The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-17
.EVADES The ISSUE.
Kruger Disregards
Vital Points of
Ultimatum.
ASPECT MORE SERIOUS.
fearful Scenes as Troops
Embark For South
Africa.
ASPECT MORE SERIOUS.

London, Sept. 16.-Sunday will be. an
anxious day for Great Britain. The
reply Of the Transv@al government, 1t
Is known tonight has been formulat-
ed and is in the hands of the British
agent at Pretoria. Furthermore the
officials at the foreign office are busy
with long dispatch from the British
high commissioner In South Africa, Sir
Alfred Miner, to the secretary Of state
for the colonies, Joseph Chamberlain,
which is being rapidly repeated to the
latter's Birmingham home, SO that the
contents of the Boerreply will probably
rest tonight with Great Britain's CO.
lonial secretary
Unless South Africa is peopled with
false prophets, the Beers have esther
| evaded or defied what practically
amounted to an ultimatum from the
British government.
From the tenor of their recent COM
municationS to Mr.. Chamberlain they
could scarcely be expected to do other
wise. However, this presumed action
upon the part Of the Beers, does not
make war certainty, though it does
place the British cabinet in a position
where it must take steps so aggressive
| that war seems to be the only alterna-
| tive remaining.
This serious phase of the crisis also
| gravely increases the probability that
| the Beers will take time and diplomacy
by the forelock and raid Natal, conf1s-
cate the mines, and hold the Outlanders
for high treason, while the British
| transports are in mid-ocean, for what
icfa of t1orNf 70, ~
| of their independence.
If the course of diplomacy Is not fore
| Swallowed the British cabinet may meet
| again and Tar more sweeping demands
| be made. There, is every reason to
think that the British government will
| exhibit no undue haste in forcing Pres
! ideat Kruger to exhibit his hand, as
| 1t would be impossible for them to
| concentrate their forces much before
| Monday night. The logic of such a
| policy must be equally patent to Presi-
| dent Kruger, 1t is hardly conceivable
| that he will await the arrival of the
| British reinforcements before taking
| the initiative. II he displays such hes
| itation, he will strengthen the belief
than at the very last moment he in
| tends to back down, an impression
which has many supporters among the
| ultra-conservatively inclined
| President Kruger's rumored refusal Of
| the latest franchise demands has lost
him many friends in England, and the
pro-Boer party has shrunk to small
dimensions. The formal alliance be-
tween the Transvaal and the Oranga
Free States has added much to the feel
| ing Of those Englishmen who are in
clined to sympathize with the Trans
vaal government. 1t is believed the
Orange Free State will conf1ne itself to
a passive action.
The selection of General Sir George
Stewart White to command the troops
in Natal meets with universal approx
al, as does the announcement that in
the event of war, General Sir Refvers
Butler will take supreme command in
South Africa. Both are men of great
experience, bravery and forcefulness.
The departure Of the troops from
Natal today was marked by such scenes
as have not occurred in England for
many years. Wives daughters, sweet
hearts and friends crowded around the
Northumberland fusileers, or, as they
are better known as the Fighting
fifth" on the stations and at the docks,
crying. waving hats and handkerchIefs
and cheering, mixing grief and patri0t-
ism as men and women only do when
those dear to them go to war.