New-York tribune., 1899-12-24
= BROWN on THE SITUATION.
THE AMERICAN ENGINEER TALKS or 1faE
FEELING IN ENGLAND AND ON
THE CONTINENT.

THE CONTINENT
r E. L Brown the well known American en-
eineer who is a itigant with the IransVaal UO'-
ernment over an unsatisfed claim, when seen a'
the Hoffman yesterday. just after MS arrival 4'oin
England on the st. Paul, said.
In England to-day the feeling is that the Gov
ernmentTs action was preciptate AS yet the Pteiss
and public generally stubbornly refuse 10 oe-pene -
tnat Lne buf there is an Gndercurrent Of fear
fhe part OF the financially interested members OF OF
the e boped for British sutocracy in South Afsca
may not come TO pass The typical British SsGaSs y
minimized and renewed Preparations toward carry
ing the campaign on 10 ultnate 81 s1v farfion
save possibly the Irish which, as they eHcePs 80 70
everything on every possible OCCASION Is "o' Su'
one notable change in pubC; opinion is sa tsa al
GoVernment and the individual Boer were conslo-
cred in England respectively as naon on am ba 1s 1sp
sentative British soldier, there IS now in LONDON
firm conviction, only too sady nrougni none e,c Us
ed IN The British forces that the Boer and the Sc
cedine Dutch Afrikanders are at least the equals
There appears also to be an unexpressed though
deeply fell belief in London that ne tacucs @ @ Oh
been tinctured with overconhdence IN everything
80 faT dGne % ob py AFRICA the Obtaining of arms and
Ammunition or the training Of men, II becomes more
been preparing at ali points for this very struggle,
and that In both armament and secret Information;
are better served than the British.
II is significant fact that shortly after war was
declared almost every speaker In the Conservative
narty in England used his theme the reparti-
ZION OF South Africa, after the Beers had been
conquered In other words, they counted their
chickens before they were hatched To-day there
Is noticeable change in these public speeches. anc
The Conservatives now appear willing 10 wait 70
hnd what may be theirs TO divide and govern be.
fore proceeding to the division ana government
thereof The Liberals maintain an ominoHs 81 silence
The opinion OF the public In France, whlch may
he taken as indicative Of that OF all Conuhehta.i
Furope with the possible exception or parts OF
Germany shows open rejoicing at the Bosr sue
cesses although this is probably as much the re-
suIt OF a temporary i'll feeling toward England as
{, "a any appreciation for the sentiments or rgns
for which the Beers are hghting. 49,,
The Beers financially are certainly In posltlGtn'
so long as they remain IN undisputed control OF the
TransVaal 10 provide themselves with the slneWs
~ war Normally the mines OF the RAND az me
present time can produce from 100000 to SSOV'p o.
mO per annum In gold IS per cent OF which can oe
mined at profit. In some Of the richer mines the
cost OF production does not exceed u, lndeeo, IL
eouals 20 per cent OF the value OF the product.
Hence It follows that inasmuch as the Beers are
NOT worrying themselves at the present time CON
cernnC any accounting TO the shareholders or for,
eien owned mines they have al their command
those resources the lack Of which have been the
undoing OF so many nations in similar hours OF
trial