The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-06

Cape Town, Sept. 5..-Arrangements
ale being completed for safe guarding
telegraph communication with the
Cape in case Of war between Great
Britain and the Transvaal. Refugees
TO the number Of l47 have arrived here.
One million cartridges have been for
warded to Pietermaritzburg, capital of
the British territory of Natal. Many
Dutch farmers are leaving Bechuana-
land for the purpose of forming a
laager across the frontier.
London, Sept 5.-The latest news re-
ceived in this city from various points
in South Africa is vague and contra
dictory. Nothing more is known re-
garding the status of the negotiations
between Great Britain and the Trans
vaal that what was learned yesterday.
The officials of the British war Office
deny emphatically 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 publications and
take an extremely grave view of the
situation. although the war office de-
NAL tends somewhat TO allay the wild.
alarmist reports current late last night.
end Diggers News, today prints a dis
patch from Pretoria, saying that the
tension there is apparently less severe,
and that it is believed that arrange
ments for the proposed conference at
Cape Town will be completed, although
1t is unlikely that President Kruger OF
the Transvaal republic will attend the
| conference.
The opinion of persons who regard
the beginning of a war between Great
| britain and the Transvaal as only a
| matter Of a short time, is voiced by the
st. James's Gazette. which says today:
"The news concerning the crisis is
very grave. We learn that three more
infantry brigades have been ordered to
| Cape Colony. including the Gordons, OF
Dargai fame; one battalion of the
Highland Light Infantry which fought
in Crete, the second battalion Of the
! black Watch and the second battalion
| of the Cameronians Those troops are
under orders to be ready to leave at
! twenty-four hours notice. The off,
! GERS and men are delighted at the pros
| Tects of active service. In service cir
| clcs war is considered absolutely cer-
tain. The admiralty have a number
| Cf transports ready to convey troops
| to Cape Colony. The Beers, while pro-
! crastinating in regard to their reply,
! have been making every prepara ton
| for war. and are contemplating raiding
| the Natal frontier. Laing's Neck, which
| Is the sole route from the Transvaal
| to Natal. Is undefended."
England's Proposal.
| Cape Town dispatches say that the
! AfrilIander papers print what purports
to be a semi-otficial account of the re-
! cent pourpaLers. But as they credit
Mr.. Conyngham Greene, the British
agent in the South Africa Republic,
with saying that Great Britain vas
| willing to abandon the question of
| British suZerainty if the proposals
rlade at the BoemfOnteu conference
Ey Sir Alfred Miner, the governor of
Cape Colony and British high commits
siOncr Of South Africa, We're accepted
they are not credited either at Cape
| Colony or here.
The second edition of the Times, is
| sued this morning, contains a dispatch
from Pretoria under date of Sept a.,
| saying:
| The predominant view is that the last
dispatch opens up the way to a modus
| vivendi, inasmuCh as the proposals of
| Mr.. Chamberlain relating to the seven
years franchise have been practically
| complied with. That is the result of
the influence of Herr Fischer Ghe spe-
cial agent of the Orange Free State)
with the Raad."
The dispatch, however, is at variance
with the editorial views on the matter
expressed by the Times this morning.
The gravity Of the news in regard to
the trouble in South Africa had de-
cidedly depressing effect on the Stock
Exchange today, all departments sym
pathizing.
The war office has issued a denial of
the report published today in the st.
James Gazette that three more infantry
! brigades had been ordered TO the Cape.