Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-29
FREE STATE WITH KRUGER.
The VOlksraad Has Adopted a Series
of Resolutions

TO STAND BY THE TRANSVAAL IN
CASE OF WAR-EXCITEMEN
IN PRETORIA-A FEELING EX-
lists THAT THERE IS NO ES
CAPE FROM WAR-RIFLES ARE
BEING SERVED AND EVERY
PREPARATION BEING MADE TO
TAKE THE FIELD.
LONDON, September 28.-The decis-
ion of the Volksraad of the Orange
Free State to join with the Transvaal
in the event of hostilities. although
| fully expected, is the leading news to-
day and will, naturally, stiffen the
! Beers Independent attitude. The
Raids resolution has made the broth
erhood of arms between the Transvaal
and the Orange Free State, of which,
! hitherto, there was only strong pro-
liability, an absolute certainty, and the
British will have to face the situation.
! The Volksraad resolution was as fol-
/ lows: "The Rad having read para
graph of the Presidents speech and
1 the official documents and correspond
ence submitted herewith; having re-
! gard for the strained state of affairs
! throughout the whole of South Africa,
/ which has arisen in consequence of the
| difference between the imperial govern
ment and the government of the Trans
yaal, which threatens to lead to hos
tility, the calamitous consequence of
which to the white inhabitants will be
Unreasonable. Being committed to the
| Transyaal by the closest ties of blood
and confederacy, and standing in the
most friendly relationship with the i'm
perial government; and, fearing that
should war break out a hatred be-
which will arrest and retard the peace
| full development of all the states and
colonies of Africa and develop dis
i trust of the FUTURE feeling that the
solemn duty rests upon it of doing
everything possible to avoid the she'd
ding of blood; considering that the
Transvaal government, during it's ne
! gotiations with the imperial govern
ment, which have extended over several
months, has made every endeavor to
arrive at peaceful solution of the diff
+ ferences raised by the aliens of the
| Transvaal and taken up by the imper-
/ ial government as its own cause, which
/ endeavors have, unfortunately had only
/ this result, that British troops were con-
centrated on the border of the Trans
vaal and are still being strengthened.
Resolved, That we instruct the gov
eminent to still use every means to
maintain and ensure peace, and, in a
peaceful manner contribute toward the
/ solution of the existing difficulties, pro-
vided it be done without violating the
honor and independence of the Free
| State and the Transvaal. and wishes
| the ministry to make known its opinion
that there exists no cause for war; and
war against the Transvaal as now I'M
! dertaken or occasioned by the imper-
ial government will, morally, be war
against the whole white population of
! Africa, and, in its consequences, Grim
| inal, for, come what may, the Free
State will honestly and faithfully full
fill its obligations toward the Trans
vaal by virtue of the political alliance
| between the two republics"
Intense excitement continues to pre-
vail to Pretoria, where, apparently it is
| believed that there is no escape from
| war. The commission appointed to
consider the matter reported to-day as
to what officials are necessary to carry
on the government in the event of war
and fixing their salaries The field
cornet at Pretoria is again serving OUT
rifles. Communicating is actively pro-
ceeding and all preparations is being
made to take the field
An Englishman named Robertson
| has been arrested at johannesburg
! charged with high treason. He is al
legged to have enlisted recruits for the
imperial light horse.
The Burghers are getting uneasy at
the concentration of British troops be-
tween Lady Smith and Laings Neck,
especially at Glencoe and Dundee The
nominal reason for the concentration
is the protection of the Dundee coal
fields, but the Burghers shrewdly sus-
pect that the real reason is the forma-
ton of force which will advance
across the Transyaal frontier at Vry-
held as soon as war is declared.
The Beers do not intend to be caught
mapping and are massing around Vry-
held, not, however, merely as protec-
tive measure, but to be prepared, unless
the British re-inforcements across the
border cease, to make dash in force
through a portion of Zuzuland, crossing
| the Buffalo river at a point below
Rorkes Drift, and then, seizing the
railroad, cut off the British garrisons
at Dundee and Lady Smith from the
south, which would not only interrupt
the British lines OF communication, but
would seriously interfere with for