Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-05
WAR SEEMS CERTAIN
Feeling in British Army Regarding
Transvaal Trouble.
PAPERS TAKE A GRAVE VIEW
Tension at Pretoria, However, is
Reported Less Severe.
RUMOR OF AN AGREEMEN ENT

LONDON, September 5-The latest news
received in this city from various points in
South Africa is vague and contradictory.
Nothing more is known regarding the stat
us of the negotiations between Great Brit
ain and the Transvaal than that learned
yesterday.
The officials of the British war office em-
phaticaliy deny that the reserves have been
called out that any steps have been TAX
en- to that end.
The afternoon newspapers follow the lead
of the morning papers in taking an ex-
tremely grave view of the situation, al
though the war office denial somewhat
tends to allay the wildly alarmist reports
current late last night
Less Tension at Pretoria.
The Boer organ here, the Standard and
Digger News, today prints dispatch from
Pretoria saying that the tension there was
apparently less severe and that it was be-
lieved arrangements for the proposed con-
ference at Cape Town would be completed,
although President Kruger of the Trans
vaal republic was unlikely to attend.
The opinion of those who regard the be-
ginning of a war between Great Britain
and the Transvaal as only a matter of a
short time is voiced by the ST. James Ga
Zette, which says today:
The news concerning the crisis is very
grave. We learn that three more infantry
brigades have been ordered to Cape Colony,
including the GOrdons of Dargai fame, one
battalion of the Highland Light Infantry,
who fought in Crete; the second battalion
of the Black Watch and the second bat
talon of the Cameronians. These regi-
ments are under orders to be ready to
leave at twenty-four hours notice. The
officers and men are delighted at the pros
pect of active service.
War COnsidered Certain.
I'm service circles war is considered alb
solutely certain. The admiralty have a
number of transports ready to convey
troops to Cape Colony. The Beers. while
procrastnating in regard to their reply.
have been making every preparation for
war contemplating raiding the Natal
frontier. Laing's Neck, which is'the sole
route from the Transvaal to Natal, is un-
defended
Cape Town dispatches say that the Afri
kander papers print what purports to be a
semi-oflicial account of the recent pour
parlers. These credit Mr.. Conyngham
Green. the British agent in the South Afri-
can republic, with saying that Great Bri-
tain will be willing to abandon the question
of British suZerainty if the proposals made
at the BlOemfontein conference by Sir AL
fred Miner the governor of Cape Colony
and British high commissioner of South
Africa. are accepted; but they are not
credited either at Cape Colony or here.
The second edition of the Times, issued
this morning, contains a dispatch from
Pretoria under date of September 4, saying
THE predominant view is that the last
dispatch opens UP the way to a modus
vivendi, inasmuch the proposals of Mr..
Chamberlain British secretary of state Of
the colonies) relating to the seven-year
franchise has been practically complied
with. This is the result of the influence
of Herr Fischer the special agent of the
Orange Free StateJ with the raad.''
This dispatch, however is at variance
with the editorial views on the matter eX-
pressed by the Times this morning.
The gravity of the news in regard to the
trouble in South Africa had decidedly de-
pressing effect on the stock exchange to-
day, all departments sympathzng.
The war office has issued as usual, a
denial of the report published today by the
brigades had been ordered to the Cape.
To Safeguard the Telegraph.
CAPE TOWN, September 5.-Arrange-
ments being completed for safeguard
ing telegraphc communication with the
Cape in case OF war between Great Britain
and the TransVaal.
Refugees to the number Of 141 have ar
rived here
A million cartridges have been forwarded
to Pietermaritzburg, capital of the British
territory of Natal.
Many Dutch farmers are leaving Bechu-
analand for the purpose of forming a
laager across the frontier.