The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-08
Hurrying His Soldiers to Strategic
Points to BE I'm Readiness for
an Expected Invasion.
WARM DEBATE in FIRST RAAD
BRITAIN's WAR PREPARATIONS HOT
LY DENOUNCED By BOERs.
Speech by Kruger in Which He Refers
to the Almighty Again-Interview
with Transvaal Leaders.


LONDON, Sept. s.-The situation In South
Africa, according to latest dispatches, is
now so grave that war may break out at
any time. Advices from Cape Town, re-
ceived last midnight. say it is positively
stated that the Beers are concentrating on
the Natal border. British troops are also
there. So it may be said two armies are
facing each other in battle array.
special dispatch to the Morning Post
from Pietermartzburg, says that the eight
hundred Beers who left Pretoria for Stand
erton, about fifty miles from the frontier,
pushed on to Volksrust, close to the Natal
border, where they are now encamped. The
same correspondent says that the arrange
ments for the defense of Newcastle, in
Natal, south of Laing's Mex, now prac-
tically complete. He adds: 1.-The governor
of Natal informs me that the Beers of
Utrecht and Vryheid have been suddenly re-
called to the high veldt They were COM
PEELED to leave their cattle behind them. but
they took children of the natives as host
ages"
The Times commenting editorially on the
Transvaars demand for an explanation of
the presence of British troops on the bor-
der says: ''Such demand as the Trans
vaal has addressed to its suzerain is prob
ably without precedent, except as an act
of defiance. Ignorant of diplomatic usages
he ha
have taken this step unless they wished to
dare us to trial of strength. If the Trans
vaal now withdraws from an untenable
position the future cannot be determined
| on the same terms as would be proposed at
| the Bloemfontein conference. The govern
ment would now be justified in annulling
| it's previous Offers"
CAN LICK THE BRITISH.
The johannesburg correspondent of the
Times says: LAS showing the mental atti-
| tude of the Beers L quote the remark of an
| influential government official, supposed to
| be an enlightened man, whose name, if dis
| closed, would cause surprise. Don't wor-
ry,' he said we have licked the English
| twice already and we will give them such
a logging this time as they never got.
The London edition of the Standard and
Diggers' News, the official Boer organ, to-
day says: I'VE can state that the diplo-
matte correspondence between the Trans
vaal and the Colonial Office is of a 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 eventualities,
but remains hopeful of a peaceful settle
ment"
Nothing which can be learned here tends
| to confirm the foregoing statement, and
| owing to the pro-Boer source from which
| 1t emanated 1t is regarded with suspicion.
The special correspondent of the Pail
| Mall Gazette at Cape Town says: 1T is
believed in Afrikander circles here that the
| Transvaal intends forcing matters to sud-
| den issue, and that war may possibly break
| out within forty-eight hours. 1t is supposed
| that the first act on their part will be an
advance on Laings Mex the sole route from
the Transvaal to Natal. 1t is also rumored
| there is plot at Pretoria to simultaneously
| blow up the British agency there"
| 1t may be pointed out in connection with
| the foregoing dispatch that the Pail Mall
| Gazette has not been conspicuous for the
| accuracy or judgment OF its South African
| specials. and too much credence should not
| be placed on the present advices.
REGARDED AS OMNIBUS.
The Boer request for an explanation as
| to the massing of British troops on the
| frontier of the Transvaal has an ominous
note of irritation and impotence. which at
| such a critical stage can scarcely be inter-
preted as anything but defiance. Both
| in London and in Cape Colony the tension
| and the arming continue. Whether to-
morrow's Cabinet council will afford i'm
| mediate relief IS still 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 repetition of the anxious times
which have marked the past few weeks.
| Cape Town advices say the Afrikanders
regard the latest Boer reply as evasive.
| while others regard ii as designed TO en-
| tangle the two governments in further ne,
| gotiations. The average opinion of the
| British press IL inclined 10 regard 1t as
/ the straw which would break the back or
the most long-suffering diplomatic camel.
| The Aldershot News issues what il claims
to be an authoritative statement of the
| composition OF the home force for service
| in South Africa in the event OF war. This
| force consists of two cavalry brigades and
six infantry brigades. the latter includ-
| ing four battalions of the guards and one
Irish and one Highland brigade. All the
| troops indicated are now at or near Alder
shot. The force would have quite a national
| character and would mobilize here under
the command OF Gen. Sir Redvers Butler.
| Baron Henry Brougham Loeb. former
/ Governor OF Cape Colony. and high commits
sioner TO South Africa, speaking last even-
| ing at farewell banquet given TO the Aus
tralian cricketers. said: War in South
Africa would be very terrible. but II the
question OF control IL raised II viii be i'm
possible for us TO relax" Lord Loeb ex.