Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-09-21
READY FOR THE FRAY,
Beers Prepared to Begin Hostilities
at Once,
DEFENSES ON TIE BORDER.
Ihe TransVaal Government May Not
wait For Further Reply From
Great Britain - Warlike Dis
patches From south Africa.

London. Sept. 21.--Great Britain's re-
Mtions with the Transvaal remain I'M
changed, and, so far as the former is
concerned, the situation is not likely to
take on a new phase until after Fridays
cabinet council. Whether the Beers will
Dc content to wait even that long before
ending the suspense with hostilities ap.
pears open to Il great deal of doubt.
The second edition of The Morning
Post contains dispatch from Pieter-
maritzburg, Natal, dated Sept. 10, say.
ing:
II have never known the situation to
be graver. The Beers only await two
days rain on the Neldt before beginning
hostilitieS. They are determined on war
and consider they can expect nothing else
after the last dispatch and are prepared
to face the consequences"
The correspondent then describes in de-
tail the Beers elaborate border prepara-
tons. which appear more thorough and
formids bic than heretofore believed. He
says the Orange Free State officers at
Pretoria have devised a combined plan
of action, which, he adds, includes seiz-
ing Matuba, Laingsnek and Newcas-
tie, Natal, the moment the ultimatum
arrives.
Continuing, the correspondent asserts
that the Portuguese officials at Risanio-
Garcia have arrested some Boer officials
on the charge Of constructing lager in
Portuguese territory.
The ultlander council, as the result of
meetings held at Pietermaritzburg and
johannesburg, has decided to address a
communication to the British high COM
missioner. Sir Alfred Miner urging the
imperial government to break off negotia-
uons with the Transvaal. The reasons
for this action are that ''the severe dis
tress prevailing may compel the remain
ing ultlanders to accept any compromise
offered, that loyal British subjects are
becoming discontinued and that great I'M
rest exists among the natives"
1t should be borne in mind. however,
that liet"rmaritzburg has been the MEG
ca of the alarmists, and The Morning
Posts dispatches are inclined to be SEN
sational
The secretary Of state for the colonies,
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, spent the day
at the colonial office. He looked com
pletcly worn out by anxiety.
Unrasiness mt Johannesburg.
The second edition of The Times prints
dispatch from Johannesburg saying:
"OutwardIy Johannesburg is quiet. The
prevailing feeling. however is one OF in
tense upeasiness. owing to the possibility
of martial law being proclaimed at any
moment. 1t probably will be proclaim-
ed at the end of the week 1t is said
that when this is done the government
will insist on all persons unfavorable to
the Beers leaving within 4S hours"
The same correspondent says that
person having access to the inner circles
at Pretolia tells him that a further dis
patch from the secretary Of state for
the colonies. Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, |
was handed to the Transvaal govern
ment Sept. Is demanding the dis1nantle-
ment of the Boer forts, the reduction Of |
the armament by Is per cent and that
nothing be said regarding this. As a |
clew to this fact, the Beers are greatly |
perturbed and are keeping the matter
secret until they have decided on plan |
of acti II.
dispatch from Pretoria says that at
a meeting of l}elgians there corps was
enthusiastically formed to help the Beers
in case of war.
Secretary Of State Reitz is quoted as
saying that in case of war the aliens
could remain in the Transvaal provided
they guaranteed their good behavior.
The presence of the Orange Free State
officers At Pretoria is confirmed. Numer-
Gus field comets are ut the Boer capital
a dispatch from Cape Town says:
1.-The arrest of Boer officials by the
Portuguese is regarded as likely to Gre
ate serious complications.
1.-THE hund of women is preparing
peace appeal to Queen Victoria.'
\ dispatch from Durham. Natal, says:
The First battalion of the Manchester
regiment has arrived here on the steam
err Goth and Immediately proceeded to
Pietcrmaritzburg. The crowds present
cheered the troops who responded"
to Fight In South Africa.