The record-union., 1899-09-06
SITUATION IN
The TRANSvAAL.
Late News From South Africa Vague
and Contradictory.
London Papers Take a Grave View Of the
Existing Conditions.
Predicted In Some Quarters That
War is Inevitable, and That It
Is a Matter of But a Short Time
Until Hostilities Begin.

LONDON, Sept. 5.-The latest news
| received in this city from various
points in South Africa is vague and
contradictory. Nothing more is known
regarding the status of the negotiations
between Great Britain and the Trans
vaal than that learned yesterday. The
officials of the British War Office EN-
phatically deny 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 papers in taking an
extremely grave view of the situation,
although the War Office denials all tend
to allay the wildly alarmist reports cur
rent late last night
The Boer organ here, the STANDARD
and Diggers News to-day prints q
dispatch from Pretoria, saying that the
tension there was apparently less Sc
Vere and that it was believed arrange
ments for the proposed conference at
Cape Town would be completed. al
| though President Kruger of the Trans
vaal Republic is unlikely to attend.
The opinion of those who regard the
beginning of war between Great Brl-
tain and the Transvaal as the matter
of only a short time is voiced by the
st. James Gazette" which says to-
day: THE news concerning the crisis
is very grave. We learn that three
more infantry brigades have been or
dered to Cape Colony, including the
Gordons, of Dargai fame; one battalion
of the Highland Light Infantry. who
fought in Crete; the Second Battalion
of the Black Watch and the second
battalion of the Camerions. These
regiments are under orders to be ready
to leave at twenty-four hours notice.
The officers and men are delighted st
the prospect of active service.
"In service circles war is considered
absolutely certain. The Admiralty
have a number of transports ready to
convey troops to Cape Colony. The
Beers while procrastinating in regard
to their reply, have been making every
preparation for war, and are contem-
plating raiding the Natal frontier.
Laing's Neck, which is the sole route
from the Transvaal to Natal, is unde-
Tended.
1T is said that the Afrikander pa
pers' print what purports to be a semi
official account of the recent pour par
lers. But as these credit Conygham
Green, the British agent in the South
African Republic, with saying that
Great Britain was willing to abandon
the question of British suzerainty if the
proposals made at the Blomfontein con-
ference by Sir Alfred Miner, the Gov
ernor of Cape Colony and British High
Commissioner of South Africa were ac-
cepted, they are not credited either at
Cape Colony or here"
The second edition of the "Times,"
issued this morning. contains a dis
patch from Pretoria under date of
September 4th, saying: THE predom-
mating view is that the last dispatch
opens up the way to modus vivendi.
inasmuch as the proposals of Mr..
Chamberlain, relating to the seven-year
franchise, have been practically COM
piled with. This is the result of the
influence of Herr Fischer the special
agent of the Orange Free State), With
the Raad."
This is at variance with the editorial
views on the matter expressed by the
'"Times" this morning.
The gravity of the news of the
trouble in South Africa had decid-
edly depressing effect on the Stock FIX
change to-day, all departments sympa-
thizing.
v
the report published to-day by the ST.
James Gazette" that three more int
fantry brigades had been ordered to the
Cape
CAPE TOWN, Sept. 5.-Arrange-
ments are being completed for safe
guarding the telegraphic communica-
ton with the Cape in case of war with
Great Britain and the Transvaal. Ref
ugees to the number of 147 have ar
rived here, and a million cartridges
have been forwarded to Petermaeritz-
burg. capital of the British Territory of
Natal. Many Dutch farmers are
leaving Bachuanaland for the purpose
of forming a laager across the frontier
PRETORIA, Sept. 5.-The Volksraad
to-day accepted Mr.. Coasters motion TO
fix the debates to grow out of the in
terpellation of the Government as to
the assembling of British troops along
the Transvaal borders for Thursday
next.
In presenting his motion Mr.. Coester
referred to the Jamison raid and "otn-
er outrages and murders committed by
British troops as leading him 10 ois-
trust the present concentration. lie
dec AIRED that the convention of lSS4
did not contain the suzerainty stipula-
ton. and ne maintained lHdI -NAA'
Chamberlain had broken that conven-
ton by interfering in the internal ar
fairs of the republic Other Burghers
supported Mr.. Coester, saying that
: while negotiations were proceeding all
tbe Eritish Colonies were offering arm
ed assistance.
and must the Transvaal remain si-
lent % exclaimed the Burgher.
1T is opposed to Christianity TO con-
duct friendly negotiations and yet mob
ilize the troops. We must know why
the British troops are on our borders"
The motion to wait until Thursday
for the Government reply was agreed
to unanimously.