The times., 1899-09-27

LONDON. Sept. 27.-There is no news of
Importance in regard to the Transvaal
trouble this morning, although the papers
printed the usual columns of gossip and
rumers. A Pretoria telegram asserts pos
itfvely that the Transvaal Government has
definitely decided to reply to the last de-
spatches of Great Britain 1t has been as
serted heretofore that the Transvaal Off
Gals would not reply to Secretary Cham
berlain's dispatches. 1t is stated that
there is feyerish activity In the Government
partment is completing active measures for
defence. Gouriers are being sent to out
lying towns that cannot be reached by tele-
graph.
Cape Town newspaper declares that the
Beers are grayely dissatisfied with their
Maussr rifles and ammunition, and have
appealed to the Government to revert to the
old Martins. The Boer rfaemen say the
Mausers are liable to burst and that the
cartridges are worthless. There is a rumor
which cannot be verified. that the burghers
of the Orange Free State fired ON the police
patrol at Kimberley yesterday.
LONDON, Sept 26-There remains ;one
more diplomatic move on the part of the
Beers which may yet checkmate the war
like policy of the British Government.
This is the consolidation of two republics,
OF rather the annexation of the Trans
vaal to the Orange Free State. The Brit
ish demands in regard to the suffrage could
that the real object of the demand would
be accomphshed--that is to say that the
foreign element, or the itlanders could
not out vote the Beers in the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State. Such is thclatest
and most important development of the
Transvaal situation, which may soon be
announced at sBIoemfontein and Pretoria,
the capitals respectively Of the two re-
pubiics. This proposition will. presuma-
bly,. make for peace. 1t will at least post
pone war until Great Britain devises or
manufactures some fresh justification for
attaching the Boer domain.
1t is pointed out that there is nothing
in the British convention with the Orange
Free State and the Transvaal to restrict
the absolute freedom of their relations.
enjoys greater degree of independence, 1t
is argued that il a consolidation were
effected in the shape of the annexation OF
the Transvaal to the Orange Free State,
all the latter's freedom and privilege would
be enjoyed by the combination
1t Is fereshadowed from the same source
whence this Information comes, that the
announcement of the plan, with the con-
eession OF the British suffrage demand, will
be coupled with a peremptory request that
Great Britain shall state in plain language
what are the vague and additional demands
which Colonial Secretary Chamberlain has
been limiting at and the reasons therefor.
The second part of the plan is said to
be that President Kruger, of the Transvaal
should resign in favor of President Steyn,
of the Grange Free State. It is understood
that Kruger is willing TO do this, although
he would decline to give place to Com
manding General and Vice President Jou-
bert 1t is this scheme according to the
best information from Boer sources, which
has occupied the attention of the Volksraad
of the Orange Free State in mysterious
session for the last four days
It is announced that Gen Sir Redvers
Henry Butler, who has been selected to
command the British troops in South Af-
rica. will depart for Cape Town on Oc-
tober Z. A balloon detachment of the
Royal Engineers and special ammuni-
tion column composed of men OF excep-
tionally fine physique, leave On September
so for the same destination.
Montague White, the Transyaals Consul
General is moving from his London office
to Hasiemere, Surrey
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, former
Chancellor of the Exchequer. writes to
the Times" in regard to the Transvaal
dispute, that it Is idle and mischievous to
wrangle about vague terms like suzerainty.
He says the sooner such terms are elimi-
mated from the controversy the better.
What we have to do he adds, SIS to
get the franchise question settled as soon
as possible. Nothing can tend to defeat a
settlement of the trouble more than to
produce the belief that the franchise is
not the real object aimed at by introduce
ing long perspective of fresh demands and
other question which have no relation with
the franchise.
cit is understood to be the desire of
the Government that both parties should
take a new departure. which, it is hoped.
will strip the discussion of all irreVelant
and provocative topics which have hither-
to hindered a satisfactory settlement If
this is so there can be no obstacle to an
amieable solution OF the question
BERLIN, Sept. 2s.-The '.Nueste Mach
riehten" claims that it has the authority
of the American consular agent at Essen
to deny the assertion that Krupp recently
sent a consignment OF artillery to the
TransvaaI