The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-20
BOER WAR CLOUD
Fears That the African Re-
public May Start Hos
tilities = England
Going Slowly.
TBy cable 70 The Associated PRESS j


LONDON, Sept 20 99.--Great Britain's
relations with the Transvaa1 remain un-
changed and, so far as the former is con-
cerned, the situation is not likely TO take
on a. new phase until after Fridays Cab
met Council. Whether the Beers will be
content to wait even that long before end
ing the suspense with hostilities appears
open to a great deal of doubt.
The second edition of the Morning
POST contains dispatch from Petermar-
itzburg. Natal. dated September 10. say
ing
II have never known the situation TO be
graver. The Beers only await two days
rain on the Veldt before beginning hos
tilities. They are determined on war and
consider they can expect nothing else
after the last despatch and are prepared
to face the consequences"
The correspondent then describes In de-
tail the Beers elaborate border prepara-
tions, which appear more thorough and
formidable than heretofore believed He
says the Orange Free State officers at
Pretoria have devised combined plan of
Majuba, Laing's Neck and Newcastle,
Natal, the moment the ultimatum ar
rfves.
Continuing, the correspondent asserts
that the Portuguese officials at Risanio-
Garcia have arrested some Boer officials
on the charge of constructing a laager
in Portuguese territory.
The Outlander Council, as the result of
meetings held at Pietermaritzburg and
johannesburg, has decided to address a
communication to the British High Com
missioner. Sir Aired Miner. urging the
Imperial Government to break on negoti-
ations with the Transvaal. The reasons
for this action are that "the severe dis
tress prevailing may compel the remain-
ing Outlanders to accept any compromise
offered, that loyal British subjects are
becoming discontented and that great un-
rest exists among the natives"
1t should be born in mind, however.
that Pietermaritzburg has been the Nee
ca of the alarmists. and the Morning
Posts" dispatches are inclined to be SER
sational.
The Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain. spent the day at
the Colonial Office. He looked completely
worn out by anxiety.
A despatch from Pretoria says that at
meeting of Belgians there a corps was
enthusiastically formed to help the Beers
in case of war.
Secretary of State Reitz is quoted as
saying that in case of war the aliens
could remain in the Transvaal provided
they guaranteed their good behaviour.
The presence of the Orange Free State
officers at Pretoria is confirmed. Nu-
merous field cornets are at the Boer
capital.
The second edition of the Times" prints
despatch from johannesburg, dated
yesterday, saying
'Outwardly Johannesburg is quiet. Ihe
prevailing feeling, however, is one or IN
tense uneasiness, owing to the possibility
of martial law being proclaimed at any
moment. 1t probably will be proclaimed
at the end of the week. It Is said that
when this is done the Government Will
insist on all persons unfavorable TO the
Beers leaving within forty-eight hours.
The same correspondent says that
person having access to the inner circles
at Pretoria tells him that a further de-
spatch from the Secretary of State for
the Colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
September Is, demanding the dismantle-
ment of the Boer forts, the reduction OF
the armament BY seventy-five per cent.
and that nothing be said regarding this.
AS a clue to this fact the Beers are great
ly perturbed and are keeping the matter
secret until they have decided on plan
of action.
Yesterday, but nothing has been ascer-
tanned tending to confirm 1t, and, in spite
of the Times correspondent s reltera-
ton it is looked upon as improbable