The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-29
WAR As A PEACE MEANS
British View of Trans
vaal Situation.
AIMS OF GREAT BRITAIN


render 81 the Latter Country-No Pros
pect Of Peace with the Eoers Inds-
pendent-EngIand's Active Prepara-
tions for War.
London, September 21-Notices for
the adjourned cabinet council were for
warded this afternoon and the chief
government whip will be on hand to
give Immediate effect to any decision
arrived at regarding the re-assembling
of parliament.
Information from Blomfontein this
evening leaves little doubt that the
Orange Free States volksraad is unan-
imous in supporting the TransvaaL
More important light is thrown on
the situation by a frank statement to-
day to the Associated Press by Sir
Walter Peace, agent general for Natal
in London, who fought against the
Beers in former years. He said:
THE attitude of the Orange Free
State means it's inevitable acquisition
by Great Britain. Peace in South At
RIGA can only be accomplished by war.
In my opinion a war would not last
more IMAM TWO ILOlLiIS. III VI ~
make p~acification effective Great Brit
ain must assume absolute control over
the whole of South Africa.
$50 far as the position of Natal is
concerned, all this talk about poor, un-
defended Natal is nonsense. There
will be little or no fighting in Natal, if
it ONE to a war. and 1 fear that no
other issue is now possible. What do
you think 1O, 900 British troops would
be doing while this much talked Of
.Boer raid was in progress? Our rail
ways are in good working order and
our troops a be transported quickly.
The bad weather conditions have been
magnified. A campaign could be car
ried on just as we'll as in any other
season.
1.-TWO months from the day General
Sir Redvers Butler lands the fighting
will be over. If the Free State had been
loyal fighting would not have lasted
fourteen days. 1t is the luckiest thing
IN the world, however, that the Free
State has been foolish enough to take
a hostile attitude, for that means her.
addition to British possessions. The
Free State would always have been a
disturbing factor in the quiet of South
Africa.
Great Britain has the power to
work out ultimate peace. 1t remains
to be seen whether she has the spirit.
Upon the conclusion of war, which
OS III ~ NC Cl-
fective, British control must be abso-
lutte over all South African Cape
Colony, Natal and other sections. Half
measures would only prolong unrest
and produce more disturbances.
81 have known the Beers as we'll as
any man. I nave lived among them
and 1 have fought them. To exist
peacefully so close to them is an utter
i~mpossibility. Negotiations are we'll
enough in their way, but British con-
troll of the Transvaal must come even
tually. For years the Beers nave been
crying Throw the Uitlander into the
Sea!' and Out with him. Possibly
they are lot so verile as during the
last war, but there is little difference.
NV idea is that if the Beers were
caught in the open once or twice the
thing would be ended. Kill 500 of them
and all that would remain for Eng
land to do would be to send a few
.shiploads of Grape. They never nave
stood in the open and if war comes
o they will have to do more thai
stay in the hills. This is not optimis-
tic twaddle, u an opinion based upon
my experience in campaigns against
the Beers. I nave not the slightest
fears for the safety of my colony or
its towns. 1t is possible that a few
Boer incursions might get a few miles
into Natal, but no further, and it must
be remembered that many Of those
living on the edge of the Natal Dor |
der themselves Beers" |
THE SITUATION INTENSIFIED.
The %uati remains unchanged
though, if anything, the feeling of
gloom has deepened. Cablegrams from |
Pretoria and Cape Town show thai the |
general impression prevails there that |
the Beers will not recede from their |
position, and that the feeling of unrest |
at Pretoria has been intensified. A
dispatch today that the
dransvaal government has begun to ap-
point officers to go to the front in case |
Of hostilities.
RAISING AN AMERICAN CORPS. ]
A telegram from johannesburg says |
an American named Blake is raising
an American corps of 500 men for the !
Beers.
On the Cape side the dispatches show
great military activity in the direction
Of the frontier.
Most of the British residents nave
Seft PietermaritZburg, Natal, and the
northern part Of the Transvaal,
whittier, it is announced. commands of
$50 burghers will shortly proceed.
A dispatch to The Pail Mall Gazette
from Cape Town reports evidences Of
unrest among the Gri Quas and Pondos
and q section of the Bechuanas and
Aatabeles. 1t is feared they will re-
volt in the event Of war.
II wal O11lCS HAS OIuSTGu the WHOLE i
transports and supply ships for an
army corps to prepare to proceed to
the Cape. This is an important order
and implies the early dispatch Of an
army corps.
The Currie line has just received an
erder from the admiralty to prepare
the Dreamer Castle, Of that line, to
sail for the Cape October 9Th with 1,4O0
officers and men. This is. an entirely
fresh batch of troops n the compo-
Sition Of it is unknown.
In spite Of these warlike preparations
South African circles in London believe |
there will be no war and that the Beers |
will finally concede the British de-
and !
London, September THE Cape |
Town correspondent of the Daily News |
says:
THE ass of Laings Mex will be oc-
cupied tomorrow CThursday) with suff1-
crent strength for present needs, under !
N ALI 41~-A n lin ~ IL