The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13
PLAYING THEIR LAST CARD.
How London Views Action Of Beers In
Appealing to America.


Copyright, 1sOO by the Associated Press.l
LONDON, May 12.-The Beers seem to
be on the eve OF playing their last card,
and according to many keen observers in
England 1t is being played, not In South
Africa, but in the United States through
the medium of the Boer delegates. who
sailed for New York from Rotterdam last
week. AS the bulk of British opinion does
not contemplate for a moment that Mr..
Fischer and his companions will achieve
success, 1t is only natural that serious
thought is now chiefly devoted to prognosti-
eating the date when the war in the Trans
vaal will be ended Most estimates concur
in agreeing that hostilities will have ceased
by June, when President Kruger learns
that the last country appealed to, namely
the United States-will afford no help, and
that he has no alternative. in the face of
the overwhelming force now victoriously
sweeping into his territory, but to sue for
peace.
What Great Britains answer to that re-
quest will be was Enthusiastically defined
by Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the secre-
tary Of state for the colonies, at Birming-
ham yesterday, when he declared that
TIC DUCT ItpuUuC LuSt DeCOme a CTOWu
colony whose initial stage of organization
will be controlled by military admins
tration. BY agreeing to these terms Pres
ident Kruger must, of course, give up all
for which he has been fighting. But, on
the other hand, now that the terms have
been so emphatically enunciated they must
either be granted or England will stand
defeated. The latter alternative however,
does not enter Englands category of pos
sibilities. Her people are firmly convinced
that Lord Roberts will steadily advance,
perhaps with delays and losses of dare
devil units, and maybe without inflicting
a crushing defeat until he occupies the
Transvaal. His forward progress, they be-
lieve. will be stopped only when Presi-
dent Kruger. learning of the failure of
Fischer's mission, asks for peace. That
this will come sooner than previously ex-
pected is the trend Of popular opinion to-
day.
A long siege OF Pretoria has become a re-
mote contingency. Sharp fights on the
Vaal river, series of rear guard actions
with constantly retreating forces, an or
ganized development of a hostile country,
and then. by June, or perhaps earlier, peace
and occupation. Such is the average fore
cast of the struggle in South Africa. May
be 1t Is altogether too optimistic, but the
present successes of the British arms and
the evidence of their well-defined plans and
excellent organization forms much excuse
for optimism.
Mr.. Chamberlain in the course of his
Birmingham speech made a curious in
sinuation. He had been struck, he said,
by the flood Of literature poured out, not
only In the United Kingdom. but In the
United States. "All that printing" he said.
costs money. Where does the money
come from? Are there capitalists on the
side of the Beers? Are there any secret
boards We have not yet explored?" This
spirit Of countercharge was evident in
every sentence Of one of the most vigorous
speeches ever made by the colonial secre-
tary.