New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-22
AMERICANS IN DANGER.
MAY BE IMPRESSED INTO SERVICE IN
THE TRANSVAAL.

impressed into the service Of the Beers In Of
war with Great Britain. and that they have ap-
peaed to Secretary Hay for protection.
The Standard and DiGEers' News" Of Jo-
hannesburg the Government organ, In Its re-
port Of the meeting Of the Volksraad on August
Il, tells Of the passage Of Article 1O9 Of the
Transvaal Constitution. which regulates the
organization Of the military power. and the
cases and manner in which 1t, or a portion Of 1t.
can he commandeered. The law also compel
inhabitants who ere not burehers and natives
70 assist in maintaining the independence Of the
republic. in defending the land and in suppress
ing revolutions or hostilities."
In the debate over this article It was pointed
out that It would apply to those aliens who did
not fall under the existing treaties-the subjects
Of States having no treaties with the Transvaal'
One member said Article 100, as It stood, was
good and necessary All inhabitants white or
black must. in time Of danger, he liable to MILL
tary service. They must get twenty-four hours
notice t. quit the country II they did not wish
10 stand by IT, and after that they must serve
or be shot dead on the spot
Another member said that It did not neces-
sarily follow from Article 100 that aliens should
be compelled To fight. They should support the
country and assist in many other ways without
actually fghtng They could he suggested with
a d
hurghers' horses, carrying wood and water dig
eing trenches. cleaning camps and doing other
necessary duties
ACTION OF AMER1C An CITIZENS.
The United States having no treaty with the
Transvaal Government. its citizens might be
made 10 feel the force Of this article Accord
ngly a meeting Of American citizens was held
at johannesburg on August Is. and the follow
ing letter was sent to the United States Consul
at Pretoria:
johannesburg. August IS. 1895.
c. T. Macrum, Esq, United states Consul BOX
952. Pretoria.
Dear Sir As an outcome Of the meeting Of
American citizens to-day at the New cub, l
have been asked 10 request you TO forward the
following cable to the Secretary OF state al
@Committee Of American citizens have re-
questad me to forward YOU the following canie.
Article II Of TransVaal ConSututlon JuSt
passed as follows: In the event OF war. re-
helion or other circumstances Of pressing dan
Commandant General. and with the consent or
the Executive Council. may proclaim martial
law. and every inhahtant. without disuncuon'
shall then be obliged to assist in defence OF the
Also Article 100 passed. says:
The law can also compel inhabitants VINO
are not burghers as also c0lored people, 70 CO.
orarato in maintaining the independence Of the
republic in defence Of the territory. or the sup
preston Of revolts or disturbances
CIV y one llouSdll Rli'li'f'iH nam
impressed into service. In case Of hosuuues'
which appear imminent communications Will be
DESTROYED.
strong roprosentations must he made this
Government Immediately to protect lives, prop
orfv and dignity Of American citizens. Yours
faithfulv I. J. SEYMOUR, Secretary
CONDITIONS IN THE TRANsvAAL.
4 letter from prominent American who is at
johannesburg says in part:
"Our Consul in Pretoria. who IS a most excel
lent representative. has done everything pos
sinle since his incumhency of the office 10 oh
tain an expression from this Government re-
garding the impressing or communicating. as
the Dutch term It. Of American citizens. but to
no avail hence there is no other course open for
Us but 10 get our prominent friends to interest
themselves on our behalf French and German
subjects are practically protected on account Or
the existence Of treaties between their govern
n1erts and this while British subjects are also
protected by the action If Lord Loeb in 1894. al
though IT IS hardly to be supposed they would
be communicated as their nation would be one
Of the belligerents.
This Government IS unfortunately demon
strating day by day its absolute incapacity and
utter inability to rise 10 the situation. kruger is
missing opportunity after opportunity Had he
granted the reforms asked by Sir Alfred Miner
he would have taken the ground completely
away from under the English feet. and could
have brought matters 10 a speedy and harmon-
ous settlement All that is asked by the English
Government is a representation Of one-nith IN
the I-npcr House or First Raad. by the Outland-
crs who are to-day furnishing the 4OFlVO
per annum found necessary 10 run ths Govern
Inont President Krugers salary is tN'P". NJ
teen wears ago he was in receipt Of only t"o'
with djficulty 10 collect that. The expenditure
IN the Secret Service fund is. as shown by Mr..
Chamhorlain's speech. equal 10 that Of the entire
British Empire but | need not weary You WIN
details with which you are no doubt thoroughly
acquainted , ,
The attitude of American citizens here has
been ono Of absolute neutrality; they have held
no meetings and taken no part whatsoever IN
any Of the political agitations. although their
,rivafo svmpathios arc unquostionahly on the
side of representative government ana
reformation of the abuses now existing I'm the
,,av Of the dynamite and other monopoies. hut
those articles Just incorporated in the new con-
etitutf0n endangers their lives ana dignity
IT may add that the leading and the majority
of the consulting engineers and general mine
managers I'm this Witwatersrand district onow
,roducinR over 5000 600 If gold a day) are all
Americans and the interests under their care
are colossal"