Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-28
TRANSVAAL CRISIS.
FREE STATE UNANIMOUS IN SUP
PORT or THE noERs.
WAR TALK PROM SIR WALTER PEACE
Britain bound 20 secure Absolute
Control Of All Of south Africa
Treaty between the TransvaaI and
Holland.
Holland.

warded this evening, and the chief gov
ornment whip will be on hand to give
immediate effect to any decision arrived
at regarding the reassembling OF Parlia-
ment.
Information from Bloemfontein this
evening leaves little doubt that the
Orange Free State Volkesraad is unani-
nous in supporting the Transvaal.
More important light is thrown on the
situation by a frank statement to-day
to the Associated Press by Sir Walter
Peace. Agent General for Natal, in Lon
don, 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 opin-
ion. the war would not last more
than two months. In order TO make
pacifcation effective, Great Britain must
assume absolute control over the whole
OF South Africa.
NATAL NOT IN DANGER.
$50 far as the position OF Natal is
concerned. all this talk about poor. I'M
defended Natal is nonsense. There will
be little or no fighting I'm Natal, If II
comes TO a war. and / fear that no other
issue is now possible What do you
think 1000 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 wea-
Their conditions have been magnified. a
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 II the Free state were
loyal. the fighting would not last four
teen days. 1t is the luckiest thing In the
world, however, that the Free state has
been foolish enough TO take hostile
attitude, for that means her addition 10
the British possessions. The Free State
would always have been a disturbing
factor in the quiet Of South Africa.
Great Britain has the power TO work
out ultimate peace. 1t remains 10 De
seen whether she has the spirit. Upon
tho conclusion of war, which must De
unhinching in order TO be effective, Brit
ish control must be absolute over all
South Africa, in Cape Colony, Natal, ana
other sections. Half measures would
only prolong unrest and produce more
disturbance.
BOERs ALWAYS BELLICOSE.
81 have known the Beers as well as
any man. | have lived among them ana
| have fought them. To exist peacefully
SO close 10 them is an utter imposslDlilly.
NEGOTIATIONS are we'll enough IN thelr
way. but British control OF the TransVaal
must come eventually For years me
Beers have been crying, Throw me Oul.
lander into the sea and out with MN
Possibly they are not 40 Ylille az uu I'M, lns
the last war. but there Is little dinerence
Nv idea is that If the Beers were caught
I'm the open once or twice the thlng would
be ended XIII 900 Of them, and all that
would remain for England 10 40 would
be TO send a few shlp-lQaus OF CI1pgt;
They never have stood In the open, ana ii
war comes now they Will have 10 90 more
than stay i'm the hills. This Is not optl-
mistic tWaddle, but an opinion based upon
my experience in campaigns against lhe
Beers. ] haven't the slightest fear Tor
the safety of my colony or its towns. II
is possible that a few Boer lncurslOns
might get q few miles into Natal, Dut
NO f9rther. and it must be remembered
that many of those living on the edge OF
The Natal border are themselves Beers
THE GLOOM is DEEPER.
The situation remains unchanged,
though If ANYTHING the feeling of gloom
has deepened. Cablegrams from Preto-
ria and cape Town snow lhat the r,s e,.-
eral impression there is that the Beers
will not recede from their position, ana
that the feeling of unrest at Pretoria mas
been intensified. A dispatch to-day an.
nounces that the Transvaal Government
has begun TO appoint officers 10 80 10 lhe
front I'm case Of hostililes.
4 Telegram from Johannesburg says
that an american named Blake is raising
an American corps Of 500 men for the
i'0''9 ARMY CORPS TO SAIL.
The War Office has ordered transports
and supply ships enough for an army corps
ia prepare to proceed TO the
Cape. This is a very important order,
and implies the early dispatch of an army
me Currie Line has Just received an
order from the admiralty TO prepare the
Braemer Castle, Of That hne, 10 san
for the Cape October 9th. with 400 oincers
and men. This Is an entirely fresh Datch
If troops. and the composition of II rs
'''SSj STILL NO WAR Is EXPECTED.
In spite of these warlike preparations
South African circles in London beileve
there will be no war. and that the Beers
will finally concede the BRUSH deilaius'
TRANSVAAL-HOLLA TREATY.
THE HAGUE. September pa treaty
of conmerce and friendship is on the eve
Of conclusion between Holland ana the
TranSVaal
ANGLO-GERMAN PORTUGUESE.
LONDON. September 2S-The Lisbon
correspondent of the Daily Mail says
"An Anglo-German-Po convention
Is being dlldIStQf liiNDAN-liS iAN 4
of territory. but giving England 1nanclal
control Of Delagoa Bay and Germany
similar control Of the northern portions
Of Portuguese territory in eastern AIrlca,
as security for an Anglo-German loan OF
IS OgO 900 70 meet POrtugaPs pressing IMAM
cial needs"
BOER PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.
LONDON. september 2S.-The Johannes
burg correspondent Of the Morning POST
saws: 'Twenty trucks filled with armed
hurgbers and fifty horses left Johannes
burg for the border yesterday by way OF
Tlandsfontein. The plan of campaign
drawn up at Pretoria proposes 70 employ
"a commend Of 1900 men 10 deieat the
slender force i'm Rhodesia and turn the
territory over to the natives. IL Is hopel
that a force Of 10000 bUrghers Will be sur
ficient 10 rush the Natal border, capture
fine forts. and hold them TO prevent Inc
landing Of British achievements
''The Beers rely upon having suppiies
enough TO last them for year. Ihey
expect before a year has expired lua'
Russia will intervene by creating dlVer-
sion I'm some part OF the BRUSH d0ihin-
ions. All the burghers count privately OH
receiving support from cape colony
TRANSATLANTIC STEAMERS IL
CARRY TROOPS.
LONDON, September N;-At Liverpool
Il is asserted that the White Star steam
or Brifannic and other steamers nave
baen engaged as transports 10 carry
trccps 10 South Africa
LAING's NECK OCCUPIED.
LONDON. September 2S-The Cape
Town correspondent OF the Daily News
. .fn fsfe