Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-12

gone. l believe, nevertheless. that con-
reversal In British opinion would
be effected by any serious defeat. for most
OF those now supporting the government
are doing so with a light heart and on gem
eral principles. not stopping to count the
cost OF war"
Mr.. White cited the Tsandlwhana mas
sacre as an instance OF such change in
British opinion. He then went on to say:
Il suppose there can be only one ulti-
mate result of the hostilites. AS to the
duration OF the war, | am not able TO guess.
1t seems to me a matter OF the greatest un.
certainty. l hear that Great Britain will
not begin the wiping out process until De-
cember. In the meantime we shall see what
we shall see.
81 have received no special instructions
or news from the Transvaal during the last
forty eight hours, and l expect none, hav-
ing long ago received directions as to the
course for me to take when matters reached
this stage. shall remain on the continent
and IL anything further can be done in the
interest OF my government, l shall, Of
course, endeavor to do It, though there seems
nothing left but to fight it out to the bitter
unjust end"
No Hope of D0er success.
Mr. White seemed much distressed over
the rupture and evidently did not entertain
the least hope of Boer success. He said the
Transvaal agency in Brussels would be con
tinued as the European headquarters Of the
government.
The attitude which the Cape Colony min
istry will adopt on actual outbreak of hos
tilitios is much discussed here. Dispatches
from Capetown say that the cabinet will re-
sign, while there are persistent reports in
London that Sir Alfred Miner governor of
Cape Colony, has already dismissed Mr..
William p. Schreiner and his colleagues. 1t
is evident that one or the other of these
contingencies must occur. as the governor
and commander-in- chief must be in a posi-
tion to carry out defensive measures without
regard to possible obstruction on the part of
an unsympathetic cabinet
Revolution in Cape Colony.
An important South African firm in Lon
don has just received a dispatch from Cape
town scaying that a revolution of the Dutch
in Cape Colony is regarded as imminent.
Lord Rosebery, the former premier and
liberal leader, has finally declared his posi-
tion relative to the South African question.
In a letter under todays date he says:
Il have maintained silence because l am
10th to reenter politics. Today, however
can speak without touching politics, for a
situation has been created which is beyond
party polemics. l think there is much in
the last three years Of our relations with the
government of the Transvaal to criticise il
not condemn, but that is all over for the
present. 1t is needless to dscuss how We
could best have attained our simple and
reasonable object of rescung our fellow.
countrymen in the Transvaal from intolera.
BILE conditions of subjectiop and injustice
and of securing equal rights for the white
iaces in South Africa, for an ultimatum has
been addressed to Great Britain by the Soutl
| African republic, which is Itself declara
tion of war
| "In the face of this attack upon the natior
| the people will undoubtedly close their ranks
and relegate party controversies to a more
| convenient season.
There is one more word TO be said. With
out attempting to judge the policy whiCl
concluded peace after the reverse a
Majuba hill, l am bound to state my pro
found conviction that there is no conceivabl
government in this country which could re
peat it."
| 1t is reported from Glasgow that the Allel
| line steamship Siberian has been chartered
to take 900 men and officers from Montrea
to South Africa. In shipping circles it i
asserted that another half million tons o
shipping will be required by the govern
shipping will be required by the govern
to maintain their regular. trade service. 4. ~
| Brokers Sing sRuIe Britnnnin.''f.
There was great scene on the floor o
the Stock exchange at $40 p. m, the tim
of the expiration OF the period fixed in tn
Boer ultimaturil. The brokers gathered an
began singing God Save the Queen" an
Rule Britannia" a large crowd outsid
took UP the strains and singing and cheerin
spread from point to point in the neighbor
hood until the whole district was alive wit
enthusiasm.
A curious story is in circulation regard
ing Lord Rosebery's silence, unbroken unit
today. 1t is said that the real object OF
was to lead President Kruger to believ
that Lord Rosebery and his followers migt
come to the assistance Of the Transvaa
thus stiffening President Kruger's back t
resist British demands. According to tn
explanation Lord Roseberys fears had bee
that President Kruger would yield, whic
from his lordship's point of view woul
have been fatal, as he is fully convince
that the only road to permanent peace
the defeat of the Beers.
Continental opinion, so far as 1t can
ascertained from todays dispatches, n
mains largely anti british Popular syn
pathy with the Beers is being shown
various ways in Germany, where, how
ever ofncialdom maintains an absolutel
correct attitude.
French opinion is well known. The boult
yard parers are especially yirulent in the
attacks upon Great Britain, since the ult
matum was announced, and they gleeful
anticipate a long and difficult war.
The lord mayor, Sir John Voce Moore. hi
summoned a public meeting for 2 o'cloC
Friday afternoon at the Guild hall to e.
; press confidence in the South African pollC
, of the government
, The foreign Office confirms the report fro
I Washington that Great Britain has asked II
United States government to empower Il
United States consular authorities in Il
/ Transvaa to represent British interests the
during the hostilities.
e stead Compares 1t to the Yacht Rae
= William T. Stead, editor Of the Review
Reviews, in the course OF an interview, say
II maintain that this war is being fore
upon the Beers by men who have never 70
d given Majuba hill. In my opinion, owing
e Great Britain's unpreparedness, hostiliti
e during the next two months will resemt
the international yacht race off Sandy Hoo