The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-21

lam IS OUTIeU COTOUIaI
Office and double forces at the royal ar
senal and dockyards are straining ev-
cry nerve to equip and transport troops
to the Cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain will do nothing to precip-
itate matters and the colonial office is
far from admitting that the case IS
hopeless. The report that Great Brit
ain had demanded the dismantlement
of the fort at Johannesburg, together
with a material reduction in the arma-
ment of the burghers, the colonial Of
flee, today would neither confirm nor
deny, although it is much doubted.
Meanwhile the Marquis of Lans-
downe secretary of state for war, who
returned this morning from Dublin, has
held long conferences with General
Lord Garnet Wolseley, field marshal,
and General Sir Evelyn Wood, adjutant
general TO the forces, while the activity
at headquarters is reflected on the con-
tract supply and transportation de-
partment. The departure Of the trans
port Jelunaga for the Mediterranean
today with troops was witnessed by a
large and enthusiastic crowd At Wool
Wich activity increases daily, eSpeclal-
w in the ordnance department, where
Maxim guns, Lyddite shells, balloon
equipments, gas reservoirs, wagons Tor
lime light apparatus, water carts, am
balances. army wagons and other para
phernalia of modern warfare are being
hurried forward.
While rumors of the reassembling of
parliament are current, the 1aCJ Is re-
called that in the Afghan war in 1873,
Great Britain declared war first and
then assembled parliament
The Marquis of Lansdowne has is
sued a strict order to the staff of the
war office warning all subOrdinates to
refrain from giving the press any in
formation without the authority of
their superiors and calling attention to
previous breaches of duty in this re-
spect, which, the order says, will be
no longer tolerated.
Advices from Cape Town are to the
effect that the Afrikanders declare that
the Transvaal. will not yield further,
and that if the imperial government
does not recede from its present posi-
ton war is inevitable. The South
African news supports the contention
of the TransVaal that the convention of
1884 abolished the suzerainty.
according to other advices the burgh-
ers are rapidly going into laager, while
the exodus from Johannesburg yeSter-
day reached 1000 persons. The stock
exchange at Johannesburg has resolved
to close the moment martial law is pro-
claimed. but all current contracts will
be carried until the proclamation sus-
pending all business. In the meantime
the merchants are erecting barricades
in front of their shop windows.
At Pretoria the interest seems to be
centered in the meeting of the Orange
Free State Volksraad which it is hoped
may somehow suggest a modus viVendi
that would save the situation.
On the other hand advices from
Bloemfontein announce the arrival
there of a large number of members of
the raad. adding that the result of
the sitting is already agreed upon, as
the Orange Free State Will throw in it's
lot with the TransVaal, all the state
Burghers being fully armed and ready
to start at a moments notice.
A special dispatch from Johannesburg
says that 450 persons left by one train
today.
Right Hon. Sir William Vernon Har-
for West MOnmOuthshire and former
leader of the Liberal opposition in the
house of commons, in the course of an
address to his constituents last evening
in New Tredegar. said he could not read
the persistent attempts of the war
press to aggravate the Transvaal stu
alton without indignation.
Great Britain" said the speaker.
"can not claim general sovereignty in
the TransVaal when she only has par
tial suzerainty, and President Kruger
can not claim for the Transvaal the
position of an international sovereign
state Both sides, therefore, have made
allegations which can not be main
tained by either"
Sir William declared that there was
no Casus belH and expressed the hope
that shameful catastrophe might be
averted.
DEVONSHTRE REGIMENT SAILS.
Bombay, Sept. 21.-Major General
Hunter and his staff with the Devon
shire regiment and a squadron of the
Nineteenth Hussars have sailed for the
Cape.
LIKE A RED RAG.
London, Sept. 21.-The speech of Sir
Vim. Vernon HaTcOurt, the former lib
eral leader. to his constituents at New
Tredegar, last night. and the message
of the Cape Town Afrikander members
of the parliament to President Kruger ]
have proved red rags to the ''war-at-
any-pricen party.
The Cape papers declare the action
of the members of parliament amounts
almost TO treason and the same terms /
are applied to Sir VIM. Vernon Har-
courts remarks by the English anti
boer papers.
Those who claim the situation has not
vet passed the rubicon of pacific nego-
tiatiOns, see in President Kruger's an
swer to the Afrikanders a genuine de-
sire to avoid hostilities. The report
that he has personally petitioned
Queen Victoria to avert hostilities Ger !
tainly does not bear out the alarmist
reports of English correspondents in
South Africa that President Kruger /
determined long since upon war. New
eTtheleSS preparations for that event
uality continue energeticaIy on both
sides. The Beers are laagering and
British troops are reaching Kimberly
and Lady Smith, the onward march of
the latter being marked by enthusiastic /
OvatiOns from the scared inhabitants
and hordes hurrying southwark for
safety.
TO RAID NATAL
London, Seut. 21-The last report of
Boer activity emanates from New
castle, Natal, saying the Transvaal
forces are encamped at Zandsprint and !
intend TO raid Natal Immediately after
they understand that Mr.. Chamber
lains replys is not satisfactory.
The British army nursing service !
sails from Southampton tomorrow and (
Major General French sails Saturday. /
He goes to Durham. Natal tC command |
the cavalry brigade.
The answer of President Steyn of the !
Orange Free State 20 Sir Alfred Mil !
ner. the British high commissioner of |
South Africa, is not regarded as a sat
80 L. E-..eaa