The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-08-26
WAR SEEMS 70 Be
THE ONLY RECOURSE
rransvaal's Reply to England Prac-
ticaIIy a Refusal ofthe Brit
ish Proposal.
CRISIS MAY COME QUICKLY NOW
Unless Bocrs Back Down Sqnnrcly,
Which Is Not Probable, Grcnt
Britain Will Put Troops
in Motion.

London, Aug. 2s.-The colonial office
confirms the dispatch from Cape
Town that the Transvaal has handed
a reply to the British agents at Pre-.
toria, and will add only this:
"Ile reply is not a complete accepts
ance of the British proposals."
There is no longer any doubt that
President Kruger has refused to sub
nit to the demand of Mr.. Chamber
lain for the appointment of a court of
inquiry. He may have done so diplo-
matically or hedgingly. But that his
answer is regarded by the British gov
eminent as tantamount to positive re-
fusal is now an established fact. The
colonial office is noncommittal, but
there are other evidences which amply
verify this opinion. The report that
Kruger proposed new terms
is somewhat verified by the guarded
comment of the colonial office officials
and the irritability displayed there.
There is not the slightest doubt that
they now believe war is the only way
to settle the controversy. They would
far rather have had a curt, defiant an
swer than the temporizing answer
which the Boer president has sent.
With the former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for a quick COM
mcncement of hostilities. Under the
circumstances which it is believed now
exist, aggressive action needs consid-
cradle explanation to justify it in the
eyes of the world and the English
minority. who still declare that wal
would be an outrage. However, IL Mr..
Chamberlain has his way, it is believed
President Krueger's counter proposals
will meet with scant attention, and
unless the Beers completely back
down. which is not likely, the crisis
will quickly develop into war. 1t has
developed that the war Office has been
aware Of the nature of the Transvaal
governments answer for several days,
and it was communicated to the war
Office, hence it is probable that Great
Britain will delay the denouement as
little as possible.
A high colonial official expressed to
q representative of the Associated
Press his disgust at what he termed
"Krueger's cupidity and Hypocrisy
He said: "The kind of game which
Kruger is playing must be clear to
Americans. The p~rotcstations of the
Beers that they wish to live n quiet,
agricultural life may be true of the
native element, but the gang iii Preto-
ria is simply after money. Though
President Kruger says many harsh
things of the uitlanders, he never hest
tated to make money out of them.
either by fair or foul means.
''This Transvaal question cannot be
judged by recent occurrences. You
must go back fifty years. II has been
hanging fire all that time, and the
sooner it is settled now. the better"
Though the official did not actually
say so, it was clear that he believed
war the only method of settlement.
ment
1t is lea ned that the government is
somewhat annoyed at the public's
slight interest in the Transvaal.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
says there is now danger of an out
break Of violence ON the frontier. and
that the scum of South Africa are en-
listing throughout the colony and are
being sent to Pitsanti and Jameson, on
the border.
.aH- r. III