say the
end is wholly unsatisfactory In m Ii
tary and diplomatic circles the idea
seems to prevail that Dreyfus was in
deed spy. but for Russia. This has
found utterance in many papers
An interesting outcome of the case
is the fact that the Emperor who has
been deeply stirred by the revelations
made at Rennes of the espionage sys-
tenn between France and Germany, of
the extent and elaborateness of which
he has hitherto been ignorant, has i'm
structed General Won Hahnke, chief of
his private military Cabinet, to thor
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