The Transvaal Difficulty.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 159, 10 January 1896, Page 2

The Transvaal Difficulty.

MORE PARTICULARS.

Eerlin, January 7

The Emperor has sent a message to Kruger congratulating him on the energetic m : ! 1 r.i taken to restore peace, and for pr.< v.ing the independence of Transvaal without appealing to the friendly Powers. London, January 7.

The Pall Mall Gazette believes the huge scheme of Kruger's is intended to crush the Uitlauders while they are unprepared, and is also designed to cripple British interests and limit their activity. It also considers that the Orange Free State's sympathy with Capetown will ultimately divert the Transvaal trade to Delagoa, the Dutch and German capitalists aiding in this direction. The Governor of Natal has wired an account of the fight between Jameson's force and the Boers.

It appears that the battle took place on Wednesday, and lasted from 8 o'clock in the afternoon till 11 at night. James and his men showed great gallantry.

The Boers numbered fifteen hundred and occupied a strong position, but Jameson attacked them three times, meeting with a repulse on each occasion.

He then tried to move on to the Boodeport, via Randfoutein, but was blocked at Boorkrop, where the fight was renewed on Thursday afternoon.

In the meantime a detachment of the Transvaal Artillery had joined Joubert's force, and Jameson found himself completely outforced, with his men and horses knocked up. The party was without food for three days.

The total casualties are 240. The wounded received excellent treatment. The Colonial Office has not been closed since Friday. Willoughby and Jameson, who are imprisoned at Johannesburg, are not injured. Major Gray formerly belonged to the Bechuanaland police. Captain Coventry is a son of Lord Coventry. Captain White, also imprisoned at Johannesburg, is a brother of Lord Annaly.

The Transvaal authorities refuse to transmit coded messages, and censorship is placed over others. Mr Chamberlain, replying to a deputation of Cape merchants, said the prospect of further trouble was remote, and he believed Kruger would satisfy the demands of Uitlanders, with whom the British were in sympathy. Britain, he said, would maintain the suzerainty. This is regarded as a rejoinder to the congratulatory message of the Emperor of Germany. London and European exchanges are firm. Mr Cecil Ehodes wires to Mr Howard Vincent that he is on the best of terms with the Boers, and that they will work together for a long time yet. In the engagement with Jameson the Boers had only four man killed, although other reports give the number as fifteen.

It is reported that Billington left Johannesburg to relieve Jameson, but the Boers surrounded the 'party and made prisoners of thirty. Sydney, January 7. The Gape Commissioners look upon Jameson as Rhodes' lieutenant, aud say that if the latter made a mistake it is his first, but there is probably more behind the incident. Melbourne, January 7. An Australian, who recently returned after residing at the Cape, says that if Rhodes was instrumental in sending Jameson on the expedition, Kruger would have the sympaty of the Europeans. Rhodes is not popular in Johannesburg, and he hardly ever visits the town. He has very few followers there, even among the English residents.

Prominent men on the Exchange there say Johrnnesburg people will never come under British Government. The Transvaal is too far distant from the Cape. What is wanted is an independent Republic, which the people will probably await Kruger's death to obtaiu.

London, January 7.

Kruger wired to Mr Chamberlain on Saturday, complaining that British reinforcements were being massed on the Trausvaal border. In this message Kruger hinted that Rhodes was implicated in the whole trouble, despite his repeated denials. Mr Chamberlain wired to Kruger stating it was rumored in England that the Jameson prisoners had been shot, but he did not believe the report, and he relied en the generosity of the victors to spare the lives of captives. Kruger immediately replied that the prisoners would receive a fair and legal trial. He thought this leniency on his part afforded a strong contrast to the freebooting measures adopted by Jameson's men. He regretted that lies had been published in England regarding the treatment of prisoners. Kruger added that the confidence of the Boers in Rhodes had been rudely shaken, and his denial of complicity in Jameson's expedition ought to be received with the greatest caution. Mr Chamberlain, in reply to this message, wired to Kruger that newspapers in England had refused to give credence to the rumors that prisoners had been shot, and he expressed himself confident that the men would be treated with mercy. It was reported to-day that Cecil Rhodes had resigned the Premiership, but Sir Hercules Robinson had declined to accept the resignation. Kruger sent the German Emperor a message expressing heartfelt thanks for his sympathy, and adding that with God's help ho would maintain the independence of the Transvaal. Great Britain is sending reinforce-

ments to posts on the Mekong River. Berlin, January 7.

Banks in the city are collecting funds for the assistance of the Boers.

RESIGNATION OF MR RHODES.

KRUGER CONCEDES REFORMS.

Capetown, January 7. Mr Cecil Rhodes has resigned the Premiership, and has been succeeded by Sir Gordon Sprigg, Colonial Treasurer.

Thirty officers attached to Jameson's force, and who were not wounded, are imprisoned in Pretoria. Captain Coventry, who was among the wounded, has died. Mr Rhodes expresses his belief that Jameson understood that women and children in Johannesburg were in danger. Kruger has promised to concede the reforms demanded by Uitlanders, and it is probable that malcontents will be disarmed.

It has been ascertained that Germany has arranged to march marines belonging to her warships from Delagoa to Transvaal, in the event of the Jameson expedition being victorious. Berlin, January 7. Germany declines to admit the suzerainty, and has expressed surprise at British anger at the Emperor's message. London, January 7. The English newspapers solidly support Mr Chamberlain in upholding the suzerainty. The Times, in a menacing article, says Great Britain may possibly ally herself with a Power unfriendly to Germany. On 31st December the National Union of Johannesburg wired Sir Hercules Robinson that large numbers of Boers under Joubert were assembling to attack Johannesburg, and that he had directions to shoot at sight all agitators. The Union asked Sir Hercules Robinson to protect citizens who wer« agitating constitutionally. The same day the Union formed a temporary Government/and declared they were able to defend the town. Some hundred armed volunteers left under command of Mr Billington, but have since been captured by the Boers. Kruger has offered to extend the franchise to all supporters of the Government.

A mail train running from Johannesburg to Durban was derailed at Dannhausen. Twenty - five persons were killed and 30 injured. London, January 7.

The latest particulars show that Jameson's force, which consisted of only 460 men, fought the Boers, who numbered 2700, for thirty-six hours, and only surrendered when the last cartridge had been expended.

Jameson and his men were expecting aid from a force of two thousand Uitlanders, and had arrived within six miles of Johannesburg. The casualties on Jameson's side consisted of 130 killed and 87 wounded. Pretoria, January 8. By the railway accident at Daunhausen 32 were killed, and 50 injured. When news was received of Jameson's expedition Kruger told the Uitlanders' Committee that a force of 4000 Boers had started to intercept the party. The Germans are forming a colonising company of five thousand military settlers. London, January 8. The Times correspondent wires that Kruger has stopped food supplies in Johannesburg, and arrested members of the Uitlanders' Committee and prohibited entrance into th'j Transvaal without a passport bearing his own signature.

The Times commends on the significance of the reported formation of a German Colonising Company in the Transvaal. A SERIOUS POSITION. PRAYERS FOR PEACE. London, January 8. Apparently the rival plots in Transvaal were: Firstly, that Kruger was aiming at the independence of Transvaal and freedom to negotiate foreign treaties, and was relying on the promise of assistance by Germany and Holland ; and secondly, that a section of Uitlanders are anxious for reforms, and arranged a rising with the help of the British South Africa Chartered Company, but had no general desire for an armed revolution. However, the Boers' military precautions and specious promises prevented Uitlanders' force from coalescing with Jameson. Opinion in Capetown condemns the latter for precipitating events, and he is now regarded as a martyr to money-grubbing Uitlanders. Joubert proposed an armistice when Jameson was approaching, which it was reported the residents accepted. Assistance sent by the Uitlanders arrived shortly after the surrender.

It has transpired that during the fight with Dr Jameson's party the Boers were in danger of running short of ammunition, but obtained a fresh supply of cartridges from Johannesburg. ' Sir Hercules Robinson is urged to offer President Kruger terms for the release of British prisoners. There is an intense revulsion of feeliug in Johannesburg against the leaders of the reform movement for having deserted Jameson after seeking his assistance, and the mob threatened to attack and maltreat them.

Sir Hercules Robinson has seized the Chartered Company's war stores at Buluwayo and Mafeking. Londox, January 8.

The Admiralty has ordered the formation of au entirely new flying squadron of two first-class warships and four cruisers, to be ready at a moments notice for service. auywhare. The Admiralty has also decided to

send a naval force to Delagoa from the Cape or East India. Four British warships at present lying at Zanzibar are available at a moment's notice.

The Times announces that the decision of the Admiralty has been arrived at in view of the undoubted danger which now threatens the peace of Europe and the well-being of the British Empire. British squadrons are waiting to add powerfully to the means of the country's defence, and will prove the readiness of the naval forces for emergency. Sir H. Kobinson has wired that the Uitlanders have complied with Kruger's demand and yielded up theii arms.

The British public are enthused over the Marquis of Salisbury's energy in connection with the Transvaal. At many meetings in England to discuss the question the name of the Emperor of Germany is hissed. The feeling against Germany, is in marked contrast to the feeling in the recent difficulty with President Cleveland respecting the Venezuelan frontier.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has issued a prayer for peace. Two regiments returning from India have been ordered to disembark at the Cape, and other troops are to be despaf shed there from India. Germany's intended landing of marines at Delago is part of a kmg projected scheme to interfere with the British in the Cape. The Queen is said to have rebuked the Emperor of Germany for the message sent to Eruger. Several outrages have been committed on German residents in Popular.

Some of the German clubs in London have been closed.

The tone of the German newspapers is less hostile, and they advocate that the matter be submitted to arbitration.

The American newspapers universally condemn the action of Germany. Pretoria, January 8.

The people of Johannesburg have 'accepted Sir H. Bobinson's protection. Sir H. Kobinson has promised to see justice done, and he will confer with Kruger regarding the treatment of prisoners and thr redress of grievances complained of by the Uitlanders. Jameson says he might have escaped without help if the Uitlanders had destroyed the Kruger's Dorp line conveying a fresh supply of ammunition to the Boers.

London, January 8. The Berlin correspondent of the Times wires that Jameson's defeat alone prevented the Germans landing a body of marines at Lorenzo Marquez and invading the Transvaal.