The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-13
British Soldiers
Threaten Jransyaal.
Beers Demand Meaning of
Their Presence on Frontier.
KRUGER SPEAKS PLAINLY.

Pretoria, Sept. 7-At the desire
of the Transvaal government there
has been transmitted through Conyn.
gham 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 mobilization of British troops
on the Transvaal frontier.
There was great excitement in the
raad today on Mr.. Coetser's Interpret
lation of the government regarding
the presence OF British troops on the
borders and the stoppage of ammnni-
; ton consigned to the Transvaal.
President Kruger, the members Of
the executive council and most of the
principal officials were present, to.
gesher with a large representation Of
the general public, including many
ladies.
At the outset the chairman and
president urged members to preserve
caimness and to avoid insulting Ian.
guage
The state secretary, F. W. Rei!z,
said he had called the previous day
on the British diplomatic agent, Mr..
Conyngham Greene, and had asked
him what reply the government
could give in the volksraad regarding
the alleged massing of British troops
on the borders, and whether MIR.
Greene would communicate with the
British high commissioner, Sir Alfred
Miner
The reply from Mr.. Greene, he
continued, had been received this
morning and was ia the following
terms:
Dear. Mr. Raitz: The following is
Sir Alfred Miners reply TO the tele
gram which l sent him at your
request 81 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
position and number of which are 10
secret, but it is a matter of common
knowledge that they are here in
order to protect British interests
and to make provision against even
Qualities "
Mr. Coetser and other members
then made violen. speeches declaring
that they could not understand Sir
Alfred Miners reply, since tie Trans
vaa! had never threatened the English
colonies
.It is time" exclaimed Mr. Coet-
ser, "for toe Transvaal also to pre-
pare for eventualities
One member said "England's &C
tion is like putting revolver into a
mans face
Another concluded a warlike hsr
rangue in this strain '1t is time to
send our burghers to the Borders to
ask these troops what they want.
The Ere is bound to start. So let
them light it and allow it to burn out
quickly. War is better than the
present state of affairs. Business is
ruined and the public treasury is dry.
ing up Chamberlain is trying to
ruin the country I"
The debate continued throughout
the afternoon
Mr.. Tosep, who declared that Sir
Alfred Miners reply was tantamount
to declaration of war, read a tele
gram from tie field cornet of the
Pietretief district, stating that the
people there would rise in rebellion
if president Kruger wen, to another
conference
The chairman called Mr. Tosen to
order for saying that the Jameson
raiders ought TO have been hanged.
President Kruger, rising, said:
sThe aliens nave been offered equal
rights with the burgners, but have
refused them Mr. Chamberlain is
striving to get the franchise. which
the Ou.landers do not want, but what
he really desires is possession of the
Transvaa. The burghers are willing
to coucede much for the sake of
peace, but will never sacrifice their
independence I"
After eulogizing Mr. Gladstone's
action is retrocession in 1891 as a
noble deed, President Kruger said
that if it now came to fighting the
Almighty would be the arbiter. He
urged the members to show modera-
ton, reminding them that the reply
from Mr.. chamberlain was en- route
and pointing oat that if tine proposal
for the commission were sgreed to.
the republic would send delegates to
further discuss matters and if possi.
BILE to make peace