The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-05-25
Arrests BPitisherS and CHARGES
High Treason.
HAS EIGHT NOTABLE PRISONERS
TransVaal Government : Iafms 70
Have Nipped an UPRISING
Rhodes Silent.

| lhdy u lie arrest at Johannes burg
early this morning Of eight alleged for
mer British officers on the charge of
high treason has caused intense ex-
element here. The prisoners were
brought to Pretoria by special train.
After they had been lodged in jail they
were visited by the British diplomatic
agent here.
| The arrests were effected by a detec-
| tive who joined the movement which.
it is asserted, was for the purpose of
enrolling men in order to cause an out
break or rebellion. discriminating doc
| uments We're found on the prisoners
and it is expected that further arrests
will be made.
The officers arrested are Capt. Pat
terson, formerly of the Lancers; Col.
r. F. Nichols, Lieut.. j. Tremett, G. A.
Ellis, lately private detective al Jo-
Ihannesburg; Lieut.. John Allen Mitch
lell, formerly of the Horse Artillery;
former Sergeant J. Fries, j. p Hooper
and Nichols. None of them have been
in the employ of the British South
Africa Chartered Company.
| 1t is said that the Commissioner of
Police, who had the affair in hand, had
been working up the case four months.
Mr.. Beatty, the detective who effected
the arrests, received his instructions
| last week, and secured the necessary
warrants yesterday.
| The Executive Council of the Trans
vaal is sitting in secret session this
evening considering the arrests.
| The British Agent and Charge DAT
| flares, Cunningham Green, had an in
| terview with President Kruger this
afternoon, and expressed regret that
I l,,1
| form should be concerned in such a
movement. President Kruger replied
that he would not believe the prisoners
, were British officers until it had been
proved, adding that he hoped the affair
would not interfere with the proposed
meeting between himself and Sir AL
fred Miner Governor Of Cape Colony
and British High Commissioner for
South Africa.
JOHANNESBURG, May 16-Further
warrants have been issued. 1t is as
serted that the officers already arrest
led were also preparing to organize a
corps in Natal, the British colony be-
tween the Orange Free State and the
Indian ocean, to assist the projected
movement at Johannesburg.
CAPE TOWN, May 16.-According to
advices from Pretoria the charge
against the prisoners is that, while
staying in the Rand privately, they are
really engaged in enlisting men for the
purpose of rebellion when they were
ready to give the signal. 1t is said that
the enlistment roster included 1000
men and that a number of incriminat-
ing documents were found a the time
the arrests were made.
LONDON, May 16.-The arrests at
Johannesburg are probably connected
| ;, ho RI
lat johannesburg from Pretoria on May
18th, saying a special train fully
equipped with Boer artillerymen, guns,
and searchlight apparatus was being
held in readiness at the capital Of the
TranSvaal. The statement was then de-
clared without significance, but today's
news throws a more serious light on
the movement.
The afternoon newspapers today
print special dispatches from Cape
Town, saying that seven men have
been arrested at johannesburg and
have been taken to Pretoria. The Gov
ernment of the colony, it further APP
pears. is considering the matter secret
ly. The news has caused great excite
ment throughout South Africa.
The Standard and DiggerS' News,
the Beers organ in London, has a dis
patch from Pretoria which says that
the warrants were issued yesterday
evening by the State Attorney and
were executed at midnight. The dis
patch adds that a plot OF rebellion is
alleged to have been maturing for four
months. ana the accused, who are said
10 have been engaged by the South At
lean LeagUs, had already enlisted 1000
men.
Cecil Rhodes, the former president of
the Cape Colony. and who is interested
in the British Chartered South African
Company, says that he has heard moth
ing about the arrests at johannesburg
and knows nothing about the reason
for which they were made.
Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of
State for the Colonies. who was inter-
viewed in the lobby Of the House of
Commons this evening. said he had
heard nothing officially regarding the
arrests in the Transvaal and did not
think that too serious significance
ought 20 be attached TO them. No in
formation has reached him from South |
Africa. he asserted, that could lead him |
in any way TO anticipate or 10 explain |
the arrests.
The news caused considerable excite |
ment among the members. but little |
disposition was manifested to credit |
the runors of a rebelliOus conspiracy. |
Replying TO a question of Ellis Jones |
Griffith Liberal member for Angelsv. |
as to whether the Government had re-
ceived any information regarding the |
arrests, Mr. Chamberlain said he had
seen the press dispatches. but that no |
official information was at hand
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