The record-union., 1899-09-21
BOERS READY
FOR The CONFLICT.
The Preparations as Complete as
Could Be Hoped For.
Officers Urging The Government to Begin
Hosti|ties Forthwith.
Despite the Outward Show Of Calm
at London. the British Military
Officials Are Working Night and
Day Preparing for the Signal
to Begin the Conflict.

LONDON, Sept. 21.-The Johannes
burg correspondent of the Morning
Post" says: The Boer preparations are
as complete as the Government can
hope to make them. 1t is believed
that martial law will be proclaimed on
Thursday if no reply has been received
from England by that time.
1t is understood the dispatching of
British troops to South Africa will DE
regarded as a caSuS belli.
The Boer officers are urging the Gov
ernment to begin hostilities forthwith.
II is felt that the Orange Free State
can be best forced to action by sue
cessful military demonstration ON the
part of the Transvaal.
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM.
LONDON, Sept. 20.-Despite all out
ward show of calm, Great Britain is in
practically the same condition to-day
as was the United States a few weeks
before the opening Of the war with
Spain. Beneath the crust of diplomatic
reserve, the military officials are
working night and day preparing for
the Signal to begin hostilities, whether
that comes or not. England is not GO
ing to be caught mapping any more
than the Transvaal. While Lord Sal
isbury is quietly at home in Hatfield
House, Mr.. Chamberlain is buried in
work at the Colonial office, and double
forces at the royal arsenal and dock
yards are str4aining every nerve TO
equip and transport troops to the Cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain will do nothing to pre-
cipitate matters, and the Colonial Of
flee is far from admitting that the case
is hopeless.
The report that Great Britain had
demanded the dismantlement of the
fort at Johannesburg, together with a
material reduction in the armament of
the Burghers. the Colonial Office to-
day would neither confirm nor deny,
although it is much doubted.
Meanwhile the Marquis of Lans-
downe, Secretary of State for War,
who returned this morning from Duo
lin, has held long conferences with
General Lord Garnet Wolseley, Field
Marshal, and General Sir Evlyn Wood,
Adjutant General to the forces, and the
activity at headquarters is reflected in
Dartments.
The departure of the British trans
port Jeluinge for the Mediterranean to-
day with LOO troops was witnessed by
large and enthusiastic crowd.
At Woolwich activity increases dali
ly. and especially in the ordnance de-
partment, where Maxim guns, balloon
equipments, shells. gas reservoirs
wagons for limelight apparatus, water
carts, ambulances, army wagons and
other paraphernalia of modern warfare
are being hurried forward.
Advices from Cape Town are to the
effect that the Afrikanders declare that
the Transvaal will not yield further,
and that if the Imperial Government
does not recede from its present posi-
ton war is inevitable. The South Af-
rican News supports the contention of
the Transvaal that the convention of
1884 abolished the suzerainty.
According to other advices, the
Burghers are rapidly going into Laa-
ger, while the exodus from Johannes
burg reached 1000 persons yesterday
The Stock Exchange at Johannesburg
has resolved to close the moment mar
tial law is proclaimed, but all current
contracts will be carried out until the
proclamation suspending all business
At Pretoria all seems to be centered
in the meeting of the Orange Free
State Volksraad tomorrow cThursday).
which it is hoped may somehow sug-
gest modus vivendi that would save
the situation
On the other hand, advices from
Bloemfontein announce the arrival
there of large number of members of
the Raad. adding that the result of to-
morrow's sitting is already agreed on,
as the Orange Free State will throw in
its lot with the Transvaal, all the Free
State Burghers being fully armed and
ready to start at moments notice.
A special dispatch from Johannesburg
says that 40 persons left by one train
to-day.
The Uitlander Council, as the result
of meetings held at Pietermaritzburg
and Johannesburg, has decided TO ad-
dress communication to the British
High Commissioner, Sir Alfred Miner,
urging the Imperial Government to
break off negotiations with the Trans
vaal The reasons for this action are
that the severe distress prevailing may
compel the remaining Uitlanders to ac-
(
cept any compromise offered; that loyal
British subjects are becoming discon-
tented and that great unrest exists
among the natives.
Tt should be borne in mind, however,
that Pietermaritzburg has been the mec-
ca of the alarmists, and the Morning
Posts dispatches are inclined to be
sensational.
The Secretary of State for the Col
onies, Joseph Chamberlain, spent the
day at the Colonial Office. He looked
completely worn out by anxiety.
A dispatch from Pretoria says that
at a meeting of Belgians there a corps
was enthusiastically formed to help the
Beers in case of war Secretary of
State Reitz is quoted as saying that in
case of war the aliens could remain in
the Transvaal. provided they guaran-
teed their good behavior.
The presence of the Orange Free
State officers at Pretoria is confirmed
Numerous field comets are at the Boer
capital.
The second edition of the s'Times''
prints a dispatch from Johannesburg,
dated yesterday, saying: "OutwardIy.
johannesburg is quiet. The prevailing