The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-17
GREAT ANXIETY IN ENGLAND.
DOM PAUL KRUGER's REPLY WILL
REACH THERE TODAY.

Wires Are Working Right Into
ChnmberlaIn's birmingham Home.
situation Seems to BE Such That
>the Bosrs VIII Have to Back
SGuareIs' Down or Fight-EngIand
May Make More Sweeping De-
mands-Boers May start the War.
Copyright, 1920. bSa the Associated Press.
London, Sept. 16.-sunday will be an
anxious day for Great Britain.
The reply of the Trahsvaal government.
1t is known tonight, has been formulated
and is in the hands of the British agent
at Pretoria.
Furthermore, the wires at the foreign
office are busy with a long dispatch from
the British high commissioner in South
Africa, Sir Alfred Miner. to the secre-
tary of state for the colonies, Mr. Cham
berlain, which is being rapidly repeated
to the latter's Birmingham home. so that
the contents of the Boer reply will prob
ably rest tonight with Great Britain s
colonial secretary.
Unless South Africa is peopled with
false prophets, the Beers have either
evaded or defied what practically amounted
to an ultimatum from the British cabinet
From the tenor of their recent communi-
cations to Mr.. Chamberlain, they could
scarcely be expected to do otherwise.
War Not Yet n Certainty.
However, as frequently pointed out in
these dispatches, this presumed action on
the part of the Beers does not make war
a certainty, though it does place the
British cabinet in position where it must
take steps so aggressive that war or ut
ter ignominous submission will be the only
alternatives remaining TO the Tranvaal
This new serious phase of the crisis also
gravely increases the probability that the
Beers will take time and diplomacy by
the forelock and raid Natal, .conhscate the
mines, arrest the Outlandefs for high trea-
son and otherwise resent while the Brit
ish transports are in mid-ocean, what they
believe is an attempt to rob them of their
independence.
Fresh Demands May BE Made.
If the course of diplomacy Is not fore
shortened, the British cabinet will meet
again and formulate specific demands far
more sweeping than the recent ones. These
will be transmitted to President Kruger in
the shape of an ultimatum As the MEM
out the country ii Is improbable that a
council could be gathered until Monday
night at the earliest, and there is every
reason to believe the British government
will exhibit no undue haste in forcing
President Kruger's hand, for 1t is palpably
more important to have 1900 reinforce
ments on the scene of action than gain
the gratitude of the importunate Outland-
ers, who for weeks have been crying for
immediate aggressive action.
The logic of such policy must be equal
ly patent to President Kruger. 1t is hard
ly conceivable that he will await the ar
rival of the British reinforcements before
taking the initiative. II he displays such
hesitation he will strengthen the belief az
the very last moment that he intends to
back down. an impression which has many
supporters among the ultra-conservative-
ly inclined.
Want 10 Get Into the Field.
Cape Town. Sept 16-Further teIegrams
from Pretoria to-day confirm the forecast
of the reply of the Transvaai to Great
Britain, which does not accept the de-
mands of the British government as a
whole. Great excitement prevails at Pre-
torfa over the consequences which may en-
sue.
The young Beers are asking to be led
into the field Immediately. 1t is impossi-
after the delivery of the reply in London
The feeling here is that 1t will be impossi-
bic for the imperial government, and un-
dignined upon It's part, to again enter upon
an interchange of arguments.
The Royal Munster regiment has arriv-
ed here.
Reply Handed to MIR. Greene.
Pretoria, Sept 1s.-The reply of the
Transvaal government was handed to the
British agent here. Mr. Conyngham Greene
at II o'clock this morning. 1t win be pub
lished here Monday at o'clock a. m.
There are no further developments in the
situation.
Troops Sent TO south Africa.
London, Sept. 16-The First Battalion
of the Northumberland Fusileers, 800
strong, and detachments of the army serv-
ice corps and ordnance corps sailed on the
steamer Gaul at 2 p. m. to-day from
Southampton, en- route to Natal, amid
great enthusiasm. The men appeared to
be in splendid condition and openely anx-
ious for fighting.
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