Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-08-25
SOUTHAFRICAN TROUBLE
Refusal to Submit to English De-
mands May Lead to War;
A CRISIS Is NEAR AT HAND.

The Long Standing Differences Be-
tween the south African Republic
aud Great Britain May BE Settled by
Force OF Arms Very soon.
London. Aug. 22.-Thers is no longer
any doubt that President Kruger mas
refused to submit to the demand of Mr..
Chamberlain for the appointment OF q
court Of inquiry He may have done SO
automatically or hedgingly. but that
his answer ia regarded by the British
government as tantamOunt TO posi-
tive refusal is now an established fact.
The report that President Kruger has
proposed new terms is somewhat veri-
fed by the guarded comment OF the
colonial Office officials and the irrita-
bility displayed there. There is not the
slightest doubt that they believe war
is now the only way TO settle the con-
troversy. They would far rather had
curt. defiant answer than the temper
izing reply which the Boer president
has sent.
With the former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for a quick com
mencement of hostilities. Under the
circumstance which it is believed now
exist aggressive action needs consider
able explanation to justify II in the
eyes of the world and the English NIL
nority who still declare that war would
be an outrage However. if Mr.. Cham
berlain has his way. it is believed
President Krugers counter proposals
will meet with scant attention. and IN
less the Beers completely back down,
which is not likely. the crisis VIII
quickly develop into war.
The colonial Office has been aware OF
the nature of the TTansvaal's reply for
some days. hence it is probable that
Great Britain will delay the denounce-
ment as little as possible.
A high colonial official says: 1.-The
kind of game which Kruger is playing
must be clear to Americans. The pro-
testations of the Beers that they wish
to live quiet. agricultural life may be
the tune Of some on the Veldt. but the
gang in Pretoria is simply after money
Though President Kruger says many
harsh things of the Outlanders, he
never hesltated to make money out of
them, either by fair or foul means
This TransYaal question cannot be
judged by recent occurrences. You must
go back so years II has been hanging
fire all that time and the sooner it is
settled now the better"
The government is somewhat an
noyed at the publics slight interest in
the Transvaal The official above
quoted said that Dreyfus seemed to be
the only thing the people think about,
though England is in a most serious
crisis.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
says there is great danger of an out
break of violence on the frontier and
that the scum of South Africa are en-
listing throughout the colony and are
being sent to Pitsani and Jameson. on
the border.
Sunday was observed throughout the
Orange Free States and Cape Colony
with humiliation. prayer and sermons
advocating a peaceful solution of the
crisis. Mr.. Snytler, leading Dutch Re
form preacher here, referred to the
close ties uniting the cape Dutch to
those Of the Transvaal. If war was de-
elared, he asserted. Great Britain would
commit a "beinOus crime before God
and man resulting in civil war in
Cape Colony"
There is evidence Of growing I'M
easiness at johannesburg Great crowds
gather at the railroad station, express
sing disapprOval at the departures for
Cape Colony and Durham, Natal.