The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-03
10 DECLARE MARTIAL Ian
In the ~Transvaal To.
Day or Monday.
ENGLAND'S LAST DEMAND

- tt~
Beers VIII Not Accept Kruger Ex-
poets War 20 Begin at any Moment.
He Says England Has Forced it Upon
His People-War Preparations Seen
Every Where.
London, September 30.-The corre-
spondent Of The Morning Post at Jo-
hannesburg sends the following: "A
government official who has Just re-
from Pretoria. where he saw
President Kruger, and assures me hat
martial law will be proclaimed tomor-
row Saturday or Monday next.
London, September 29.-The cabinet
met this forenoon and adjourned at
s:15 o'clock p. m. The ministers were
heartily cheered by the waiting crowds.
1t Is said from Boer sources that Mr..
Chamberlain's proposals submitted to
the cabinet include an indemnity for the
cost of sending out troops, the disarm-
ament of the Transvaal forts, the
suppression Of DR.. Leyd's legation.
Indicative and executive independence
for the judges, the equality of the Eng
liSh and Dutch languages, and full and
complete admission of the supremacy
of British interests throughout South
Africa.
An official Of the foreign office this
evening told a representative of the
Associated Press that the cabinet, in
the absence of the Transvaars reply,
had agreed to draft a dispatch formu-
lating it's own proposals., which will be
communicated to the T~ransvaal gov
eminent in a = few days. Parliament
will be called shortly to consider the
situation. The government declines to
furnish exact information at present
regarding the military movements.
ENGLAND'S DEMANDS.
The Pail Mall Gazette says it under
stands that Mr.. Chamberlain submit
ted a dispatch to the abine council
today containing the following de-
mands on the Transvaal:
Five years franchise qualification
without hampering conditions.
Municipal separation of the judica-
ture from the executive and it's indie
pendence of the volksraad.
The abolition of the dynamite mo
nopoly.
The removal of the fort dominating
johannesburg, though the defences at
Pretoria may emain.
The teaching of the English langu-
age in the schools
VITAL oA1S.
A dispatch to The Times from Pre-
toria says:
lit is generally expected that a state
ment ~
president Kruger granted me an in
terview today and declared he had done
all possible for the sake of peace. He
had accepted Mr.. Chamberlain's known
offer of common inquiry, but Mr..
Chamberlain deliberately broke the
thread of negotiations; troops were
massed on all sides and war was fore
ed pon him. 1t vas impossible to &C
cede to the dispatch of the 18th. Such
a curse would have given the land
and people into the hands Of stran-
gers. AS it was, his seven years pro-
posal would, according to the field
comets books, have given the fran
chise to 5000 persons, which was more
thar the whole number of old burghers
yet no one has come forward to take
it. The Uitlanders never really wanted
the franchise. From the first they re-
fused to go On the commanders and
registered themselves as aliens. AT.
forwards, Lord Loeb secured exemption
for them on the same terms as the POr.
tugeSe. He wished to Indignantly deny
Mr.. Chamberlain's charge that he hat
broken his promise made during thu
discussion preceding the Pretoria con
vention Of 1881, that he would treat new
immigrants equally with the old bur
ghers. He had always been ready t.
treat them so and they had always re
fused"
I'm conclusion, I asked if there wa
still a possibility of peace"
mo he replied, adding after
pause, unless the other side will d.
something to make peace possible
A squadron of British cruisers i
gathering at Cape Town.
Advices from the interior of SOutl
Africa indicate that, thus far, the ma
tives are quiet and there is no sign o
trouble. This is reassuring, as it wa
feared some Of the tribes in Zululan'
and elsewhere were becoming restless
The British colonists Of Rhodesia ar
organizing a volunteer corps, hav
formed a cycle detachment and hav
constructed an armored train with a
engine plated with steel rails.
A telegram received today says tw
batteries or field artillery and sc
burghers have started for Volksras
and that another five hundred men g
there today.
EXCITEMENT IN PRETORIA.
The streets at Pretoria present
scene of great military animation
armed anu dTllIcly IIeH oil
riding about, the field comets bein
engaged in warning the burghers to
in readiness at a moments notice
A quantity Of ammunition for Maxi
guns is reported to have arrived
Harrismith and the burghers at Bren
: ersdorp received rifles and ammun
: ton yesterday. The men are practi
5 ing with the Maxim gun.
= The volksraad, in secret session n
passed a high treason bill, providiI
for the co~nfiscation of the property
Y burghers who refuse service. A pr
$ posal was submitted to make the CO
fscation retroactive, so as TO inclu
S certain millionaires, but il was I
jected.
Pretoria, September 29.-The COVER
ment has issued a notice OF the me-
ures TO be observed in the event Of ";
The mines may continue work. reaso
e able protection being afforded. Liqu
trade is prohibited and special pol
will maintain order. The Rand gold pl
: duced during the war is to be depos
l. ed with the government who wal m
= therefrom sufficient 10 pay its workt
oypsarSaS The rest will he rafurnad