The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-28
ENGLAND MUST CONTROL
SHE MUST DOMINATE WHOLE
OF SOUTH AFRICA.
AND SHE CAN WIN WITHIN TWO MONTHS
The Dreaded Boer Raid into Natal Laughed at.
The Feeling of Gloom in London,
However, has Deepened. Beers
Appointing 0ffc rs.


London, Sept 7-Notices for the adj
journed Cabinet council were forwarded
this afternoon, and the chief Govern
ment whip will be on hand to give inn
mediate effccet to any lewiston arrived
at regarding the reassembling of Par
lament.
Information from Bloemfontein this
evening leaves little doubt that the Or
ange Free States Volksraad is unani-
nous in supporting the Transvaal.
More important light is thrown on
the situation by frank statement to-
day to the Associated Press by Sir Wal
ter Peace, agent general for Natal in
London, who fought against the Beers
in former years. He 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
pacitications effective Great Britain
must assume absolute control over the
whole of South Africa
$50 far as the position of Natal is
concerned, all this talk about poor un-
defended Natal is nonsense. There will
be little or no fighting in Natal il it
comes to war, and | 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 magnifed.
4 campaign could be carried on now
just as well as in any other season.
Two months from the day General
Sir Redvers Butler lands the fighting
will be over. If the Free State had
been loyal fighting would not have
lasted fourteen days 1t is the Iuckiest
thing in the world however, that the
Free State has been foolish enough to
take a hostile attitude, for that means
her addition to British possessions. The
Free State would always have been il
disturbing factor in the quiet of South
Africa.
Great Britain has the power to work
an ultimate peace. 1t remains to be
seen whether she has the spirit Upon
the conclusion of war, which must be
| unfiinching III order to be effective,
| British control must be absolute over
all South Africa, in Cape Colony, Natal
and other sections. Half measures would
only prolong unrest and produce more
| disturbances.
Il have known the Beers as well as
any man. / have lived among them and
| ! have fought them. To exist peace
! fully so close to them is an utter im-
possibility. Negotiations are we'll
enough in their way, but British CON
| troll Of the Transvaal must come event
ually. For years the Beers have been
crying throw the Outlanders into the
sea-" and 'out with him." Possibly they
| are not so virile as during the last war,
but there is little difference. My idea
| is that if the Beers were caught in
| the open once or twice the thing would
be ended. Kill five hundred of them
| and all that would remain for England
| to do would he to send few shiploads
| of Grape. They never have stood in the
/ open, and if war comes now they will
| lave to do more than stay i'll the hills.
This is not optimistic twaddle, but an
opinion based upon my experience in
campaigns against the Beers. | have
not the slightest fears for the safety of
l my Ioioh5 VI ibo Wv me- III ~ pOSSIU1c
that fey Boer incursions might get
few miles into Natal but no further,
and it must be remembered that many
of those living on the edge of the Natal
border are themselves Boers.'
The situation remains unchanged
though, il anything, the feeling of gloom
has deepened Cablegrams from Pre-
toria and Cape Town show that the
general impression prevails there that
the Beers will not recede from their
| position, and that the feeling of unrest
at Pretoria has been intensified A dis
| patch today announces that the Trans
vaal Government has begun to appoint
officers to go to the front in case of
hostilities.
/ A telegram from johannesburg says
an American named Blake is raising
an American corps of 500 men for the
Beers.
On the Cape side the dispatches show
great military activity in the direction
of the frontier.
Most of the British residents have
left PletermaritZburg, Natal. and the
northern part of the Transyaal whittier,
1t IS announced, commands of $50
burghers will shortly proceed.
] a dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette
from Cape Town reports evidences OF
unrest among the Griquas and Pondos
| and section of the Bechuanas and