The Transvaal

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3104, 3 October 1899, Page 6

The Transvaal

Great Britain's preparations up to the present have cost a million sterling. Lord Salisbury has assured the Netherlands Government that the integrity and independence o£ the Transvaal and the Orange Free State shall be guaranteed if Great Britain's advice? which is in the interests of all races, is accepted. The Boers are looting the Bechuanaland border and molesting the Chinese and Blacks in Johannesburg, thus hoping to force Great Britain's hand. Mr Chamberlain's despatch has intensified the spirit of the Boers. A run has begun on the Pretoria banks. Mr Steyn, President of the Orange Free jState, has sent his family to Capetown. Great Britain is purchasing 20,000 mules in America and Italy for service in the Transvaal. The Cape boys acting as muleteers at Ladysmith have mutined, and refuse to go to the front. The ' Daily Telegraph ' states tliat the proofs are accumulating at the Cape of the existence of a great Dutch conspiracy against British supremacy in South Africa, and that Orange Free State is involved. Twenty -five companies of the Army Service Corps leave England for South Africa this week. If the British troops at Glencoe are re-inforced the Boer force at Vryheid threaten to cross the Buffalo Kiver and seize the railway running from Durban to Laing's Nek, thus isolating the British troops at Dundee and Ladysmith. Mr Balfour, in a speech at Dundee, said the Government had loyally and with long-suffering patience striven to obtain a peaceful and honorable solution. Apparently the Boers refused to yield. Great Britain cannot, and will not, do so. The interests of South Africa, civilisation, and national honor made retreat impossible. Two thousand bags of New Zealand oats were sold at ls 9^d, f.0.b., for the Cape. The Church of England Synod (Sydney), amid much warlike enthusiasm, approved that every facility be given " k to the chaplains proceeding to the Transvaal to cany out their duty to their God, their Queen, and their country. It is believed that the Boers will not wait for the receipt of the ultimatum. The tribute paid by the English papers to New Zealand's offer of a contingent also refers to the offers of troops made by the other dependencies of the Empire. The ' Daily Chronicle/ however, asks : — What has New Zealand to dd with the Transvaal ? and informs the colony that the Empire is not menaced. Two batteries of the Staats arul* ei T and 1000 Pretoria burghers have gone to Volksrust, on the Natal border, ! close to Laing's Nek. Two thousand burghers are assembling at Wakkerstrom, 40 miles to the north-east of i Volksrust, and there is another force of i 1200 at Sanspruit, on the Natal border.

At the English Cabinet meeting it was announced that no official reply had been received from the Transvaal, excepting an unofficial outline. The Cabinet thereupon adopted despatches formulating a basis for a final settlement. These will not be communicated to the public for a few days in order to afford President Kruger an

opportunity of reverting to the proposals of -August. 19. The peace manifesto has been signed by 150 leading men, including Sir W; V. Harcourt, Messrs Morley, Edward Clark, Stead, Charming (master of Baliol), Doctor Parker, and several | Liberal members of the House of Commons, who urge arbitration. President Kruger told a Times interviewer that peace was impossible, unless Great Britain did something. The British massing the troops on the frontier meant forcing war. The Transvaal Government have notified that they will confiscate property in the event of treason. The Boers of the Free State have been warned that their property will be confiscated, and that they will be punished for evadence of commandeering. General Joubert, with 1800 artillerymen, is at Volksrust. The steamer Kinfans Castle has started from Southampton with 300 officers and men of the army service ordnance, and a corps of balloonists. The N.S.W. Government have instructed the Agent-general to inform the War Office that New South Wales is prepared to forward a large quantity of produce and fodder to South AfricaPresident Kruger in answer to a request as to whether he had any message for the Australian people replied : — To the people of Australia : The Government of the South African Republic asks no more than to be permitted to act in accordance with the London convention, which excludes foreign interference in internal affairs' and to save our independence." The Governor of NZ. on Friday morning received a reply from the secretary of State for the Colonies intimating that the British Government highly appreciated the offer of the Legislature of JVew Zealand of a contingent for service in the Transvaal. They will gladly avail themselves of this loyal and patriotic offer should the accasion arise.