The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-06
BOTH DIFFIDENT.
England and the TransYaaI Be-
ing Ready to Fight
Seem Now to Be In No Hurry to
Begin.
WOULD LIKE TO QUIT.
Conviction Prevails That Eng
land Is Trying to Find
A Way Out of the Mess Into
Which She Has Plunged.


telIigence from South Africa points to
a continuation of the existing situa-
ton for some time, as both sides are
apparently diffident about commencing
an attack, although from the dispatches
received here. it seems as if every
movement of q. patrol and every cloud
OF dust made by a herd of cattle were
turned into a general advance by both
armies.
The delay is all to the good, inasmuch
as it gives time for further negotia-
tiOns, and today's indications apparent
ly show a willingness on the part OF
the British government to continue to
utilize diplomacy.
A well defined conviction is prevalent
that the foreign Office is trying to dis
cover a way out of the inpaSSe which
has been created by admitted mistakes
and miSca1culatiOns; and it is evident
that peace advocates and peace cOun-
sells are gaining ground However, Mr..
Chamberlain's refusal to seize the
chance given him by the petition of So
mem bers of the Cape house of assembly
to point out in reply that the Beers
still have an opportunity of accepting
Great Britain's previous offer, so long
as her new proposals remain inform
ulated, seems to show a possible de-
termination on the part of the secretary
of state for the colonies not to yield an
iOta in the interest of peace.
While the distaste for war evidently
increases in Great Britain, dispatches
from the scene of possible hostilities
grow more and more lurid.
Advices from Pretoria describe the
Transvaal organs as crying for i'm
possible terms and President Kruger,
as referring to the prospective strug-
gle as a, means of setting the republic
totally free of England
It is also said, according to advices
forces at Volksrust Will advance today
to the Natal border, and according to
Gen SymOns, although commander
general, is personally averse to hostiIi-
ties, his patient tactics will not last,
as the Beers will soon either demand to
be disbanded or to receive order to in
wade Natal
Dispatches from Cape Town of doubt
full authenticity auege that the Boer
organization in the field is already
breaking down and that friction is de-
velOping between the artillery who are
regulars and the burgher commanders.
The refugees in Cape Town are hav-
ing a bad time. the women and children
being in pitiable plight The govern
ment's offer to send a transport for
some of the distressed has been adopted.
RUMOR OF ABDICATION.
London, Oct. 6.-In connection with
the rumors that Queen Victoria is liable
to intervene to prevent war, a curious
story is published this morning by the
Vienna EStrab blatt, which alleges that
her majesty intends to abdicate in the
event of an outbreak of hOstiIities. de-
claring that it has this information
from an excellent source" The state
ment unfavorably affected the Vienna
NURSES GO OUT.
London, Oct 6.-The announcement
from Pretoria that the British diplo-
matte agent Mr.. Conyingham Greene is
i'll. is taken in some quarters to indi-
cate the possibility of his recall and of
further steps in the direction of a
peaceful adjustment.
A host of officers. including Prince
Christian Victor of Schleswig-H -HOlstein,
and a large number of nurses, sailed
for the Cape today. 1t now appears
that Lieut. Winston Spencer Churchill
son of the late Lord Randolph Church.
i'll, who will accompany Gen. Sir Red
Vers Butler will go not on behalf of the
Times, but as the war correspondent of
the LOndOh Morning Post and the New
York World,
IN SELF-DEFENSE
BIoemfontein, Oct. 6-President
Steyn, addressing a commando in Mar
ket Square on Thursday. congratulated
the burghers on the rapidity with which
they had responded to the call. He said
the Orange Free State did not intend to
make an attack, but that it would
fiercely defend it's cherished rights. The
enemy was strong, but if that enemy
crossed the border, it would be to meet
with a determined resistance. In con-
cluding he exclaimed: I'VE would be
fighting for the independence of our
EJECTING KAFFIRS.
Johannesburg. Oct. 6.-The govern
ment is ejecting thousands of Kaffir
miners from the rand and sending them
into the northern districts of the Trans
vaaI in order to avoid the danger of
collision with the whites in the event of
war The Irish corps supporting the
Beers has started for the frontier.
''SUPREMELY RIDICULOUS
London. Oct. 6.-The British foreign
office when shown the Vienna story as
to the intention of the queen to abdi-
cate should war break out, declared it
"supremely ridiculous" and utterly
baseless."
THREE TRANSPORTS SAIL