Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-08


high commissioner in South Africa. an
inquiry as TO whether an explanation
would be given in regard TO the mobili-
zation Of British troops on the Trans
vaal frontier.
OMNIBUS NOTE
LONDON, September If the Trans
wal situation has changed at all since
yesterday. it is for the worse. The Boer
request for an explanation as to the
massins of British troops on the frontier
Of the Transvaal has an ominous note
OF irritation and impatienco, which, at
such a critical stage, can scarcely be in
terpreted as anything but a defiance.
Both heDe and In Cape Colony the tension
and the arming continue Whether to-
morrow's Cabinet Council will afford i'm
mediate relief is still a question Of great
doubt. The more conservative believe
that the Cabinet VIII only put time
limit upon the negotiations, and that the
interim Will merely be a repetition Of the
anxious times which have marked the
past few weeks.
BOHR REPLY EVASIVE.
regard the latest Boer reply as evasve
while others regard It as designed to
entangle the two governments IN further
negotiations The average opinion Of tho
British press is inclined to regard it as
the straw which would break the back
Of the most long-suferisg diplomatic
camel.
TROOPS IN INDIA WARNED.
CALCUTTA. September 7.-Three rcgi-
rnents of cavalry, four regiments OF In
fantry, and three batteries of field ar,il-
lery have been formally warned TO pre-
mare TO leave their stations in India ~
| the shortest notice, for service I'm South
| Africa.
DIGGERS' NEWS STILL HOPEFUL.
LONDON, September 6-rhe London
| edition of the Standard and Diggers
News. the official Boer organ, to-day
says:
1--WE can state that the diplomatic oor-
| t-esponeeace betwccD the Transva1l ana
the Colonial Once is Of a reassuring nd
ture. and that the dispute has now hdr-
rowed 70 an issue which should make
settlement possible, and even SPEEDY. ne
Transvaal is prepared for ali eventuaii-
test bul ISiHd4hS AA'fNA"' -
settlement"
Nothing which can be learned here
| tends 10 confirm the foregoing statement.
| and owing to the prof. oer source from
| which it emanates, 1t Is regarded wtn
| suspicion.
| BOER ARTILLERY CALLED OUT.
| RIOENfPONTEIN. September 1T Is
| understood that all the Transvaal artil-
| lerv has been called Que, and that mo
| burobers have been notified TO be ready.
The latest reply Of the Transvaal TO
Great Britain is regarded as m4rRng
| me disappearance OF the last hope VI
! peace.
| Beers WILL ACCEPT CONPhNENCH'
PRETORIA, September THE proposed
conference mentioned IA the 1rsnsvaaI $
| last dispatch IS the one mentioned by me
| ae,r.tarv OF state for the Colonies, III.
| Chamberlain, on July 29th.
| II Is declared officially that the Trans
| oaal republic will accept such confer
ence as soon as Informed OF the place, the
| date and the names OF the members VINO
| are 60 take part IN II.
EXCITEMENT IN THE RAAD.
| PRETORIA. September 7.-There was
| great excitement in the Raad to-day, on
| MIR Coetzer's Interpolation OF the gov
| eminent regarding the presence OF British
| troops on the border, and the stoppage
| of ammunition consigned 20 the Trans
wal.
President Kruger, the members OF the
| Executive Council and most OF the prln-
| ciual officials were present together win
| large representation OF the general pub
| lie. including many ladies'
| At the outset, the chairman and Pres'-
| dent urged members TO preserve calm
ness. and TO avoid insulting language.
| The State Secretary. +. w Reitz said
| ne had called the previous day on the
| British diplomatic agent Mr. Conyngham
| Green and had asked him what reply
| the government could give In the Nolks-
| raad regarding the alleged massinS OF
| British troops on the border, and VINO
! ther Mr.. Green would communicate WITH
! the British High Commissioner, Sir Al
fred Miner. The reply from Mr.. Green
he continued, had been received TINS
morning, and was IN the following terms
Dear Mr.. Reitz,-The following is Sli
Alfred Miners reply to the telegram
which / sent him az your request,
don't know to what Mr.. ReitE refers wher
| he alludes 10 the mdssing OF troops. Inns
must be the British troops IN SGuti
Africa. the position and number OF which
are no secret but II il matter or com
mon knowledge that they are here II
order TO protect British interests and Z
make provision against eventualities.
VIOLENT SPEECHES.
My Coetzer and other members ther
mode violent speeches, declaring that the.
could not Understand Sir Alfred Miner
replv since the Transyaal had neyel
Threatened the English colonies.
II Is time. exclaimed Mr.. Coetzer. FOL
the Transvaal to prepare for eventual
|.
one member said 1.-THE transaction 4
i've purting a revolver into mans face
Another concluded warlike narangu'
in this strain
"it is time to send our burghers TO th'
border TO ask those troops what theS
want The fire is bound 10 start. 30 le
them light 1t and allow II to burn GU
quicldI. -. s,,,,
| oe affairs. Business Is ruined and th'
public Treasury is drying up. Chamber
lain Is trying TO ruin the country.
The debate continued throughout the
| afternoon.
Mir. Toset who declared that Sir ALFRED
Miners reply was 'antamount 10 a de-
cIaration of war. read a telegram from
the field cornet Of the Pietretief District
stating that the people there would rise
in rebellion II President Kruger went Il
another conference. The chairman called
Nr Toset 10 order for saying that the
Jameson raiders ought 10 have beer
hanged.
SPEECH FROM KRUGER.
President Kruger. rising. said: '"rh.
aliens have been offered equal rights will
| the burghers, but have refused them, Mr.
| Chamberlain Is striving To get the iran
chise. which the Outlanders DO not war,