The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-08
AN EXPLANATION ASKED
A BOER NOTE OF IRRITATION
AND DEFIANCE
WHAT WILL THE CABINET COUNCIL DO?
TransvaaPs Artillery Called Out. Latest Reply
s46H 10 Great Britain Regarded as.Marking
the Disappearance of Last
HOPE of Peace.

Pretoria, Sept. 7--At the desire of the
Transvaal Government there has been
transmitted through Conyngham Greene,
the British diplomatic agent here, to Sir
Alfred Miner, the British High Com
missioner of South Africa, am inquiry rs
to whether an explanation would be Civ
en- in regard to the mobilization of Brit
ish troops ON the Transvaal frontier.
CHANGED FOR THE WORSE.
I4ondon. Sept. IF the Transyaal SIT
uation has changed at all since yester
day it is for the worse. The Boer re-
quest for an explanation as to the mass
ing of British troops ON the frontier of
the Tramsvaai has an OMNIBUS note Of
irritation and impatieqlCn. which, AIT sucn
a critical stage. cam scarcely be infer
preted as anything but defiance.
Both here and i'm Cape Colony the ten
sion and the aTmling continue Whether
tomorrow's Cabinet council win afford
immediate relief is still A question OF
great doubt. The more conservative
believe that the Cabinet will only put
TIME limit upon the negotiations and
that the interim will merely be a repeti-
tom of the anxious times which have
marked the past few weeks.
Capt Town advices say the Afa.lzan-
ders regard the latest Roer reply as eva
sive. while others regard it as designed
to entangle the two Governments in fur
Their negotiations The average opinion
of the British press is inclined to regard
it as the straw which would 4reak the
back OF the most long-suffering diplomat
ic camel.
The London edition of the Standard
and Diggers News, the official Boer
organ, today says:
"We can state that the diplomatic
correspondence between the Transvaal
and the Colonial Office is of reassur-
ing nature and that the dispute has now
narrowed to an issue which should make
a settlement possible and even speedy.
The Transvaal is prepared for all event
ualities, but remains hopeful of a peace
full settlement"
Nothing which can be learned here
tends to confirm the foregoing state
ment and owing to the pro-Boer source
from which is emanates, it is regarded
with suspicion.
ARTILLERY CALLED OUT.
Bloomfontein, Orange Free State,
Sept. TIT is understood that all the
Transyaal artillery has been called out
and that the Burghers have been notified
to be ready.
The latest reply of the Transvaal to
Great Britain is regarded as marking
the disappearance Of the last hope of
peace.
TO SERVE IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Simla. Sept. Three regiments of
cavalry and four regiments OF ipfantry
and three batteries Of field artillery have
been formally warned to prepare 70 leave
their stations in India at the shortest
notice for service in South Africa.
The hospital outfits have received sim
liar orders
A BOER CHALLENGE.
London. Sept s. The Times comment
ing upon the Transvaal's demand for
an explanation of the presence of Brit
ish troops on the border says
"Such a demand as the Transvaal
has addressed to its suzerain is probably
without a precedent, except as an act
of defiance. Ignorant Of diplomatic usa-
ges as the Beers may be. they could hard
ly have taken this step unless they de-
sired to dare us to a trial of strength"
The Johannesburg correspondent of
the Times says:
"As showing the mental attitude Of
the Boers / quote the remark of an in-
fnential Government official. supposed
to be an enlightened man, whose name
if disclosed would cause surprise.
Don't worry he said, we've licked the
English twice already, and we will give
them such a fogging this time as they
never got
TRANSVAAL READY TO CONFER.
Pretoria, Sept. THE proposed con-
ference mentioned in the Transyaafs
last dispatch is the one mentioned by
the Secretary Of State for the Colonies,
Mr., Chamberlain, ON July Doth.
1t is declared officially that the Trans
vaal Republic will accept such a con-
ference as soon as Informed of the place,
date and the names Of the members
who are to take part in it.
There was great excitement in the
Raad today OH Mr.. Coetstr's interpelia-
ton of the Government regarding the
presence of British troops ON the borders
and the st0ppage Of ammunition con-
signed TO the Transyaal.
President Kruger, the members of the
executive council, and most of the pTin-
cipal officials were present, together with
"a large representation of the general
public. including many. ladies.
AT the outset the chairman ailde Pres
dent Kruger urged members ito preserve
calmness and to avoid insulting language.
The State Secretary i. W. Reitz. said
he had called the previous day on the
British diplomatic agent, Mr.. Conyns-
ham Greene, and had asked him what re-
ply the Government could give in he
Volksraad regarding the alleged massin-
of British troops cn the Borders aud
whether Mr.. Greene w0nld communicate
with the British High Commissioner,
SIR Alfred Miner. The reply from Mf.
Greene, he continued. had been received
this morning and was i'm the following
terms:
Dear Mr.. Reitz; The following is