The San Francisco call., 1899-10-01
versions in various parts Of the gIobe.

versions in various parts of the globe
Bereft of the countless, confusing
phases, due to secrecy regarding the
intentions of the Government involved
and the contradictory reports from the
troubled territory, the most probable
solution of the situation seems this:
The Beers, who evidently must see the
efforts of the British Government to
avert hoStilities until the arrival of re-
endorsements. having, weeks ago,
planned a campaign, will put it into
operation perhaps as early as this
week They will probably avoid en-
gagements and devote their energies to
the destruction of property and the cap
ture of pris 1ners, and perhaps raid on
DelagOa Bay. 1t seems unlikely that
they will attack via Laings Neck and
other passes of that country, for the
simple reason that these points are so
openly talked about as their probable
points Of aggression, keenest observers
believe it to be more likely that the
Beers will operate through Zululand,
thus creating a diversion Of the $4,000
British troops now chiefly maSsed At
Lady Smith or in it's neighborhood.
In the meanwhile, or perhaps pre-
vious to this, a British army corps con-
sisting of 10000 men or more will be
sent out Parliament Will be sum-
moned, and no doubt the necessary sup
plies will be granted. though there Will
be some hot debating.
Regarding the plans of campaign of
the respective armies there is no reli-
able information, though it is the gen
eral assumption that the main object
of the British will be the capture of
Pretoria The duration of the conflict
is a; matter Of widest SurmiSe, though
Continental and British papers do not
express the faintest doubt that 1t Will
result in the defeat of the Beers and
1F Great
Britains colonies.
Were peace or war dependent merely
upon matters of suZerainty or the fran
chise there might be some hope that
hOstilities may be averted at the last
moment. But the Associated Press
learns that apparently there is truth in
what the peace party papers have often
limited at; that is. to say, that the un-
derlying motive actuating the British
Government throughout the negotia-
tions has been the suppression OF what
it has reason to believe was q far
reaching conspiracy for the establish
ment of a Dutch faction from Zambesi
TO the Cape The authority for this
statement is Mr.. Chamberlain himself.
In conversation, so a representative
Of the Associated Press was reliably in
formed the Secretary of State for the
Colonies said that one great feature of
the situation, which could not be
brought before the public for fear that
1.-The Government object might be mis-
Interpreted, was the Cabinets we'll
defined understanding that for months
carefully fOstered plot had been in
progress to form a Dutch federation.
He also referred to the action of the
Orange Free State and to that of the
Afrikander members of the Cape Legis-
lature, which somewhat confirm Mr..
Chamberlains view; for it IS impossible
to believe that such important steps
would result from mere spontaneity Of
sentiment on a current dispute.
It has long been suspected that the
! Cabinet was prompted by more vital
quertions than. the Outlander rights,
and, if Mr.. Chamberlain is quoted cor
rectly 1t would appear that Great Brit
ain viii not stop until treasured Of the
absolute safety of her supremacy in
South Africa.
The Speaker. a peace advocate, adj
mits regretfully that the war party is
in the ascendant in Great Britain. and
every London daily except the Chron-
icle supports Mr.. Chamberlain with
every afternoon paper, except the
Westminster Gazette, the Star and
Echo. Among the country papers,
however, some Of the most influential
papers oppose the war. Their feelings
are voiced by the Speaker. saying:
I'VE feel fated to be plunged into a
war for which the historian will be
unable to find adequate justification, or
even a plausible excuse"
The session of the British Parlia-
ment is not expected to be either long
or exciting and to be mainly devoted to
voting the necessary money and sup
plies. The army board met after
yesterdays Cabinet council and dis