THE TRANSVAAL TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9305, 4 January 1896, Page 7

THE TRANSVAAL TROUBLE.

DR. JAMESON ORDERED TO RETIRE. THE COMMAND DISOBEYED. FIGHTING WITH THE BOERS. COMPELLED TO SURRENDER. FIVE KILLED AND FORTY-TWO WOUNDED. RUN ON JOHANNESBURG BANKS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Capetown, January 2. A public meeting was held at Johannesburg on Saturday night to discuss the situation, the theatre being packed by an immense audience. During the proceedings the audience sang the Transvaal anthem and cheered the British residents who were present and remained standing while tho anthem was sung.

The Australian residents in Johannesburg have formed horse and foot companies. They were present in a body at Saturday night's meeting, and sang " God Save the Queen."

The Germans resident in Johannesburg are strongly opposed to President Kruger's action. The feeling in Holland is furious. The British South Africa Chartered Company meets to-day to consider a letter from Mr Chamberlain couched in imperative terms demanding the Company to officially repudiate Dr. Jameson's action. London, January 2. Official intelligence has been received that Dr. Jameson has been defeated by the Boers with heavy loss. A private letter from Buluwayo, dated the end of November, mentions that there is some talk of the English taking the Transvaal. The Chartered Company's Corps, with ten Maxims, had then gone south, under secret orders, and the impression in the country was that the Transvaal would fall an easy prey.

Mr Rhodes protests that he knew nothing of Dr. Jameson's contemplated expedition. Sir Hercules Robinson, the Governor, has ordered every officer with Dr. Jameson's force to retire. It is reported that the Queen has ordered the Duke of Fife to resign from the British South Africa Chartered Company, of which he is Vice-President and a Director, but the report is officially denied. It was rumoured on the Exchange to-day that Dr. Jameson had reached Johannesburg without fighting. Pretoria, January 3. Sir Hercules Robinson's messengers overtook Dr. Jameson's force beyond the Eland River, but the leader disregarded the messages, recalling him, and continued his march on, carrying the British flag. Before Sir J. De Wet, the British agent, could arrive, fighting had begun at Krugersdorp. On Wednesday afternoon Dr. Jameson was driven from several positions. The Boers captured forty-two prisoners, half of whom were wounded. The prisoners include three officers. The fighting continued until a large force surrounded Dr. Jameson at Krugersdorp, compelling him to surrender. Five were killed. London, January 8. Mr Chamberlain has directed Sir Herfcules Robinson to proceed immediately to Pretoria to secure generous treatment for the prisoners and care for the wounded, and to try and arrange a peaceful settlement. There is considerable excitement in Johannesburg, though no assistance was extended to Dr. Jameson. A run on the Banks there has set in. President Kruger has been informed of a further projected incursion by Chartered Company's troops; also, that Kaffirs command the Bechuanaland frontier.

A large force from the Orange Free State commands the VaaL river, and is ready to assist the Boers. Berlin, January 8.

The German Press display a menacing tone and assert that the Transvaal is independent of England. Sydney, January 2. The delegates who recently visited South Africa on behalf of the Agricultural Department, have been interviewed with regard to the position of affairs at Johannesburg. They say that the Black Labour question is the chief source of trouble. The black man is not regarded and does not desire to be regarded, as being as good as a white man, and consequently affords a fine field for cheap labour. On this point the Uitlanders and Boers generally agree, but President Kruger recognises and with some force that the extension of the franchise would mean a demand from a certain number of people that the black population should be treated as men and brothers. Apart from this question, the old-time dislike of the Boers to outsiders prevails. Dr. Jameson is one of Mr Rhodes'right-hand men, and Mr Rhodes makes it his boast that he will have none but the best servants. Dr. Jameson is taking with : him on his present expedition an unI doubtedly picked force of young Englishmen who are crack shots, good riders and thoroughly used i to the country. Except a gunner or two for bis Maxims, he will probably have no regular soldiers. The Boers require a guerilla force to oppose them, and trained bushmen are more suited to this kind of warfare than regular soldiers. Dr. Jameson will be opposed by superior numbers, well armed, and men whose backs none have ever seen. \ Melbourne, January 8. The keynote to the position in the Transvaal is contained in the speech made by Mr Phillips, President of the Chamber of Mines, which was subsequently issued in the shape of a manifesto. The statement published shows that the manifesto is a long indictment against the Government. The Volksraad ignored the franchise question, one member going so far as to challenge the Uitlanders to fight. The Government was curtailing all privileges and tampering with justice, by subordinating the High CSourt to the Executive, also tampering with the ground. Yet the Uitlanders could get

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nothing, even tho proper education oi their children being refused. The manifesto concludes: —" All wo want is purity of justice and administration . and an equal share in the government. Nothing more is desired. Tho cause of the upheaval, with its attendant bloodshed, must, however, ba borne in mind, and that the community will not always submit to the Government."