The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-09-18
AN ANXIOUS DAY
What viii Kreuger do-En.
gland is Prepared for War.

is Is the hands Of the British agent at
Pretoria. Furthermore the wires at the
foreign office are busy with long dis
patch from the British high commissioner
in South Africa, Sir Alfred Miner, to
the secretary Of state for the colonies.
Jospeph Chamberlain wi1c Is being rap
.aly repeated TO the latter's Birmingham
house. so the contents OF the Beers reply
viii probably rest tonight with Great
Britains colonial secretary unless South
Africa is peopled with false prophets,
the Beers have either evaded or defed
what practically amounted 10 ~ ultima
tum from the British cabinet. From the
tenor OF their recent communications
10 Dir Chamberlain they could scarcely
be expected to do otherwise However,
as frequently pointed cut In those dis
patches, this presumed aCt-.. upon the
part OF the Beers dc not make war q
certainly, though It does place the Br-
tish cabinet IN a position where 1t must
take steps so aggressive that war or ut.
ter ignominous submission wiz be the on
ly alternatives remaining TO tho Trans
vaal. This new serious phase OF the crisis
also gravely increases the probability tnat
the Beers will take time and diplomacy
by the forelock and raid Natal, connscate
the mines. arrest the Uitlanders for high
treason, and otherwise resent, while the
British transports are in mid ocean, what
they believe Is an attempt o rob them
of their independence.
If tho course of diplomacy Is not fore
shortened the British ca--net will meet
again and formulate specific -emands far
more sweeping than the last one. These
will be transmitted to President Kruger
In the shape OF an ultimatum
As the members of the cabinet are
scattered throughout the country. it Is
improbable a council could be gathered
til Monday night at the earliest and there
IS every reason to believe ths British gov
ernment wll exhibit no undue haste in
forcing President Krugers hand for IL
IS palpably more important 90 nave 1900
relnforcements on the scene OF action
than gain the gratitude OF the lmportu-
nate Ouuanders, who for weeks have been
crying for lmmea ate aggressive action.
The logic OF such policy must he equal
ly patent TO President Kruger. II s. hard.
ly conceivable that ne will await the ar
rival of the Britls-l relnforcoments bSfdst
taking the iniative. If he displays e%ch
at the very last moment that he intends
to back down, an impression which mas
many supporters among the ultra conser.
vatively inclined.
hRUGERS S REFUSAL
President Krugers -mored refusal OF
the latest franchise demands has lost
him many friends in England aud the pro.
Loer party has shrunk to small dimen
sions
The reported formal alliance between
the Transvaal and the Orange free state
has also done much TO ALLEVIATE the feel
ing OF those Engllshmen inclined TO sym.
pathize with the Transvaal though It Is
scarcely believed the Orange free state
will take an active part. more likely con.
fining itself to passive unreeognized as.
sisIance, as In the war OF 1880.
The selecti)l o: General Sir Georg,
Stewart White TO command the troops II
Natal meets with universal approval. a
also does the announcement that In tn
event OF war General Sir Bedvers Rullo
Will AXE upreme command in South Afrl
, ca Both are men OF great expo icnco
bravery and forcefulness.
The departure Of the troops from South
hampton for Natal today was marked by
land for many years. Wives, daughters
sweethearts and friends crowded arount
the northumberland fuslleers or as they
are beb.-er known the lighting tifth
on the stations and at the docks. ccrying
waving hats and handkerchiefs and cheer
ing mixing grief and PATRIOTISM as mel
and women do only when those dear L,
them go to war. Most the special Off
GERS wore civilian cloths, but as man!
OF them We're well known they were uuiek
ly recognized and received ov, lions. Tn
lighting fifth nearly all wore the Khar
toum medal
BRITISH PEOPLE COOL.
The long winded negotiations with IN
Beers have apparently not infiamed tn
| bi-.---. ..Opuiace. Among the ordinar
classes the excltment seems less aecurat
than some weeks ago. A significant In
stance OF d. Is seen at the Palace musi
han which Is packed nightly with all sort
and conditions from the aigest to th
lowest Typical songs dealing with m
probable confusion OF President Krugt
and the wiping out OF the AlR1ubba hi
oefeat were receive " faint appalaus
not approaching 20 patriotic enthusiasm
by pictures OF the Dreyfus case brougi
tine audience to It's 4 yelling and wa,
ing hats and nandkerchiefs, and wome
crying. Curlously. M. Labori received n
lions share OF the applause, while Generl
MERCER and Colonel Jouaust were hissel
as Emperor William was Kissed over n
jameson raid incident. Another stra
showing the ijiosyncre sies OF British sci
tlment was evidence by the biograp
pictures or the international yacht rae
The Columbia received generous applaui
while the Shamrock only received feeb
acknowledgment Such striking apath
IN connection with an international rae
IS without precedent. Perhaps tho tren
OF sentiment may change when the col
test actually takes place.
| AUSTRALIAN CONFEDER4-II ZION.
The first address praying for confe,
Grafton arrived this week from South Au
tralia- Others are expecter soon. II
secretary Of state, Mr.. chamberlain.
Expected TO bring IN the fedcrabie enablir
"a early next session. when Is the on
step now required 10 mn the desire of n
Australians. The Joint majority in fav,
OF the commonwealth bin IN the col y
Is estimated at 100000.
Lord Roseberrys speech September 9.
a the dinner Of the Caledonian railway er
{ ployes comparing British ana Amsric,
railways. has created comment. The 81