The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-14
KRUGER'S REPLY.
TrauSYaal'S Answer to British
UItimatum Received.
It's Nature Is Being Carefully
Guarded In London.
ACTION
COmmander-In-Chief of the
Army Was Told.
He Immediately Summoned the
Ouartermaster General.
Orange Free State Decides to
Stand by Dom Paul.

London. Sept 1.-THE TranSVaaI 5
reply to the last note of the British
secretary of state for the colonies. NIr.
Chamberlain has been received, but its
nature is not yet known
At the colonial office a reporter Of the
Associated Press was informed that
nothing viii be given out for the pres
ent.
It was regarded as significant, how
ever, that the nature of the Boer replJ-
was communicated to the commander
in chief. Field Marshal Lord WolSe-
ley who Immediately summoned Gen
Sir George Stewart White. Y c, for
mer Quartermaster general, the pros
pectfve commander of the British for
ces in Natal.
WILL STAND BY KRUGER.
BIOemfOntein, Orange Free State
Sept. 1.-THE members of the raad Of
the Orange Free State have been nou-
fed to be ready to be summoned for an
extraordinary session at moments 5
notice.
The burghers of the Orange Free
State at meeting just held, passed
resolution to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the TransvaaI in case of hostili-
WAR INSTRUCTIONS
Johannes burg. Sept 1.-THE war in
structiOns issued to railway officials d.
rect them TO remain at their posts as
long as possible When the enemy
Seizes any section of the line the OIL
cials must go the next unseized poin-.
10eK are IOrDlGQeu 10 carry arms OF 10
resist any regular force.
SAYS HE'S AN AMERICAN
Mafeking Sept 14-AIr. Macarthur,
who was recently arrested at Zerust in
the TransvaaL as spy and sentenced
TO a years imprisonment, claims to be
an American citizen The United States
consul at Kimberly is investigating the
matter
Mr.. Ellis. his former companion, on
being discovered at a bOer meeting IN
Iadysmith. was tarred and feathered-
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
London. Sept 14.-3-20 p. NAT this
hour the South African adVices con-
tinue most conflicting regarding the
tenor of President Kruger's answer to
Mr.. Chamberlain
The Morning Post in a second edition
prints a special dispatch from Pieter-
maritzburg. capital of Natal. saying
the reply is '-truculent, lOquacious and
blasphemous.
The Manchester Guardians CORE
spondent at Cape Town teIegraphs
saying the outlook is of the gloomiest
character
The Cape Town papers themselves
take a more hopeful view of the situa-
ton basing their belief on the probable
acceptance by President Kruger of
the franchise measures suggested in
Mr.. Chamberlain's latest dispatch But
even they admit 1t is Impossible to
learn or foreshadOw Kruger's attitude
toward the suzerainty of Great Britain,
which after all is still the main issue
The tension now existing here and a
the Cape may be temporarily settled a
any moment by the publication of
President kruger's reply On the other
hand it may be several days before the
general public learns what answer the
TransvaaI has made. If President
Kruger has answered defiantIy it does
not necessarily mean the immediate
breaking of of negotiations. The Brit
ish would probably reply with an un-
mistakable ultimatum. It is scarcely
to their advantage to bring about hos
tilities until the reinfOrcements are
nearer the scene of action than they are
a present Whatever the nature of
President Kruger'S reply it is prOba BILE
that several more stages of diplomatic
processes viii be gone through with be-
fore there is a definite war or peace,
unless, of course, President Kruger
should take the initiative and raid
Natal. 1t IS the possibility of this
move that makes definite news of his
reply SO eagerly and anxiOusIy awaited.
NOT THE REPLY ITSELF.
London, Sept 1.-THE consul general
of the South African republic. Mr. Mon
tague White, said to a reporter of the
Associated Press today; 7 have good
authority for believing that the Tra MS
vaal reply VIII be unsa atisfactory 10 the
British government.
The news received by Mr.. Cham ber-
lain today, il is now said, was probably
Information regarding the nature of the
BOer reply.
Whether this came from President
Kruger or was merely the British
agents forecast it is impossible to say
The next of the reply will not be re-
ceived in all probability for several
days
The latest advices from Pretoria say
the TranSVaal government has com
pleted the first draft of the reply which
was then being considered by the raad
in secret session