The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-22

London, August s1.-Thers Is no longer
any doubt that President Kruger has
refused to submit to the demand of Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain for the appointment
OF a court OF Inquiry. He may have doLe
so automatically or hedgingly; but that
his answer is regarded by the British
government as tantamount to a positive
refusal IS now an established fact. The
colonial office is normally non-committal,
but there aie other evidences which
amply justify the statement. The report
that President Kruger has proposed new
terms is somewhat verified by the guarded
comment of the colonial Office officials
and the irritabiiity displayed there There
Is not the slightsst doubt that they believe
war is the only way 30 settle the contro-
yersy.
They would far rather have a curt
defiant answer than the temporizing
reply which the Boer president has sent
With tho former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for quick com.
iuencement of hostilities Undsr the cir
cumstanoss which 1t Ii believed now
exist, aggressive action. needs consider
able explanation to justify 1t in the eyes
Of the world and the EngIi sh minority
who still declare war would be an out
rage. However, IL Mr.. Chamberlain has
his way, 1t Is believed President Kruger's
counter proposals will meet with scant
attention ard unless the Beers completely
bacK down, which is not likely, the crisis
viii quickly develop into war.
1t is gathered that the colonial office
has been aware of the nature Of the
Iransvaal reply for some days and it wa
communicated to the war Office, hence 1t
is probable Great Britain will delay the
dspouement as little as possible.
A high colonial official frankly ex.
pressed to a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press, his disgust Of what he
termed "Kruger's cupidity and hypo-
crisy." He said:
"Ihe kind OF game which he is playing
must be clear 10 Americans. The profess
tations OF the Beers that they wish TO live
quiet agricultural life may be the tune
of some one ON the veldt. but the gang
In Pretoria is simply after money.
Though President Kruger says many
harsh things of the Outlanders he never
hesitated to make money out of them.
either by fair or foul means.
"This Transyaal question cannot be
judged by recent ooou rrences. You must
go back fifty years. 1t has been hanging
fire ever since and the sooner it is settled
now, the better"
Though the official did not actually
say SO, It was clear that he believed war
was the only method of settlement.
1t Is learned that the government is
somewhat annoyed at the publio's slight
interest in the Transvaal.
The Official said to the Associated Press
representative; "Dreyfus seems the only
thing our people think about, though
England Is In most serious crisis.
This indifference Is, perhaps, TYPICAL
A special despatch from Cape Town
says there issgreat danger of an outbreak
of violence on the frontier and that the
SCUM OF South Africa are enlisting
throughout the colony and are being sent
to Pitsani and Jameson. on the bord or.
THE BOERs PRAYING.
Cape Town, August 81. Sunday was
observed throughout the Orange Free
state and Cape Colony with humiliation,
prayer and sermons, adyo oatings.a peace
full solution of the crisis. Mr. Snyther,
a leading Dutch reform preacher here,
referred to the close ties uniting the
Cape Dutch to those of the Transyaal
which, he added, were members of the
great Afrikander family. II war should
be declared, he asserted Great Britain
would commit o heinous crime before
God aud man, resulting In civil war In
Cape Colony.
There Is evidence OF growing uneasiness
at Johannesburg, gre,t crowds gathering
at the railroad station, expressing disap-
proval at the departures for Caps Colony
ard Durham, Natal.
KRUGER PRAYED.
Berlin, Augqst ei.-The Nsuten
Nacnristen publishes the following des.
patch from Pretoria:
president Kruger few days ago per-
sonally conducted church ssrvics prior
TO holding an official reception. In the
course of the ceremony he pfayed that n