The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-12
IRlNSVlll'S DEMAND
On GI eat Britain For an
Explanation.
MASSING BRITISH TROOPS

~. AGa ~ ~ e1(
Commissioners Miners Reply Causes
stormy Scenes in the vOlksraad-The
situation. II Changed NJ all,is for the
Worse-War Preparations Continued
Indian Troops 60 be Sent TO south
Africa
Pretoria, September AT the desire
of the Transvaal government there has
been translated through C~onyingham
Greene, the British diplomatic agent
here, to Sir Alfred Miner, the British
high commissioner of South Africa, an
inquiry as to whether an explanation
would be given in regard to the mobi-
~lization of British troops on the Trans
vaal frontier.
London, September IF the Trans
wall situation has changed at all since
yesterday, it is for the worse. The
Boer request for an explanation as to
the massing of British troops on the
frontier of the Transvaal has an. omi-
nous note of irritation n Impotence,
which, at such a critical stage, can
scarcely be interpreted as anything but
a defiance.
Both here and in Cape Colony the
tension and the arming continue.
Whether tomorrow's abine council
will afford immediate relief is still a
question of great doubt. The more
conservative believe that the abinet
will only put a time limit upon the ne
gotiations and that the interim will
merely be a repetition of the anxious
times which have marked the past few
weeks.
Capetown advices say the Afrikand-
ers regard the latest Boer reply as eva
sive, while others regard it as designed
to entangle the two governments in
further negotiations. The average
opinion Of the British press is inclined
to regard it as the straw which would
break the back of the most long suf-
fering diplomatic camel.
INDIA TROOPS FOR SOUTH
AFRICA.
Simla, September Three regiments
Of cavalry, and four regiments of in
fantry and three batteries of field ar
tillery AVE been formally warned to
prepare to leave their stations in India
at the shortest notice for service in
South Africa. The hospital outfits
have received similar orders.
London, September THE London
edition of the STANDARD and .Diggers
News, the official Boer organ, today,
says:
1--WE can state that the diplomatic
correspondence between the Transvaal
and the colonial office is a reassur-
ing and. that the dispute has now mar
rowed to an issue which should make
a settlement possible and ever speedy.
The Transvaal is prepared for all
eventualities, but remains hopeful of a
peaceful settlement"
Nothing which can be learned here
tends to confirm the foregoing state
ment, and, owing to the pro-Boer
source from which it is re-
garded with suspicion.
LAST HOPE OF PEACE GONE.
B~loemfontain, Orange Free State,
September Tt is understood that all
: the T%ransvaal artillery has been called
: out and that the burghers have been
notified to be ready.
D The latest reply of the T~ransvaal to
Great Britain is regarded as marking
the disappearance of the last hope OF
peace.
e Pretoria, September The proposed
conference mentioned in the Trans
. walls dispatch is the one mentioned
, by the secretary of state for the colo
MES, Mr.. Chamberlain, o July 18th. II
is declared officially that the Trans
vaal republic will accept such a confer
ence as soon as informed of the place
date and the names Of the members
who are to take part in it.
There was great excitement in the
raad today on Mr.. Coetser's interpella-
ton of the government regarding the
presence of British troops on the Dor
ders and the %stoppage of ammunition
consigned to the Transvaal.
!. President Kruger, the members of the
executive council and most of the
!. principals afficials were present, to-
gether with a large representation OF
the general public, including many la
dies.
At the outset, the chairman and pres
ident urged members to preserve calm
ness and to avoid insulting language
The state secretary, F. W. ReitZ
said he had called the previous day on
the British diplomatic agent, Mr.. Con
|, bingham Greene, and he asked him
!; what reply the government could give
in the volksraad regarding the alleged
assembling of British troops on the
borders and whether Mr.. Greene would
O communicate with the British high
' commissioner, Sir Alfred Miner. The
:. reply from Mr.. Greene, he continued,
{ had been received this morning and
was in the following terms:
. Dear Mr.. ReitZ:-The following is
; Sir Alfred Miners reply to the tele-
gram which I sent him at your request:
ct don't know to what Mr..
Reitz refers when he alludes to the
massing of troops. This must be the
British troops in South Africa, the po-
. sition and number of which are no Sc
I cret: but it is a matter of common
knowledge that they are here in order
y to protect British interests, and to
!, make provision against eventualities.' .
) Mr.. Coetser and other members then
I made violent speeches declaring that
. they could not understand Sir Alfred
! Miners reply, since the Transvaal had
never threatened the English colonies
|, cit is time" exclaimed Mr.. Coetser,
! "for the Transvaal also to repair foy
eventlalities."
Mr.. Tosen, who declared that Sir AL
fred Miners reply was tantamount &c
a declaration of war, read a telegram
. from the field cornet of Pietretief dis
. trict, stating that the people there
: would rise in rebellion If Presideni
, Kruger went to another conference.
: President Kruger, rising said: 1.-THE