Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-29
Conflict in Transvaal Expected Now
at Any Moment.
KRUGER SAYS IT MUST COME
Session of the British Cabinet
This Morning.
THE NEWS FROM AFRICA

the BrltlSn caDlnelS, on whose uelDeTatlOnS
practically, hangs war or peace in South
Africa. began at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
President kruger's reply to the last note
of the imperial government has now been
received and is the pivot of today's discus
sion. The dispatch from Cape Town ca
bled to the Associated Press is given the
leading place in the afternoon papers.
While it is too brief to give an adequate
idea of the TransvaaIs attitude. the i'm
preston it produced was rather favorable
than otherwise.
The crowds began to gather in the vi
cinity of the foreign office as early as II
o'clock. The home secretary, Sir Matthew
White Ridley, was the first to arrive. at
HIS. Mr.. A. j. Balfour, the first lord of
the treasury, came down from Scotland
and Lord Salisbury came from Hatfield.
They reached Downing street shortly after
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, the secretary
of state for the colonies, drove to the CO.
lcnal office at 1915 pm. AS he passed
through the crowd assembled in Whitehall
he was greeted with cheers. which were re-
rewed when he alighted.
force of police was stationed about
Downing street. but perfect order was
maintained
Result of the Meeting.
The cabinet adjourned at 3:15 pm. The
ministers were heartily cheered by the
waiting crowds 1t is said from Boer sources
that Mr. Chamber.ains proposals sub
mitted to the cabinet include an indemnity
for the cost of sending out troops, the dis
armament of the Transvaal forts. the sup
preston of DR.. Leyd's legation, Indicative
and legislative Independence for the judges,
the equality of the English and Dutch lam
guages, and full and complete admission
of the supremacy of British interests
throughout South Africa.
Warlike News From Africa.
In the meanwhile dispatches from the
Cape continue the story Of military activ-
ity in the Transvaal, Natal and Cape Col
ony. The Beers are concentrating in the
country contiguous to Natal. where the
first outbreak of hostilities Is likely to oc-
cur. Large contingents of Durghers are
converging from various parts of this prob
able battlefield. Excitement continues at
fever heat. The commandant,in-general has
issued a notice ordering the commanders
to assemble at specified spot on the Ma
tai border The commanders from Kru-
gersdorf, whose burghers checkmated the
Jameson raiders, will embark on trains for
the frontier tonight.
There is great activity at the war office
at Pretoria. The artillery reserves have
been called out, the arrangements to de-
fend the frontier are now complete and the
work of equipment is proceeding rapidly.
The burghers are congresated in the towns,
ready to join their commands, which, how
ever, have strict orders not to approach
too near the frontier and to avoid a COLI
sion with the British forces. The Boer
forces are gathering at their bases of ac-
ton, short distance from the border, such
as Harrismith, Volksrust, Vryheid and
BremerSdorp.
Telegraphc communication between Cape
Town and Pretoria has become strangely
de,ayed during the past couple of days. A
telegram received today says two batteries
of field artillery and 800 burghers have
started for Volksrust. and that another
800 men go there today.
The streets of Pretoria present a scene of
great military animation. Armed burghers
and artillerymen are riding about. the field
cornets being engaged i'll warning the
burgherS to be in readiness at a moments
notice.
Arrival of Ammunitio
A quantity of ammunition for Maxim
guns is reported to have arrived at Harri-
smith, and the bursher5 al Bremersdorp
received rifles and ammunition yesterday.
The men are practicng with the Maxim
gun.
A number of young Beers who have been
studying at Cape Town have started for
home.
The voksraad in secret session, has
passed high treason BILL providing fer
the coniscation of the property of burghers
who refuse service. A proposal sub
mitted to make the contiscation retroactive,
to include certain millionaires, but it
was rejCC ted.
A dispatch from Johannesburg reports a
meeting of the wholesale retail merchants
there to consider the steps to be taken for
the protection of the town. The chairman
said he had been Informed that the govern
ment did not intend to eXpel the British
subjects in the event of war. resolution
was passed in favor of forming / guard,
composed of merchants and property own
ers. and empowering a committee 10 pro-
cure funds to carry on the municipal gov
ernment.
From Bloemfontein. Orange Free State, it
is said on reliable authority that at a secret
session. the raad has passed a stringent
commando law. Burghers who have left
the Orange Free State recently have been
ordered to return, in default of $500 fine,
five years imprisonment and the confisca-
tion of their property.
From the British side come few further
particulars of military movements of
minor character, but all pointing to prepa-
rations to safeguard the frontier line, in the
event of war, until a sufficient force is as
sembled to take the offensive.
Kruger Talks Wnr.
dispatch to the Times from Pretoria
says:
"It As generally expected that state Of
war will be proclaimed at any moment
Prcs lent Kruger granted me an interview
today and declared he had done all possible
for the sake of peace. He had accepted Mr.
Chamberlain's own offer of a common in
quir but Mr.. Chamberlain deliberately
broke the thread of negotiations, troops
were niassed on all sides, and war was
forced upon him. 1t was impossible to ac-
cede to the dispatch of September Il
Such u course would have gwen the land
and people into the hands of strangers. AS
it was, his seven years proposal would. ac
corCing TO the field comets books. have
given the franchise to 80 600 persons, which |
was more t.:an 'he who.e number of Old
burSherS yet not one has come forward |
to take ii. The 0utlandeTs never really |
wanted the franchise. From the first they |
refused 10 80 or the conn.andoes and reg
ister2d IN hLa.seiFss ;8as aliens. Afterward
Lord l,cch secured eyellNptioh for them on
the same terms as ;hs Portuguese He Z.
wished tc indsgnant4y deny Mr.. Chamber
lains charge that Re HAD br6ken his pre- m |
ise mace during Tie discussion preceding
the Pretoria conv entiprls OF 1881, that he
would treat a. Immigrants equally with |
the Old bIrSherS. lie dad always been |
ready 10 treat tEen AND they had always
refused.
In conclusion. l asked f there was still
q possibility of peace.
Nc, he replied. adding, after pause, |
en!css the other side will. do something to
The correspondent adds that Dsrhaps It u