Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-21
PREPARING FOR WAR,
Great Britain Quiet But Ex-
ceedingIV Active
CASE MAY NOT Be HOPELESS,
British Foreign OlhCe Far from Admit
Ting That II is.
BUTCHERS GOING INTO LAGER
The Merchants at johannesburg
Erecting Barricades In Front of
1heir shop Windows - Harcourt
Says Roth Sides Are Wrong.

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
ana day, preparing for the signal TO be-
gin hosiilities. whether that comes or not.
England is not going to be caught nap
ping, any more than the TransvaaI.
While Lord Salisbury 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 straining every nerve TO
eo"io troops and transport them to the
Cape.
1t may be set down for certain that
Great Britain will do nothing to precipi-
tate matters. and the Colonial Office is
far from admitting that the case is hope
less. The report that Great Britain had
demanded the dismantlement of the forts
at johannesburg, together with a mate
rial reduction i'm the armament of the
burghers, the Colonial Office to-day would
neither confirm nor deny, although it is
much doubted.
SIGNIFICANT CONFERENCES.
Meanwhile, the Marquis of T.ansdowne.
Secretary Of State for War. who return
ed this morning from Dublin, has held
long conferences with General Lord Gar
net Wolseley, field marshal. and General
Sir Evelyn Wood adjutant-general Of the
forces. and the activity at headquarters
Is rejected I'm the contract, supply. and
transport departments.
The departure of the transport Jelunga
FOR the Mediterranean to-day, with LOO
troops, was witnessed by a large and en-
thusiastic crowd.
At Woolwich the activity increases
daily, especially i'm the Ordnance Depart
ment, whore Maxim guns. Lyddite shells
balloon equipments. gas reservoirs
wagons for lime-light apparatus. water
carts, ambulances. army wagons. and
other paraphernalia Of modern warfare
are being hurried forward.
POSSIBLE PARLIAMENT SESSION.
While rumors Of the reassembling Of
Parliament are current, the fact is recall
ed that in the Afghan war, in 1878. Great
Britain declared war first and then as
sembled Parliament.
downe issued strict order 10 the star
OF the War Office. warning all subordi-
mates to refrain from giving the press
any information, without the authority
Of their superiors. and calling attention
to previous breaches Of duty in this re-
spect, which, the order says, "wiI be no
longer tolerated"
Advices from Cape Town this evening
are 70 the effect that the Afrikanders
declare that the Transyaal will not yieh
further, and that If the Imperial Gov
eminent does not recede from its present
position war is inevitable. The South
African News supports the contention of
the Transvaal that the convention of 1854
abolished the surzerainty.
BURGHERS GOING INTO LAGER.
According to other adyices. the burgh-
ers are rapidly going into lager.
while the exodus from johannesburg
yesterday reached 1000 persons. The
Stock Exchange at Johannesburg has re-
solved to close the moment martial law
is proclaimed, but all current contracts
Will be carried out until the proclama-
ton suspends all business. In the mean
time, the merchants are erecting barri-
cades in front of their shop-windows.
At Pretoria interest seems To be cen
tered i'm the meeting of the Orange Free
State Volksraad tomorrow Thursday.
which, it is hoped, may somehow s>g-
gest a modus vivendi that will save the
situation.
ON the other hand, advices from Bloom
fOntein announce the arrival there of
Il large number Of the members of the
Rad, adding that the result Of to-mor-
rows sitting is already agreed upon, as
the Orange Free State will throw in its
lot with the Transyaal, all the Free
State burghers being fully armed and
ready TO start at a moments notice.
A special dispatch from johannesburg
says that four hundred and fifty persons
left by one train to-day.
HARCOURT INDIGNANT.
Right Hon Sir William Vernon Har-
court. Liberal member Of Parliament for
west MonmOuthshire. and former leader
Of the Liberal opposition I'm the House
Of Commons, in the course Of an address
to his constituents, this evening in New
Tredegar. said he could not read the
persistent attempts of the way press TO
aggravate the Transvaal situation with
out indignation.
Great Britain" said the speaker, can
not claim general sovereignty in the
Transvaal when she has only partial
suzcrainty, and President Kruger can
not claim for the Transvaal the position |
Of an international sovereign state. Both |
sides, therefore. have made allegations |
which cannot be maintained by either"
Sir William declared that there was no |
,asus belli, and expressed the hope that |
he shameful catastrophe Of war might |
be averted.
ARREST OF BOER OFFICIALS.
CAPE TOWN. September 2O-The ar
rest of Boer officials by the Portuguese |
$ regarded as likely 10 create serious |
Bands of women are sending a peace |
appeal 10 Queen Victoria
Tally ADVISES KRUGER TO YIELD.
LONDON. September 2l.-A special dis
1atch from Rome says that the Italian
Government. in reply TO President Kru-
yer's request for intervention, mas al
Used him to yield.
KRUGER APPEALS TO VICTORIA.
LONDON, September 2l.-The Cape
Town correspondent of the Daily Mall
avs:
president Kruger has cabled strong
PERSONAL appeal 10 the queen. beseech-
NO her TO intervene TO prevent blood
he'd. Ii is about a column in length
nd is intende TO scarify the consciences
f the 'unco guild when published.
"Sir Alfred Miner has wired a courte-
us message TO President Steyn. assur-
NO him that the northward march OF
he British troops is not meant as A
menace to the orange Free State, and
equested information regarding the lat
ers attitude.
FIRST BATTLE AT BOSHoF?
"Reliable information has been re-
eiyed here that large command OF
rree State burghers has been collecting
ear Boshof. On the Kimberly border,
'wo hundred burghers were dispatcheu
o that point from BloemfonIein duiips