The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-16
WANT To FIGHT.
Young Beers ClamOr to Be Led
Into the Field.
Negotiations Have About Reach
ed an End.
KRUGER WAS TRICKED
Apparent That England Never
Intended Settlement
On Any thing Approaching a Ba-
sis Fair to Transvaal.


Cape Town, Sept 16.-Further tele-
grams from Pretoria today confirm the
forecast of the reply OF the Transvaal
to Great Britain which does not accept
the demands of the British government
as a whole. Great excitement prevails
at Pretoria over the consequences
which may ensue. The young Beers
are asking to be led into the field i'm
mediately. It is impossible to predict
what will be the situation after the de-
livery of the reply in London. The feel
ing here is that it will be impossible
for the imperial government and un-
dignified on its part to again enter upon
an interchange of arguments.
The Royal Munster regiment has ar
rived here.
NOT A RAY OF HOPE.
London, Sept. 16.-Of all the numer-
Gus channels through which South
African news reaches London not one
gives the faintest hope that the Boer
reply Will be favorable, the majority
taking the view that war is extremely
probable.
The Boer representatives here and on
the continent reiterate that the British
government is allowing itself to be in
fuenced by those wanting British do
miniOn of the whole of South Africa
and that conviction of the truth of this
is so firmly rooted in the minds of
the burghers that it is impossible to
hope that they will accept the con-
stantly profTered friendly advice re-
garding settling the matter on Great
Britain's present terms.
TROOPS SAIL.
The First battalion of the Northum-
berland Fusileers, soc strong, and de-
tachments of the army service corps
and ordnance corps sailed on the
steamer Gaul at ? p. m. today from
Southampton en- route to Natal, amid
hT1
to be in splendid condition and openly
anxious for fighting. The Fusileers
went direct from AIdershOt, but many
of the officers of that regiment and
numbers of special service officers
started from London receiving at Wa
terloo station an enthusiastic send off
pOrters cried: "An aboard for Pre-
toria," which was taken up by the
crowd uprOariOusly-
POLITE BUT FIRM.
London, Sept. ia special dispatch
from Pretoria says:
The Transvaa1 adheres to the seven
years franchise law, but is willing to
consider and if necessary to adopt any
suggestions Great Britain may make
with regard to the working of the law.
In regard to the other points of Mr..
Chamberlain's dispatch the Transvaal
boldly stands by the London conven-
ton. 1t is said that the reply is couch
ed in polite terms
State Secretary Reitz. in the course
of an interview today, expressed some
doubt to whether any alteration
would be made in the existing franchise
law, but said he believed a way should
and could be found to establish an ar
bitration court. AS to suzerainty the
least said the soonest mended, remark
ed the state secretary
In the forecasts of President Kruger's
reply there is undoubtedly a large basis
of truth which seems to bring the dis
pute within a measurable distance of
war.
Last evening the press association is
sued a curious statement to the effect
that as soon as the garrison in Natal
had been sufficiently strengthened the
TransVaal government would be called
upon to accept new convention. al
ready drafted, Which, while guarantee
ing the integrity of the Transvaal
state, provides for the demolition of
the forts and limits the armed force of
the TranSvaal to a number deemed
sufficient to maintain internal order
According to the press association. the
convention will demand that the diDlO-
matte agencies be suppressed and the
judiciary be made independent of the
executive.
This statement. which realizes the
extreme demands of the outlanders
must be accepted under reserve at the
present stage, but it is not unlikely
to be semi-Official hint as to the next
move of the government should Presi-
dent Kruger prove Obdurate.
The morning paper editorials regard
the crisis as having reached its most
acute phase. The Daily News SAYS:
I'VE refuse to believe that President
Kruger is so foolish as to reject Mr.
Chamberlain's moderate demands"
The Daily Chronicle which appeals
again to Mr. Kruger ''to accept while
it is yet time and before England's
terms become harder saws:
"A refusal of the present terms will
involve the ruin of the state over which
President Kruger presides. The Brit
fsh government have placed their first
and second moves in the game and
must perfOrce play the third and then
the fourth. If Mr.. Kruger haggles the /
sinister conditions in South Africa will
grow worse until a catastrophe is
reached"
Other papers talk of the imminence
of war, and all the dispatches from
military preparations on both sides
The Pretoria correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle says:
THE Beers assert that Mr. Convn1-
ham Greene, British diplomatic agent |
at Pretoria, knew it was their, inten-
ton to adopt the attitude they have
regarding SuZerainty and that he tacit-
ly encourages them as the documents
show. His As hour demand and the
string of bluebOok innuendOes for which
he and Sir Alfred Miner are RESPONSE
BILE have produced an official atmos-
phere in which anything is possible At
the same time Mr. HOffmever and
Afrikander party have wired, urging
acceptance of the British demands
The Pretoria correspondent Of the
Times in his forecast of the TransvaaFs !
reply, declares that the Beers will lay
stress on the seven year franchise law.
though Offering to consider British sug-
geStiOnS as to its working and for the
resi- take Their. stand 1I0ou the T.ondov,