The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-21
PREPARING FOR WAR;
Great Britain Getting Ready Foi
a Possible Outbreak.
BoER PREPARATIONS COMPLETE.

B0ER PREPARATIONS COMPLETE.
Et Il Understood That tho Dispatch-
Ina OF British Troops TO south Africn
WIN Be Regarded ms Casus Bell.
Kruger's Appeal to the Queen,
London. Sept 2i--Despite all out
ward show of calm. Great Britain II
In practically the same condition to-
day as was the United States a few
weeks before the opening OF the war
with Spain. Beneath the crust OF dip
lomatic reserve the military officials
are working night and day. preparing
for the signal to begin hostilities,
whether that comes or not.
England is not going to be caught
mapping any more than the Trans
vaal. While Lord Salisbury is quietly
at home in Hatfield house, Mr. Cham
berlain is buried in work at the colo
nial office. and double forces at the
royal arsenal and dockyards are strain
ing every nerve to equip and transport
troops to the Cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain will do nothing to pre-
cipitate matters, and the colonial Of
flee is far from admitting that the
case is hopeless. The report that Great
Britain had demanded the dismantle-
ment of the forts at Johannesburg, to-
gether with a material reduction In
the armament of the burghers, the colo
nial Office today would neither confirm
or deny, although 1t is much doubted
Meanwhile the Marquis of Lans-
downe, secretary of state for war, who
returned yesterday morning from Dublin
has held long conferences with General
Lord Garnet Wolseley, field marshal
and General Sir Evelyn Wood, adju-
tant general to the forces, and the ac-
tivity at headquarters is reflected in
the contract, supply and transport de-
partments.
The departure Of the British trans
port Jelunga for the Mediterranean
yesterday with LOO troops was wit
messed by a large and enthusiastic
crowd.
At Woolwich activity increases daily
especially in the ordnance department
where Maxim guns and other para
phernalia of modern warfare are being
| hurried forward.
While rumors of the reassembling OF
| parliament are current, the fact is re-
| called that in the Afghan war in 1878
! Great Britain declared war first and
! then assembled parliament.
Last evening the Marquis of Lans-
downe issued strict order to the staff
! of the war office warning all subordi-
mates to refrain from giving the press
any information without the authority
of their superiors, and calling attention
| to previous breaches of duty in this
respect, which, the order says, will
| be no longer tolerated"
Advices from Cape Town are to the
effect that the Afrikanders declare
that the Transvaal will not yield fur
ther, and that If the imperial govern
ment does not recede from it's present
! position war is inevitable. The South
African News supports the contention
of the Transvaal that the convention
of 1884 abolished suzerainty.
According to other advices the
burghers are rapidly going into laager
while the exodus from Johannesburg
Tuesday reached. /. 900 persons. The
stock exchange at johannesburg has
resolved to close the moment martial
law is proclaimed, but all current con-
tracts will be carried out until the
proclamation suspending all business
In the meantime the merchants are
erecting barricades in front of theil
shop windows.
At Pretoria the interest seems to be
centered in the meeting of the Orange
Free State volksraad today which Il
is hoped may somehow suggest a mo-
dus vivendi that would save the stu
alton.
On the other hand advices from
Bloemfontein announce the arriva
there of a large number of members
of the raad, adding that the result Of
today's sitting is already agreed upon
as the Orange Free State will throw IL
its lot with the Transvaal all tht
Free State burghers being fully armed
and ready to start at moments no
tice.
The johannesburg correspondent o.
The Morning Post says: "The Boel
preparations are as complete as this
government can hope to make them
1t is believed that martial law will b,
proclaimed today, If no reply is re-
) ceived from England. 1t is under
stood that the dispatching of British
troops to South Africa will be re-
. garded as a casus belli. The Boel
officers are urging the government Il
L begin hostilities forthwith. 1t is fell
that the Orange Free State can bes
be forced to action by a successful
/, military demonstration on the part o.
the Transvaal.
The Cape Town correspondent o
The Daily Mail says: President Kru
ger has cabled a strong personal ap
J, peal to the queen, beseeching her to in
Z tervene to prevent bloodshed. 1t II
i about column in length and is in
} tended to scarify the consciences o
. the "unco guild" when published.
p Sir Alfred Milner has wired courte
Gus message to President Steyn, as
e suring him that the northWard marcl
of the British troops is not meant a.
,, a menace to the Orange Free State ant
. requesting to be informed regarding
! the latter's attitude. Reliable informa
!. tion has been received here that
y large command of Free State burgher
70 has been concentrating near Boshof
on the Kimberley border. If the Ere,
o State joins the Transvaal the first bat
8 tie is likely to be fought at Boshof.
Il Story OF a Slave.
= To be bound hand and foot for years by IL
! chains of disease is the worst form of SLAYER.
George d. Williams of Manchester Mich