The San Francisco call., 1899-09-17
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LONDON, Sept. 16.-Sunday will be
an anxious day for Great Britain. The
reply of the Transvaal Government, it
is known tonight, has been formu-
lated and is in the hands Of the British
agent at Pretoria Furthermore, the
wires 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 Cham
berlain, which is being rapidly re-
peated to the latters Birmingham
home, so the contents of the Boer re-
ply viii probably rest tonight with
Great Britain's Colonial Secretary.
Unless South Africa is peopled with
false prophets, the Beers have either
evaded or defed what practically
amounted to an ultimatum from the
British Cabinet. From the tenor of
their recent communications to Mr..
Chamberlain they could scarcely be
expected to do otherwise However, as
frequently pointed out in these dis
patches, this presumed action upon the
part of the Beers does not make war
British Cabinet in a position where it
must take steps so aggressive that war
or utter ignominious submission will be
the only alternatives remaining to the
Transvaal.
This new serious phase Of the crisis
also gravely increases the probability
that the Beers will take time and dip
lomacy by the forelock and raid Natal,
O,,+
landers for high treason and otherwise
resent. while the British transports are
in midocean, what they believe is an
attempt to rob them of their indepen-
dence.
If the course of diplomacy is not
foreshortened the British Cabinet will
meet again and formulate specific de-
mands far more sweeping than the last
ones 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 that cOun-
ell could be gathered till Monday night
at the earliest, and there is every rea-
son to believe the British will exhibit
no undue haste in forcing President
Kruger's hand, for it is palpably more
important to have $1,000 reinforcements
on the scene Of action than gain the
gratitude of the importunate Outland-
ers. who for weeks have been crying
for immediate aggressive action. The
logic Of such policy must be equally
patent to President Kruger 1t is hard
~ conceivable that he will await the
arrival Of the British reinforcements
before taking the initiative. If he dis
plays such hesitation he will
strengthen the belief at the very last
moment that he intends to back down,
an impression which has many sup
porters among the ra-conservative-
ly inclined.
President Krugers rumored refusal
Of the latest franchise demands has
lost him many friends in England, ana
the pro-Boer party has shrunk to small
dimensions.
The reported formal alliance between
the Transvaal and the Orange Free
State has also done much to ALLEVIATE
the feeling Of those Englishmen in
clined to sympathize with the Trans
vaal, though it is scarcely believed the
Orange Free State will take an active
part, more likely confining itself TO
passive unrecognized assistance, as in
the war Of 1880.
The selection of General Sir George
Stewart White TO command the troops
IN Natal meets with universal approv-
al, as Also does the announcement that
in the event of war General Sir Red
Vers Butler will take supreme cons
mand in South Africa. Both are men
of great experience, bravery and force
fulness.
The departure CT the troops from