The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-17
Result Will Be War or Ieno-
minious Submission.
ULTIMATUM IS EXPECTED
kruger's Hand VIII Not Be Forced
Until Reinforcem Have Ar
rived at the Cape - He May
Raid Natal
1899 by Associated Press.

is known Tonight, has been formulated
and is in the hands of the British agent
at Pretoria Furthermore the wires of
the foreign office are busy with long
dispatch from the British high COM
missioner in South Africa, Sir Alfred
Miner to the secretary of state for the
colonies, Joseph Chamberlain, which is
being rapidly repeated to the latter's
Birmingham home, so the contents of
the Beers reply will probably rest to-
night with Great Britain's colonial sec
| retary.
Unless South Africa is peopled with
| false prophets, the Beers have either
| eVaded or defled what practically
amounted to an ultimatum from the
British cabinet. From the tenor of
| their recent communications to Mr..
| Chamberlain, they could scarcely be
| expected TO do otherwise. However as
| frequentely pointed out in these dis
patches, this presumed action upon the
| part of the Beers does not make war
| a certainty, though it does place the
British cabinet in a position where it
must take steps so aggressive that war
or utter ignominious submission will be
the only alternatives remaining to the
TransvaaL This new phase of the crisis
also gravely increases the probability
that the Beers will take time and di-
plomacy by the forelock and raid Ma
tai confiscate the mines, arrest the uil-
landers for high treason and otherwise
resent while the British transports are
in mid-ocean, what they believe is an
attempt to rob them of their independ-
ence.
If the course of diplomacy is not fore
shadowed the British cabinet will meet
again and formulate specific demands
far more sweeping than the last ones.
These will be transmitted to Presi-
dent Kruger in the shape of an .ulti-
matum AS the members of the cab-
net are scattered throughout the coun-
try it is improbable that a council
could be gathered till Monday night at
the earliest, and there is every reason
to believe the British government will
exhibit no undue haste in forcing Pres
ident Kruger's hand for it Is palpabls
more important to have $1,000 reinforce
ments on the scene of action than gain
the gratitude of the importunate out
landers. who for weeks have been cry
ing for immediate aggressive action.
The logic of such a policy must be
equally patent to President Kruger:
1t is hardly conceivable that he will
await the arrival of the British REIN
forcements before taking the initiative.
If he displays such position he will
strengthen the belief that he intends
to back down at the last moment.
President Kruger's rumored refusal
of the latest demands has lost him
many friends in England.
The reported formal alliance between
the Transvaal and the Orange Free
States has also done much to ALLEVIATE
the feelings of those Englishmen in
clined to sympathize with the Trans
vaal, though it is scarcely believed that
the Orange Free State will take an
active part, more likely confining itself
to passive unrecognized assistance, as
in the war of 1880.
The selection of General Sir George
Stewart White to command the troops
in Natal meets with universal approval
as also does the announcement that in
the event of war General Sir Redvers
Butler will take supreme command in
South Africa. Both are men of great
experience, bravery and fearlessness.
The departure of the troops from
Southampton for Natal to-day was
marked by such scenes as have not oc-
Cured in England for many years.
Wives. daughters, sweethearts and
friends crowded around the Northum-
berland fusiliers, or as they are better
known, THE Fighting Fifth" on the
stations and at the docks, crying, wav-
ing hats and handkerchiefs and cheer
ing, mixing grief and patriotism as men
and women do only when those dear to
them go TO war. Most of the special
officers wore civilian clothes, but as
many of them were well known they
We're quickly recognized and received
ovations. OF the Fighting Fifth
nearly all wore the Khartoum medals
The long-winded negotiations with
the Beers have apparently not inf1amed
the British populace Among the ordi
nary classes the excitement is less acute
than some weeks ago. A significant in
stance of this was seen at the Palace
Music hall, which is packed nightly
with all sorts and conditions from the
highest lowest TrnniHql
dealing with the probable confusion of
President Kruger and the wiping out
of the Majuba Hill defeat. were re-
ceived with faint applause, not ap-
preaching to patriotic enthusiasm, but
Geographic pictures of the Dreyfus case
brought the audience to its feet yelling
and waving hats and handkerchiefs and
women crying.
Curiously, NJ. Labori received the
lions share of the applause while Cen
eral MERCER and Colonel Jouaust We're
hissed as Emperor William of Germany
was hiSsed over the Jameson raid in
CiGcnt.
Another straw showing the idiosyn
cracies of British sentiment was evil
denced by the biograph pictures of the
international yacht race. The Columbia
received generous applause, while the
Shamrock only received a feeble ae-
acknowledgement Such striking apathy
in connection with an International
race is without precedent. Perhaps the
trend of sentiment may change when
the contest actually takes place.
The secretary of state of the colonies,
Mr. Chamberlain, is expected to bring
in the federal ena abling bill early next
session. which is the only step now re-
quired to fill the desire of the Austral-
ians. The joint majority in favor of the
commonwealth bill in the colony is es-
timated at 100000. Lord Jersey, 1T is ru-
n1Ored will be the first governor gem
eral and Sir George Turner the first
premier.
The British admiralty is experiencing
the same difficulty as was encountered