THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY APRIL 26, 1897.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10426, 26 April 1897, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY APRIL 26, 1897.

While public attention has been fixed intently on the critical procedings in' the Eastern Mediterranean, events have been developing that seem to threaten a serious situation in relation to South Africa. Our recent cables have given a few intimations that may probably have been overlooked in the more

absorbing incidents of the Cretan difficulty, and its sequel, the Graecoturkish war; but, as elucidated by the latest intelligence by mail from San

Francisco, they appear to have an important significance. We have been told by cable that the Africander party in South Africa has been alarmed at the condition of affairs in Transvaal, and warn President Kruger that he is friendless so far as Europi is concerned, and that he cannot rely on the Africanders for help. On the other hand, we are told on the authority of the Manchester Guardian that in the event of war, the Government is prepared the send an army corps to the Cape liiider the command of Sir Redvere Sullen. Another more recent cable message tells of a German steamer having landed at Delagoa Bay, a battery Of heavy guns intended for Pretoria, then we have had the intimation of the South African squadron being ordered to Durban, the Port of Natal, and of its arrival there, with what object ho one outside of official circles professes to know, though the incident has caused intense interest in South Africa. At the same time we learn that a few clays ago Dr. Leyds, son-in-law of President

Kruger, arrived at Berlin on a special mission) and that lie reports the situation in Sdiitli Africa to be Very critical 1 while in the Herald of Saturday it was' stated in cable message that the Royal Commission appointed by the Government of Cape Colony, had recommended military organisation of the most vigorous nature, including the raising of A permanent military force of 11000 men, an additional supply of heavy guns, the formation of a reserve of 2000 citizens,ahd compulsory military service on the part of all the male population between the ages of 18 and 60 years. These items of intelligence received by cable, though fragmentary, show that both in South Africa and in England, attention is keenly excited by the situation, and their importance is more marked on a perusal of the latest mail news, more particularly that received by telegram immediately before the departure of the mail from San Francisco. That includes' the speech made by Mn Chamberlain at the banquet given to Sir Alfred Milner, the new Governor of Cape Colony, immediately befgre big departure oh the 87th

of March. In the course of that speech the Secretary of State for the Colonies said: Surely it might be hoped that

the Transvaal would realise the duty and fulfil the obligations it had voluntarily assumed in the London Convention, and extend the hand of fellowship to the foreigners who had so largely contributed to the prosperity of the Republic." 'The speaker then declared that "the British Mutton was determined to uphold its rights under the convention, and its dominance in South Africa. If, as bad been suggested, certain eminent men in South Africa, aspiring to an independent federation of States, in which Dutch influence would be dominant, were seeking the support of Continental Europe, rather than of Qreitt Britain, he viewed such a course as incompatible with British interests, even with the possession of (Jape Colony, which was the most important strategic point of the Empire, and which was absolutely

necessary to Great Britain as a great

Eastern Powori Until such aspiration was frankly abandoned, there could

not be a final and satisfactory settlement of the question." Besides this significant utterance, Mr. Chamberlain has admitted openly that relations with Transvaal are " gravely strained," alid despatches from London immediately prior to the departure of the" mail from Sah Francisco say that there Is increasing Uneasiness in all circles regarding the Transvaal Situation: Mi-. Chamberlain's organ, the Birmingham Post, says it hears that Germany will send 3000 troops to Sb(ltli-\Vest Africa at the end of April, and that a special envoy will be sent to interview Presidents Kruger and Steyile (of the Orange Free State). It is elsewhere reported that owing to preparing for eventualities in the Transvaal, arrangements for the Anglo-Egyptian expedition to Khartoum have been suspended, and officials in London express a, strong belief that if President Kruger persists in a claim for indemnity as a result of the Jameson raid, serious troiible will ensue. At the same time it is known that Germany hag been for some time landing large shipments of war material at Walfisch Bay, while the Transvaal Ims been arming steadly, the shipments of ammunition, guns, and military supplies from France alone being said to amount to several hundred tons a month, which are being stored at various important strategic points, in the House of Commons Mr. Chamberlain has stated that he is fully aware of the large importation of warlike stores into Transvaal, but he was not aware that any breach of international law had been committed.

That the situation is becoming strained, if not critical, appeai-3 to be the general impression, and in the face of the preparations that appear to be proceeding on the part Of the Transvaal and its sympathisers, it is scarcely to be expected that forbearance can be much longer maintained. As for the grounds for hostilities, it can hardly be thought that for the mere redress of the wrongs of the Uitlanders, and the maintenance of their claims, England would deolare war against Transvaal, although It Is to be remembered that the refusal of equal rights to British and other foreign immigrants and the Boers in the Republic, is a distinct violation of a specific and important stipulation in the convention between England and the Boers, which gave the constitution to the republic There cart be' little doubt, however, that the real secret of the trouble is in the intrigue which has been carried on between President Kruger and the German Government, and that the object of any forward military movement on the part of Great Britain will be to prevent the audaciois attempt to overthrow British ascendancy in South Africa. As a strategic point commanding the way to India, Australia, and the East, that possession is too valuable to be risked, and should Germany be imprudent enough to attempt to support this intrigue by force, the only solution df the trouble must be the sweeping away of the puny German fleet from the seas and the absorption of all the German over-sea possessions in Eastern Africa, Western Africa, New Guinea, and elsewhere into the British Empire.