The record-union., 1899-09-22
Over Fifty Thousand Burghers Ready to
Take The Field at Short Notice.
President Steyn of the Congo Free
State Addresses Sitting Of the
Volksraad, in Which He Asserts
that the Transvaa1 Had Been
Decoyed by a British Diplomatic
Agent, and Charges the Imper-
ial Government With Breach Of
Faith.

Faith.
PRETORIA, Sept. 21.-General Jou-
bert, the Boer Commander -in-Chief, is
quoted as saying in an interview
The situation is serious. Probably
the heaviest fighting would occur on
the Natal border. The British are
likely to attempt to invade the Trans
vaal sby way of the Van Reinans
Pass
Urgent messages are reaching the
Raad from members, who are demand
ing authority for the Beers to mass at
strategic points.
PRESIDENT STEYN ADDRESSES
THE VOLKSRAAD.
BLOEMFONTEIN (Orange Free
State), Sept. 21.-The Volksraad met
to-day with a full attendance. Presl-
dent Steyn read carefully prepared
speech. After welcoming the bIrghers
he expressed regret that the relations
between Great Britain and the Trans
vaal had become strained. The inem-
bers, he said, were aware of the meet
ing of Sir Alfred Miner and President
Kruger at Bloemfontein when Presi-
uClll al uSOl PAOPOSeAio 'AA'S-A' -
though refused by the British Commits
sioner, were unanimously considered
throughout the Orange Free State to
be exceedingly fair.
Proceeding 40 review the negotiations,
President Steyn said the Transvaal
had been deceyed by the. British diplo-
matte agent at Pretoria, Conyngham
Greene, and he practically accused the
Imperial Government of a breach OF
faith. He said he was dlsinclined to
advise the Transvaal Government to
accept the latest British demands. The
present critical state of affairs could
not be q matter of Indifference to the
Orange Free State, which was bound
by treaty to afford assistance to the
Transvaal, and he had, therefore, con-
vened the Volksraad to decide what at
titude should be taken.
There is nothing declared the
President, '1hat warrants war 3r an at
tack on thee Transvaal Such differ
ences as exist can be solved ny asbi-
tration. War would be an insult TO
religion and civilization
In conclusion, President Steyn said he
would take this opportunity of laying
certain draft laws before the Solks-
raad for consideration, praying God to
give the members strength TO pass res
olutions not only conducive to peace
and prosperity, but also in the inter-
est of their beloved State.
Immediately after the speech Presi-
dent Steyn asked the Volksraad 20 go
into secret session, which was agreed
to unanimously.
KRUGER DESIRES TO AVOID HOS
y TILIT1ES.
LONDON, Sept 21.-The speech OF
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the
former Liberal leader, to his constitu-
ents at New Tredegar last night, and
the message of the Cape Town AT
rikander members of Parliament to
President Kruger have proved red rags
to the "war-at- -any-price" party.
The Cape papers declare the action
of the members of the local Parlia
| ment amounts almost to treason, and
the same terms are applied to Sir Will
lam Vernon Harcourt's remarks by the
English anti-Boer papers.
Those who claim the situation has
not yet passed the rubloon of pacific
negotiations see in President Kruger s
answer to the Afrikanders a genuine
desire to avoid hostilities. The report
that he has personally petitioned Queen
Victoria to avert hostilities does not
bear out the alarmist reports of Eng
lish correspondents in South Africa
that President Kruger determined long
since upon war. Nevertheless prepara-
tions for that eventuality continue en-
ergetically on both sides The Beers
are 'laagering'' and British troops are
reaching Kimberly and Ladysmith, the
onward march Of the latter being
marked by enthusiastic ovations from
the scared inhabitants, while hordes
are hurrying southwark for safety.
The last report of Boer activity
emanates from Newcastle, Natal, say
ing that the Transvaal forces are en-
camped at Zandsprint and intend to
raid Natal Immediately after they un-
derstand that Mr.. Chamberlain's reply
is not satisfactory.
The British army nursing service
sails from Southampton tomorrow, and
Major General French sails Saturday.
He goes to Durham, Natal, to command
the Cavalry Brigade. The foregoing
includes all the actual developments,
but they help little to solve the uni
versal question will there be war;
The answer of President Steyn of the
Orange Free State to Sir Alfred Miner.
the British High Commissioner OF
South Africa, is not regarded as sat
isfactory explanation of the Free
States position, and has by no means
dissipated the increased seriousness
with which the situation is regarded
Since the first it has been reported
| that the Free State would aggressively
assist the Transvaal.
The London edition of the Standard
and "Diggers' News of Johannesburg
gave out aIscable dispatch to-day pur-
porting to be from Johannesburg, say
ing that the returns from the field corr
nets of thesTransvaal and Orange Free
State show that $1,000 burghers are
ready to take the field at short no
! tice.