THE TRANSVAAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 17

THE TRANSVAAL.

WARLIKE PREPARATIONS.

COLONIAL TROOPS ACCEPTED IF NECESSARY.

MORE- TROOPS FOR THE CAPE.

LONDON, July 11.

In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain, replying to Sir H. Campbell-Banner-

man, said the Transvaal proposals were confused, and we're not" entirely understood.

A Reuter's message states that 40,000 have already signed the Cape petition to the Queen on behalf of. the Uitlanders.

Immense quantities of war stores are being despatched to South Africa, The Admiralty have provisionally secured two steamers accommodating 1300 troops.

The Nationalist members in the House of Commons are protesting against supplies of dumdum bullets being sent to South Africa.

The British cruiser Doris and the gunboat Widgeon have arrived at Lorenzo Marquez, Delagoa Bay.

Mr G. W. E. Russell, ex-niember of several Liberal Ministries, in addressing a meeting in London of the Liberal Forward partj r , dealt with the Transvaal trouble. His references to British defence and the defeat at Majuba Hill were greeted with cheers.

July 12.

Mr Chamberlain states that it is impossible to attempt to define the effect of the Transvaal franchise proposals. Apparently they have no immediate effect on the representation of aliens in' the First Volksraad.

Thirty machine gun carriages have been despatched to the Cape.

Another field battery, making the fifth, is under orders to proceed to the Cape. July 13. The Times applauds Queensland's generous and patriotic offer of troops.

The Hon. T. C. Brassey, speaking at Bournemouth, expressed implicit confidence in Sir Alfred Milner and his attitude on the Transvaal question.

July U. More special officers are being despatched to the Cape on Saturday.

The Times considers the Transvaal franchise proposals a mockery, obscure, and illusory.

The Daily Chronicle's Transvaal correspondent understands that friends are urging President Kruger to concede the Uitlanders' seven-years' retrospective franchise without any modifications.

July 15.

Lord Balfour, of Burleigh, speaking at Dumfries, said it would be worse than war for Britain to be accused of leaving her countrymen in a position of the greatest injustice.

July 17.

A Reuter's message states that there is a growing feeling in the Rand in favour of substituting seven years' prospective and retrospective franchise for the present proposals.

CAPETOWN, July 11

Mr Schreiner, the Premier, and Mr Hofmeyer, the leader of the Afrikander party, have interviewed Sir Alfred Milner with reference to affairs in the Transvaal. July 12. Mr Hofmeyer, interviewed, said the Boers have no illusions about the result 8f a war. They do not expect much assistance from Afrikanders

[Merchants have asked Mr Reitz, in the event of war, not to turn the fort against Johannesburg. A reply is promised.

The Uitlanders' Council has resolved that the proposals of the Volksraad were delusive and utterly inadequate.

All South African newspapers are supporting Sir Alfred Milner, and insist that guarantees should be conceded that the rights of Uitlanders should continue unimpaired.

The British press at the Cape aie violently protesting against the Afrikander Bund dictating the Imperial policy, and it is expected that Sir Alfred Milner's speech in opening the Cape Parliament on Friday will refer to the matter.

July 13.

Mr Hofmeyer, addressing the Capetown Afrikander Bund meeting, declared that it would be a shame and a curse to declare war owing to the difference over the schemes submitted by Sir Alfred Milner and the Transvaal Volksraad.,

July 14.

The number of signatures to the monster Cape petition for presentation to the Queen, ■supporting Sir Alfred Milner's proposals, exceeds the total number of votes cast for the Afrikander Bund candidates at the late general election.

The Cape text of the modified franchise proposals adopted by the Volksraad have been published by the Imperialist news-

papers at the Cape, and these latter declare they are intentionally unworkable.

The Cape authorities are purchasing waggons and supplies for Kimberley.

The Afrikander Bund agitation against Sir Alfred Milner is spreading.

Dutch rowdies broke up a meeting held at Worcester in support of Sir Alfred's proposals. The British and Dutch loyalists claim Sir Alfred Milner's terms or nothing.

July 15,

Crowds cheered Sir Alfred- Milner on the occasion of the opening of Parliament, and twice sang the National Anthem.

July 16,

The Governor's Speech made no reference to the Transvaal beyond the usual friendly relations paragraph. The fact of the cruiser Doris having sailed from Delagoa Bay for Zanzibar has eased, the situation in the Transvaal. The crusier Tartar has arrived at Delagoa Bay.

July 17.

The Cape Legislative Council strongly favours Sir Alfred Milner's proposals respecting the Transvaal.

PRETORIA, July 11

The Uitlanders' Council passed a resolution censuring Mr Schreiner for approving of plausible reforms which were designed to retain the present unrepresentative system.

July 14.

Mr Reitz has returned an evasive reply to a deputation urging that the forts should not attack Johannesburg. Mr Reitz said they would not attack the city except in self-defence.

July 15.

The Volksraad refused Mr Chamberlain's suggestion to postpone the debate on the franchise proposals until he was able to study them.

President Kruger indicated that any franchise amendments suggested in a friendly spirit would receive consideration.

July 17.

A Green Book published indicates that President Kruger strongly protested against the British annexation of Zambaansland as

a breach of promises. Great .Britain replied that the unauthorised action and encroachments- by burghers compelled the step.

NAPLES, July 10.

The steamer Reichstag has left here conveying 15,000 rifles and 500 tons of war material for the Transvaal. t

OTTAWA, July 14/ "

In the Dominion House of Commons, Colonel Hughes commended the action of Queensland, and urged Canada to send a regiment. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Premier, hoped the Boers would recognise the justice of the Uitlanders' claims without resort to force.

Sir Charles Tupper said the Boers would have to reckon with the whole Empire.

MELBOURNE, July 12.

The Victorian Commandant of the Forces suggests that Victoria should co-operate with the other colonies in sending a contingent to the Transvaal.

July 13.

Sir Rupert Clarke has offered himself for active service in the event of Australian troops being sent to the Transvaal. . SYDNEY, July 13. Fifteen hundred have already volunteered for service in the Transvaal.

July 15.

Mr Reid, the Premier, states that so far no overtures have been made to the Government from any quarter in regard to the despatch of troops to the Transvaal.

BRISBANE, > July 11.

The Government have offered the ■ Imperial Government to equip and' send 250 mounted infantry to South Africa.

July 12. , Besides the detachment of mounted infantry, the Government have offered a ma-

chine gun "section for service" in the Tranar vaal.

Mr Chamberlain has cabled accepting th# offer of troop* if the necessity arises.

ADELAIDE, July 17.

The Commandant of the Forces is re» ceiving numerous offers from all branches for service in the Transvaal.