The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-05
STILL GROWING.
Great Britain and TransVaaI
Showing Their Teeth.
A Clash Is Daily Becoming
More Certain.
ENGLAND'S BEST MEN.
Celebrated Fighters Ready to
Sail on Short Notice.
Many. Conflicting Reports on
the Situation.
ENGLAND'S BEST MEN.

London, Sept. 5.-The latest news re-
ceived in this city from various points
in South Africa is vague and contradic-
tory. Nothing more is known regarding
the status of the negotiations between
Great Britain and the Transvaal than
was learned yesterday The officials
of the British war office emphatically
deny that the reserves have been called
out or that any steps have been taken
to that end.
The afternoon newspapers follow the
lead of the morning papers in taking
an extremely grave view of the situa-
tion, although the war office denial
somewhat tends to allay the wildly
aIarmist reports current late last night.
The Boer organ, the Standard and
Diggers' News, today prints dispatch
from Pretoria saying that the tension
there was apparently less severe and
that it was believed arrangements for
the proposed conference at Cape Town
would be completed, although President
Kruger, of the TransVaa1 Republic was
unlikely to attend.
The opinion of those who regard the
beginning of a war between Great Bri-
tain and the Transvaal as only a mat
ter of a short time is voiced by the
St. James Gazette, which says today:
THE news concerning the crisis is
very grave We learn that three more
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 battalion
of the Cameronians. These regiments
are under orders to be ready to leave at
twenty-four hours notice. The officers
and men are delighted at the prospect
of active service.
In service circles war is considered
absolutely certain. The admiralty have
a number of transports ready to convey
troops to Cape Colony. The Beers,
while prOcrastinating in regard to their
reply, have been making every prep
aration for war and are contemplating
raiding the Natal frontier Laings
Neck, which is the sole route from the
Trapsvaal to Natal is undefended-''
Cape Town dispatches say that the
Afrikander papers print what purports
to be a semi official account of the
recent pour parlers. But as these credit
NJ. COnyingham Greene, the British
agent in the South African republic
with saying Great Britain was willing
suzerainty if the proposals made at
BloemfOntein conference by Sir Alfred
Miner the governor of Cape Colony
and British high commissioner of Sou n
Africa were accepted they are not cred
tied either at Cape Colony or here.
London, Sept. 5.-The second edition
of the Times issued this morning con-
tains dispatch from Pretoria under
date of September 4. saying:
The predominant view is that the
last dispatch opens up the way to
modus vivendi. inasmuch as the pro-
pOsal of Mr.. Chamberlain, British sec
retary of state for the colonies relating
to the seven years franchise have been
practically complied with. This is the
result of the influence of Herr Fischer,
the special agent of the Orange Free
state, with the raad."
This dispatch however is at variance
with the editorial views as expressed
DV the Times this morning
The gravity of the news in regard to
the trouble in South Africa had a de-
cidedly depressing effect on the stock
exchange today, all departments SYM
pathizing.
WAR PREPARATIONS
Capetown, Sept. 5-Arrangements are
being completed for safeguarding the
telegraphic communication with the
Britain and the Transvaal Refugees
to the number of 147 have arrived here.
A million cartridges have been for
warded to Pietermaritzburg capital of
the British territory of Natal
Many Dutch farmers are leaving
Bechuapaland for the purpose of form
ing a laager across the frontier