The Western Mail

MR. TO LONDON. A fTRTHKR MEETING OF THE ( ABI.NET PllOBABLE. [FKOSf THE LONDON, Monday Night. Dnin to-day there was evidence of renewed activity in the Government's departments. particularly -it the War Office, the Foreign Omee, and the Colonial Office. Messengers were constantly hurrying to snd fro with dispatch-boxes pouches, and letters, itnd it was obvious that the new., from Pretoria was not without its effect in Govern- ment quarters. At five o'clock Mr. Chamber- lain drove in a cab X» the Colonial Office, having travelled from Birmingham to London this afternoon, and, after taking tea in his office, was kept fully engaged up to a late bar. There was a good deal of interchange of foreign Office, Colonial Office, and War Offire communications. and a messenger conveyed dispatches to Hatfield. So far as could be ascertained late this evening, no Cabinet summons had been issued, but it is clear there till be an early meetin of the Ministry. The 2nd Battalion of the King's Liverpool Segment at Derby has been notified that a farther draft of 500 men would be required to strengthen the 1st h,tt:1lion, now at Lain's Sell. [PREi' ASSOCIATION SPECIAL TELEGRAM.] PRETORIA, Monday (12.40 p.m.>. The State Secretary has been interviewed regarding the statement that a difference of opinion existe,1 hetween the members of the Executive ami the Volksraad or that there was an appreciable minority in the Volksraad in fivoar of a five years' franchise without restrictincr conditions. Mr. Reitz said such a report was entirely mistaken, and he w,<'tIed to contradict the statement in the strongest terms. It wa. he eon. tinned, especially incorrect in connec- tion with President- Kruger, the Commandant- general. and Ir, A. D Wolmarans (member of ti.e Exeeotire! lie thought it necessary to make this declaration, because it was of im. portance that the world should know that the Government, the Volksraad, and the people were nnanimous in the nttiturie they had taken ap. Any further decision, Mr, Reitz added. *ouM be come to in conjunction with the Free Btatt. CHARLESTOWN. Monday. An nnn«ual number of burghers visited Volk^rtist yesterday, Treating much uneasiness among the townspeople here, who have reite- rated their need for an adequate force to defend the town. MAFEKING, Monday. It is 9tated that the failure of the water •apply at Ramathlafcama will necessitate the reuoval of the hoists of the force there to the Imperial Reserve near the town. The Boers are encamped eight miles away. It has been ascertained that there are 110 guns at Zeerust 01 lichtenhnrg. but that there are three at ^eotersborg. The town is patrolled nightly, and the arrangements wh:ch the town authori- ties are making for its defence are proceeding rapidly. CAPE TOWN, Monday, attitade of the Free State at the present juncture ia the suhjert cf universal comment 11m. which is regarded as impolitic, and bound to have unfavourable results whatever may be tL. iOlotion of the cri-is. The present rela- tions of the Free State with the Imperial Government are most friendly. There is reason ro 1ieYe. however, thee a want. of unani- a:57 in the Executive, while many of the ^"ghers openly express t,heir õe3ir for neu- ral::?, A recent private letter received here from the Free state -how-t that doctors through* 0K the country are receiving numerous applv fcMns for certificates (Ii inability to bear ann!. telegram from Kimberley states that the ninety special constables. iD.ty.eight KIMBERLEY, Monday. Ninetv-ei?ht police-officers and men have am.ed, and hare heen quartered in barracks #tt»king the total number 160. The various dftathllteOh arc being supplied with full •Wipinent, despatched from various ports.

PRETORIA JlOrTIXG FOR WAR." flight OF ax exglish ■IdIRXALIST. ^atral Xe«8 telegram from Cape Town on XO!1day af-.prr.mn says:—Mr. Keet, cor- ^ponrlent at Pretoria for the "Cape Argus" Id "Star," has h-en compelled to 11. from the Tria"aa!. iii, di^putfhes and 1mown views a ^n *Re P:p3ent troubles greatly exasperated .?'h?Kfew.?rfp?tedtythrM- ? ^r- Keet is now safe in Natal. He 8 hat the Boer •'overnment officials at "are :-hnU.i„s f„r war."

WVELY SITTING or THE UI E AUIBL\. ?.?'<(.t?ram from Tare Town on Hondlays:—There was a lively sitting of the WA?mh).r.??.. TheOnp?ition tad accUse(* IL?e Ministry of being respon- libl* lor '?'?'"?"? se '?'r'?i:i?i,h<,M.n.v. Miniit ? r"ort,"i that the evil was actually ew""Kjit hv tV>A ft h a* Cltatod ?y tOe <the" ?id .? exciting passage- -??.w1.ntp..tt.ins .finite ratted.

A SENSATIONAL REPORT, B0FJ< COLT CONTEMPLATED. Th? ?'? "Pec.al correspondent at X(, cabling on Sunday through NewC:l.etle, 8õi:vg:>¡e is, I all' infonl1prl, 1Oott, CL CCU- ""■^Plation. Th? ??? .t <?,p?,? f?? fcmard?d in the ?' ? ?'?' border ?. t?.n to • some m.? on the P-?t of t?p? in that quarter. The Government agents are buying horses freely today.

STREET FRACAS IN JOHANNESBURG. KKVJutAL PEOPLE WOUNDED. A Central News telegram from Johannt>¡¡- I burg, V", Pieterma ritzbUrg on Sunday even. ing ,A serious street irHeas occurred her 011 Saturday evening. Mr. Bain, the Labour leader, had called a meeting in the I Market-square to discuss the action of the Transvaal. He had obtained the sanction of the authorities for the meeting, and several thousand r n lander:3 were present. The proceed- ings quickly became disorderly. Mr. Bain was frequently interrupted, and could not make h mself heard, The di>turbauce increasing, the mounted police charged the crowd with drawn swords. Their action caused immellse excite- ment. Several people were wounded, including Dr. Matthews, whose head was cut, but no fatalities are reported. The di?order in he streets continued until a late hour. The "Times" correspondent at Johanncsburg writes:—An encounter between the police and the public, which threatened at olle time to assume alarming proportions, occurred on the Market-square on Saturday afternoon. A iioto- rious Labour agitator named Bain had called a meeting to condemn the British Government's policy regarding Transvaal affairs and to enrol men willing to fight on the side of the Hoer., At the last moment the authorities proclaimed the meeting, owing to the absence of offieial permission. Bain's arrival was the signal for a bitter hostile demonstration, and he drew a revolver. A scene f great excitement followed. Mounted police reinforcements were called out, and under orders charged the throng, knocking down and injuring several persons. Dr, Matthews, a prominent medical man, who was badly wounded, laid a charge of assault against a mouuted man. He was accompanied to the charge office by an im mense crowd, which marched up the street singing "Rule Britannia." The scrimmaging lasted two hours. F<>eling is rllnllin!, yer," high, and police are held in readiness in case of a renewal of the disturbance, which at the time of writing seems probable. The serious aspect of the affair is the premature interference of the police. Forecasts by well-infomm persons of the TrF?,o .i!3v?'1?a'l's reply to Mr. Chain berlai dispatch dtate that it is tantamount to com- plete rejection of the British demands. This is tacitly admitted by the authorities. The reply was teU graphed to the High Commissioner this afternoon. It seems that the Boers are determined to grant no concessions beyoi*d those already agreed W, but are willing to receive suggestions for the simplification of the franchise law. The position is exceptionally grave. After the publication of the reply on Monday, aggressive measures may be taken at vily moment. There are good grounds for believing that the Boer reply has received the endorse- ment of the Government of the Orange Free State, with an atbolute :lSrIl1!H'e of active support, in the event of a decWra'ion of war.

BOER VIEW OF THE ROW, The London office of the "Standard and Diggers' :\e\o\oi," a pro-Boer organ, received on Monday the following special cable from Johannesburg:—Mr. Bain, the labour leader, attempted to address a meeting in the Market- square on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of protesting against the war party's platform and the anti-capitalist agitation on these field*. The police twice warned Bain before- hanJ that no meeting would be allowed to be held, but he disregarded them, and proceeded to speak. A crowd gathered and cheered the police in their endeavour to top the meeting. During the process of removing Bain a rough and tumble ensued, and he drew a revolver, of which, however, he WH quickly relieved. Ultimately Bain and other would-be orators were taken away, fol- lowed by a good-natured crowd. During the efforts of the police to disperse the gathering Dr. Matthews came into collision with a num- ber of the crowd, and received one or two ..I t??. )lows. No weight is attached to the epi ?)de, the crowd approving the Govern- ment's desire to prevent a meeting at the present juncture.

PANIC ALONG THE NATAL BORDER. A Central News telegram from Pietermaritz.l hur on Sunday Hight saysReports from Yolksrust state that a detachment of the Staats Artillery is on the border with a num- ber of field pieces Boer lieliographers are busy along the border. At Yolksrust there is a panic among the Boers. Nearly all the hnrghers, includillg the Landrost and Fiold Cornet, haye sent their families to the laager at Wakkerstroom, on the Natal side of the border. Charlestown is being deserted. Yolksrust and Charlestown are both situated at the most northern point of the Natal border, close to Laing's Nek and Majuba. Hill.

GERMANS IN THE TRANS- VAAL. WARNING TO HOLD ALOOF. A "Daily News" correspondent writes:—"I am able to state from a most responsible Ger- man source, at present in London, that Presi- dent Kruger in his action has not received the slightest countenance from Germany. In fact, the latter country has taken very strong means to show the Boers that the German Government sides with Great Britain in the controversy. It is further added that any Germans in the Transvaal, or elsewhere, who take up arms against the British will do so at their own risk, and cannot rely upon their nationality for alleviation of any punishment that may fall upon them; indeed, they have been strongly warned to hold themselves aloof."

TEXT OF THE BOER REPLY. The following is the text of the Transvaal's reply to Mr. Chamberlain's dispatch, which was issued on Monday afternoon from the Colonial Office:- Telegram, High Commissioner Alfred Milner to Mr. Chamberlain (despatched eleven p.m., September 16): The following is the South African Republic Government's reply: — The following letter received from the State Secretary of the South African Republic, dated J(>stcrJnr: Str,-1be South African Republic Government have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Not-of September 13. In answer this Government wishes to state that it learns with it feeling of deep regret that it must under. stand that her Majesty's Government with- draws from the invitation sent in your letter of the 23rd of August, and accepted by this Government, and substitutes in its place an entirely new proposal. The proposal which now lapsed, contained in the letters of this Government of the 19th of August and the 21st of August, was induced by suggestions given by the British Agent to the State-Attorney, and these were accepted by this Government in good faith, and on an express request. as equivalent to an assurance, that the proposal wonld he accepta hie to her Majesty's Govern. ment. It. was in no way the object of this Government, cither then or now, to make any needless recapitulation of its contention about its political status as an independent State, as defiued by the Convention of London in 1884, but only to try to put an end to the state of tension by meeting her Majesty's Government upon a proposal which it sup- posed to be constituted both in spirit and in form in such a way as it was given to under- stand to be satisfactory to her Majesty's Government. This Government cannot disguise from itself that in making the proposals con. tained in its Note of the 19th of August, it pro- bably ran a danger not only of its being dis- claimed by the South African Republic Yolks- raad and people, but. also that its acceptance might affect the independence of the State hy. as therein proposed, giving an immediate rote in the Legislature of the State to a large num- ber of inponring Uitlanders. But it set against that the continuous threatening and un. doubted danger to its highly-prised indepen- der.ce arising from the claim of Buserainty made by her Majesty's Government, from the interference of that Government in the Internal >- affairs of this Republic, and from the want of an automatically working manner of regu- lating differences between her Majesty's Government and this Government, and was, in consequence, prepared to recommend the South African Republic Volksraad and the peop!e to run the danger attached to the offer made in order to avoid the certainty of the greater danger. Inasmuch, however, as the conditions attached to the proposal, the accep- tance of which constituted the only considera- tions for its offer, have been declared unaccept- able, it capnot understand on what grounds of justice It can be expected that it should he bound to grant the rest; and, with a view to the assurance given by the Secretary of State for the Colonies that he would not con- sider the said offer as a refusal in answer to his invitation to a joint inquiry ba?ed upon the existing franchise law and a scheme of representation for the Witwatersrand Gold- fields, it cannot understand why, as soon as this invitation was accepted (as was done by this Government in its Note of September 21. her Majesty's Government declares that it cannot any longer agree to the inquiry on this sub- ject and for purposes which that Government itself IlrOp08eS, It is also not clear to this Government on what grounds her Majesty's Government, after having recently, by means of its invitation, intimated that it could not declare without an inquiry whether the fran- chise law and the resolutions taken about the representation would afford immediate and substantial representation to the Uit- landers in the South African Republic, is to-day in a position, without having made any inquiry, so far as this Government is aware, before the law can have been tested in its operation, to declare that the measure just mentioned is insufficient for the object contem- plated. It trusts that it will clearly appear from tho foregoing that her Majesty's Govern- ment is under a misunderstanding if it sup- poses that this Government has ever recognised that it has considered the lapsed proposal Con- tained in the letter of the 19th of August, with- out the conditions imposed therein, and re- peated in the Note of the 21st of August, as a reasonable proposal, or made it as a proposal, and still less that this Government was or is of opinion that its earlier proposal could be ex- tended with advantage to the Republic without observance of those conditions, or that the Republic would not suffer any violation of its independence. However earnestly this Govern- ment also desires to find an immediate and satisfactory course by which the existing ten- sion should be brought to an end, it feels it- self quite unable, as desired, to recommend or propose to the South African Republic Volksraad and people the part of its proposal contained in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of its Note of the 19th of August, omitting the conditions on the acceptance of which alone the offer was based, but declares itself always still prepared to abide by its acceptance of the invitation of her Majesty's Government to get a joint com- mission, as instructed in its Note of September 2, and considers that if conditions are contained in the existing franchise law which has been passed and an the scheme of representation which might tend to frustrate the object con- templated, that they would attract the atten-1 tion of the Commission, and thus be brought to the knowledge of this Government. This Government has noticed with scrprie the assertion that it had intimated to tho British agent that the new members to be chosen for the South African Republic Volksraad should be allowed to use their cwn language. If it is thereby contended that this Government woul 1 have agreed that any other thau the language oi th3 country would have been used in the deliberations of the Volksraad it wishes to deny the same in the strongest manner. Leaving aside the fact that it is not compe- tent to introduce any such radical change, they have up to now not been able to under- stand the necessity or even advisability of, making a recommendation to the Volksraad in the spirit suggested. Hence also the immediate and express denial given to the British agent by the State-Attorney to any question of that nature. Inasmuch as the proposal for any further conference has been made specially dependent Oil the acceptance of a proposal which this Government does not feel at liberty to recommend to the Volksraad, it would, perhaps, be premature to deal with it further at the present time. It merely wishes, how- ever, to remark that it has not yet been made clear to it which are the definite questions which would be discussed at the proposed con- ference and which could not be subjected to arbitration; but it is pleased to see that her Majesty's Government thinks that they could readily be settled by means of friendly dis- cussion, while it further welcomes with much pleasure the prospect disclosed by her Majesty's Government of the intro- duction of a Court of Arbitration for the decision of all points of difference and points to be discussed at the conference, and is ready and willing to co-operate towards the composition of such a court, and that the more as it is its firm intention to abide entirely by the Convention of London, 1884, as its efforts have been continuously to do. Finally, this Government continues to cherish the hope that her Majesty's Government on further considera- tion will feel itself free to abandon the idea of making new proposals more difficult for this Government and in proposing new conditions, and will declare itself satisfied to abide by its Commission as first proposed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in the Imperial Parlia- ment, and subsequently proposed to this Government and accepted by it. If the British Government is willing and feels able to make this decision, it would put an end to the pre- sent state of tension. Race hatred would decrease and die out, the prosperity and wel- fare of the South African Republic and of the whole of South Africa would be developed and furthered, and fraternisation between the different nationalities would increase. (Signed) F. W. REITZ (State Secretary).

ENGLISH PRESS OPINIONS. SUGGESTED CALL UPON THE RESERVES. The "Times" says.—All that the Empire and the nation ask from their rulers is that there shall be no hesitation and no looking back. Tne Government have put their hands to the plough, in the words of the Premier, and they are bound in duty and in honour to drive the furrow straight. When they formulate their own proposals, the one condition expected of them will be that they shall be of such a nature and of such a scope as must indeed lead to a settlement which shall be "final." With nothing less will England or her Colonies be content. The "Standard" wishes that the strength of Britain might be put forth to crush some worthier foe; but victory, of course, must be ours, no matter at what cost and sacrifices. And if the last efforts to preserve poaoe are useless, it may be hoped that we shall hear no further echees of the voice of faction, but that a united nation will support the Government in bringing the contest to a speedy and victo- rious termination. The "Telegraph" draws attention to the fact that in the struggle into which Mr. Kruger is trying to drive us with the Transvaal the real underlying problem, as he regards it, is not whether justice is to be done for our fellow- countrymen, but whether Great Britain is to remain the sovereign power or yield the palm to the Dutch. '1'ne "Daily News" can only hope against hope that even at this eleventh hour moderate counsels may prevail at Pretoria, and that Mr. Kruger may still find some way of deferring to the advice of all his best friends, both here and in Europe. The "Graphic" mys:-The brond fact of the present situation m that the* ultimatum of this country has been rejected, and that the Trans- vaal h" lost its last official chance of securing a settlement on terms honourable to itself, and calculated to preserve the peace of South Africa- The "Chronicle" says:—The reply of the Boers is a distinct refusal to accept the British terms; and it is clear that they have worsened rather than bettered their position. The "Post" advocates the calling out of the Reserves, which can but convince President Kruger that Great Britain is in earnest. It be- lieves that the nation expects that measure to be adopted with the least possible delay.

FOREIGN OPINION. ITALY. I Th. Bome lorrespondent of the Da<ily Tele-, graph" on f"?--P--d- D "-y T" y y lly f t h Boers to En gd,. ?IMt di?tch is "td in Bom* with great interest, for there Me rather a large number of Italians in the Transvaal. Late to-night, however, there were only faint indications as to the heads of the reply. There i a very strong impression, especially among officials, who judge from information in their possession, that war is inevitable. Everyone agrees in thinking that England has been moet patient and conciliatory, and our only wonder is that she has not lost patience before now with Kruger's procrastination. I have found no one who does not think the Transvaal inad to dream of facing England's might. They dismiss it with the remark, "In a few month; there will be no more Transvaal." It is curious to note that both the Conservative and the Liberal press i. with England, while the Demo- cratie party side with the Boers, in whom they see a people about to lose their independence. RUSSIA. T;t<olbUe':e[;:g'\ I Telegraph" on Sunday says:—Although the official reply of the Boers to the l"' dispatch .ddre.sed to them by Great Britain is not yet known. current rumours here suggest that it will be in the neg;tt Whether in that event England will apply force in order to ht"i. poli ?ical equality for it? subjects in the Tram. vaal remains to be efn. .since it is obvious that such a course must result in a feud between the two white races in South Africa, Here the. is a profound hc,,? t that the B. will prefer ".tinction rather than b,,o the slaves of the English (.??pit. li? t?' "Ilh,i question 0 f political ri?hts in the Tra fnp:Siitticui:rtte. T;I I his uncompromising attitude it is recognised here that the result will be a bloody conflict, which will entail terrible consequences, not only to human life, I t ??l,0 t? commerce. Even if the war, assuming that it 1 11 to j paB. were to provoke foreign intervention, its i commercial eff"t throughout the world will l? very great. GERMANY. A Reuter's telegram from Berlin on Monday says :—The comments of the Berlin press on the reply of the Transvaal Government to the last British dispatch are somewhat meagre and indefinite, though the prevailing opinion here is that war has now become inevitable, j The h Rerliner Neucste Nachrichten" ex- presses the belief that there is a certa'n amount of justiifcation for the expression of astonishment in the Transvaal reply that Great Britain should now regard the pro-I P.?il to gran t a seven years' fritich i". in- ';¡:Iiett.gra:l jI'lYI;¡elll't:" rs! of the suzerainty question, which it describes as a grave mistake, but it approves the rejec- tion by the Boers of Great Britain's demand for the use of the Knglish and Dutch languages in debates in the Volksraad. In conclusion, the journal says that the diplomatic position of the Boers has been weakened by the fact, that they made the proposal to reduce tho I seven years' suffrage right to five, and thereby acknowledged that they were able to make1 this further concession to the tJitlanders The "National Zeitung" remarks that the astonishment shown by the Boers at the rurt rejection by Great Britain of the proposal1 contained in their dispatch of August 19 to grant a five years' suffrage on condition that Great Britain renounced the suzerainty appears to bear out the assertion of the Trans- vaal Government that it was led to believe that the proposal would be accepted. In con- clusion, the journal regards the situation as most ,iti,?l It questions which of the two comhatants i?, from the military point of view, tl,? more advantageously situated. AMKHICAX COMMKyT. Commenting upon a version of the Boer reply to Mr. Chamberlain's last dis. patch, the New York "Tribune" thinks —on the aRS1.Unption of the accuracy of the details—that the regrettable thing o.If ,Ont the answer is, not that it r?je?t, England'. demand" i??, that it repudiates franchise proposals made by the Boers themselves—namely, the five years' retro- spective franchise Such a reply, it says, places the Transvaal in a position which its best friends can only regard as unfortunate, because a doubt is thereby cast upon the good faith of the Republic. The Transvaal reverses its complaint that England's fresh demands kept continually ahead of the Boer ronrg<;jnn;,¡. and invites the retort that the Boer with- drawals keep continually below the English position. The friends of the Republic are prartiraHy unanimous in urging it to accept the conditions laid down by England in Afr, Chamberlain's dispatch of September 8. The Tribune expects that a more reasonable frame of mind will become manifest II t Pre. toria, and that this will avert the war which is seemingly so imminent.

A GENE HAL DUTCH RISING PLANNED. A Johannesburg correspondent of the "Stan. dard" writes:—I am assured by a person who recently held a responsible position under the Transvaal Government that arrangements have actually been completed for a Dutch rising throughout. South Africa, which will take place about a fortnight hence. The Orange Free State, it is said, decided a month ago to support the Transvaal if things came to the worst. My informant is convinced that th conflict which is impending will cover a wide area.

BRITISH SUBJECTS AND THE FREE STATE, A Reutor's telegram from Cape Town on! Monday says:—Sir Alfred Milner has written to a correspondent in the Orange Free State, who inquired as to the position of British sub- jects in the event of hostilities, saying that he is unaware of anything in the relations between the Imperial Government and the Free State to justify hostile action by the latter.

THE QUEENSLAND OFFER. A Reuter's telegmm from Brisbane on Mon- day says:—The Queensland Mounted Infantry contingent, which was offered for service in South Africa, is preparing to embark as soon as required. BOER GUNS TO THE FRONT. The Charlestown correspondent of the Daily j I Mail" on Sunday says:—Six guns of 'he Transvaal State Artillery have arrived on the border from Pretoria. This makes fourteen I | guns all !ying perdu within 35 miles of Laing's Nek. Transvaal signallers, who have been placed on the border from the junction of the Free State to Zululand, can communicate with the place where the guns are lying. A big gathering of Boers at Yolksrust yester- day. who had come to purchase provisions and h,?r the latest news, declared that they were ready t? tak etthe hel wl??. called upon. Boer families are leaving the district for laager at Wakkerstroom. English families are trekking to Natal, The Royal Dublin Fusiliers come to Glencoe to watch the Utrecht border. A contingent of Transvaal State Artillery and many police are stationed at Yolksrust. BOER WOMEN ARMING. The Cape Town correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle," wiring on Sunday at 7.10 p.m., says:—I believe the rumours forecasting the reply of the Transvaal Government to be accurate. War is regarded as certain failing Sir Alfred Milner's supersession. Lads from the South African Republic who are being educated at local colleges are leaving for the purpose of fighting for their fatherland. Youths educated in Great Britain are return. ing with the some object. Boer women are arming whoearle. The Republicans say their! forces number 90,000, 1 believe the ,,rrect total is 50,000, Sir Alfred Milner's latest di?. patches, epecio?lly the reference to a Ie?n slate, have created a feeling amongst RePub licans that negotiationre meleee, | A SIGNIFICANT MESSAGE. I A special correspondent of the "Daily Tele graph" at Pietermaritzburg on Sunday Baya. -A. official telegram has been posted at Volk !( I rust stating that the Tramvaal, with ti, ?n t of th Orange Free State, repudiate the suzerainty of Great Britain, nd a,th,,? .I to the seven years' franchise. This ,t(?p is considered to constitute the Boer Executive's version of its reply to M Cham. berlain. A telegram received here from Cape Town I reo;el M,cW:f:eh;o:nt;:J:: sident Steyn to do his utmost to preserve peace, but has received the answer: "Too late." It is thought here that the Young Afrikander party is bent on war, I have Interviewed the military authorities, both Imperial and Colonial, with regard to the opening of the campaign, and they are all agreed in thinking that /the Boers can scarcely begin operations before the middle of October, as it is almost, impossible for them to move bodies (ft men before the grass has grown, and transport arrangements, except so far as the railway is concerned, are practically unknown to them. The veldt, however, is still bare, and no rain has fallen in the Transvaal. I BOERS CONFIDENT OF VICTORY. In the course of a lettr to an Edinburgll friend, a native of Birmingham, who has been resident at Estourt, Natal, for a number of years, expresses the following anent the exist- ing crisis:I am in the Natal Carabiniers, a Volunteer corps, and, in case of war, I shall be called upon to fight. The trouble in the Transvaal is making all business very bad. and unless the Imperial Government do something speedily I do not know what the country will come to. The Boers are a very obstinate and ignorant race, and they are unable to get over the fact that they beat us at Majuba. They think that in case of hostilities they are bound to win. Out here there is no doubt in British mindi as to the ultimate issue, but a great deal of bloodshed will be inevitable. The Uitlanders are fearfully oppres?e" by Kruger's | Government, and I know that their d?..d: are reasonable, as I know a lot of people up there at present, and in addition my brother has lived there for nearly ilvp years." THE DANGER OF DELAY. "Britisher," writing to the "Birmingham Daily Gazette," says:—"It strikes me that if the Government have not got something up their sleeve which we outsiders know nothing of, they are nlnying a dangerous game, and simply courting disaster. It was only the other day I read in the papers (these things should never be published) that so many thousands lof troops would be landed in South Africa, mostly in Natal, by the end of October. Can anyone be idiot enough to suppose that the Boers will wait quietly until all these troops are landed and all our preparations made before they commence warlike ooeratlons, if they are determined on them? Every one of those troops should have been at the Cape and in Natal before tho Colonial Secretary's last dispatch had reached Pretoria. Threats are of no earthly its, unless you are prepared to carry them ut "In this ense we threatened, and we are not prepared. Why, even the com- mander-in-chief did rot sail until Saturday. Can It be possible that thoughts of the cost of the expedition can have influenced the Govern- ment? How can that he when, in the event of our success (an absolute certainty if the troops I have alluded to were there at this moment), the cost must assuredly have been borne by the owners of the rich gold mines on the Rand, •Sc.. but not nearly eo certain if we have to wait six weeks till the troops required are landed, and who knows what may happen in that time? "If we suffer reverse 't the ontset, in all ,):bi?l,ility the lf.11.,nd?5r, 1 and the .?ti,,n ill both take sides against its, and think what that will mean! Is it possible, Ithat a parsi- monious spirit has been the cause of such a tremendous risk? I'll not believe it; troops must b on Iheir way to South Africa that we know nothing of. The members of the Government are not demented enough to risk any more defeats at tho hands of these psalm- singing. throat-cutting Boers; therefore, I say, they have something up their sleeve that we know nothing of. It is quite certain that in the improbable event of our being worsted in the encounter the whole cost of the wretched business would have to be borne by the British tAxpayer, but I trust it is not going to be such a hideom exempliflration of the old proverb. 'Penny wise and pound foolish.' I am convinced that people in this country would feel far more comfortable if we had 50.000 troops at this moment in South Africa, and '0 I feel sure would the owners of the r;ch gold mines, win would have to pay for them."

OLIVE SCHREINER'S VIEWS OF WAR. "CEKTCRIES WILL NOT WASH OTTT THE STAIN." The following appeared in the "Manchester Guardian" on Monday morning from its special correspondent: — Johannesburg, Saturday. I have received the following from Olive Pchreiner — "Meetings should be held throughout the BritiRh Is:es in support of the jJ{1sition taken up by Mr. John Morley in his Arbroath speech if a national disaster is to be avoided. "The generous arrangement made by the people of the Transvaal for admitting foreigners to the citizenship of their little State has exceeded ail that was anticipated, If their advances are not being met in the same spirit the conviction is being forced on them that the men for the hour in authority in England have determined to o:oa,l them into war and take their land from them, The story of wrong in 1895 gives strength to this convic- tion. "ny ceaseless misrepresentation and ex- actions, which would mean the surrender of their land, we are to-day driving one of the bravest and most heroic little Teutonic folk the worlrl has seen to despair. We are setting them with their back to the wall and offering them this choice, 'your land or destruction.' Tney are prepared to give the only answer pos- sible to a small race under such conditions. "Le England clearly understand what war in South Africa means. The largest empire the world has ever seen wi.1 hurl its full force against a small State of about thirty thou- sand men, including lafos of sixteen and old men of sixty, without a standing army or or- ganised commissariat. The entire little people will have to resolve itself into an army of wives and daughters, who will prepare the bread and meat the fanners put into their saddlebags, when they go out to meet our enemies. To. day. tile women in the Transvaal are demand- ing .?, ?' that they may take their part in the la?t ?taiici "We may crush this little people with the aid of the Australians and the Canadians, since the British Isles seem unable to crush them alone, We have numbers and wealth on our side; they have the conviction that their G)d fights with them. Ours is a polit'cians' war. theirs is a people's, but with our vest resources we must literally crunh them. They may well sell their lives dearly. At a cost of twenty or thirty millions and of a heavy loss among our soldiers we may take the land and lower the little flag of his independence, so dear to the Boer, but we shall have placed a stain upon our own that the centuries will not wash out. "England and South Africa will both have lost. England will have lost in honour, and will have cut that cable of affection and sym- pathy which alone can permanently bind South Africa to her. South Afr'ca will be left torn and bleeding in every part, consumed by bitterness till such time as gthe is strong enough to rise and work out her own redemption and carvo out her own gr at fortune. Only the international sp?ula to; who through his pr. sistent misrepresentation by means of the press has wrought this evil will gain and fill his already overfilled pockets with South African gold. "Jt is said the bulk of the English nation have no desire to take this land or indepen- dence from the Boer, nor to shed English blood and sacrifice English honour, in order that a few international speculators may gain com- mand of the Transvaal goldfields. "This is true. But there are times in the life of a nation when silence and inaction are as criminal as active participation in crime. We English in South Africa have never wholly lacked, from the days of General Dundlls and Sir George Grey down to those of Sir William Butler, a line of great Englishmen who have perceived that the true line of statesmanship lay in dealing with the South African problems in a spirit of manly justice, simple straight- forwardness, and a broad humanity. Let the I principles which animated the actions of these men be reverted to, and the bond of sympathy and affection binding South Africa to England will never be broken."

PREPARATIONS AT CARDIFF j BARRACKS. "EXPRESS" BOYS SEIZED WITH WAR FEVER. From inquiries we have made we find that arrangements have been made at the Cardiff Barracks, the depot of the 41st (Welsh) Regi- ment, for calling up the First-class Reserves and supplying them with their. outfits to re-join the colours. As the barracks are not large enough to accommodate the men, a number of tents have been requisitioned, and are now stored at the depot: The 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment, which is now stationed at Aldershot, at • in Ived notice to hold itself in readiness or .I"tip service in South Africa, and, as far ô I"J-n arrangements ha. gone, it will fcssis'J in keeping open the communications he?.?n Durban and the front. The battalion r ho# about 770 strong, but, as no men under 1 years of age will be allowed to pro- cd to South Africa and others may be medically unfit, the Reserves will be called upon to bring the trength up to 1,000. The 2nd Battalion is stationed at Ahmednugger, and is not likely to be called upon in the event of war with the Boers. Inquiries vrUh regard to vTruM3 elicited the information that during I t'ie ln-fXwo months there has been an increase the ■ -tern passed at the depot, but this is attributed by the authorities to any l'limon. nf war. This is negatived, however, by the ir.artia! spirit shown by fourteen "bxpress" ii?wshoj-s who had evidently caught the fever, and went up to the barracks to Join. They were all about seventeen years of ag^e. and were persuaded to join the Militia. Tiu v a -e now doing their seven weeks' train- i:' ha: it is to be hoped that t =n,.ni !.r?n,))p.ti[: be over before they are snmeientJy seasoned to transfer to the Uneba.ttatioM. COLONEL CHESS WELL INTER- I VIEWED. Colonel sWis'git°U::f:t o I h. td V. B Welsh Regiment, informed a "Wcitern Mail" reprenntative on Monday evening th? t he had only receied one applica. tion for ?r?4ce in South Africa, nd that was l from a y?uli officer, who desired to be attached to the 41st Regiment. This applica- tion he hi d duly despatched on its circuitous journey k the War Office, and as only a week had gone since its despatch he had had no reply, r< "I don't think," said Colonel Cresswell, "that the Government will accept any of these Volunteers from the rank and file, but, in all probability, the officers who offer their services will be accepted." Asked why no men had volunteered for active service, Colonel Cresswell said times were too good. Had this war trouble arisen during the strike South Wales would have been to the front with Volunteers. Commenting on the chances of war, he considered that a conflict was not very far off. All along the dilatori- ness of the Government had been most sur- prising.

DEATH OF A WJ..SH UITLANDER. I The death took place »t Kuther-I Ilane. Haverfordwest, last week of a young man, named Mr. Jamei Mathias, who had come home from the Trans- vaal for the second time, within four years to see his friends and to recruit his health. Some time ago he favoured our Haverfordwest corre- spondent with an interview, which appeared in these columns, giving his views on the strained situation out there. lIe was then fully under the impression. and so were all the English in the Transyaal, that war would come before very long, and put the long-standing questions right. Mr Mathias showed at the time of the raid that he was perfectly prepared to fight shoulder to shoulder with his fellow-country- men in Johannesburg, for he was under arms at that historical time. and was ready to go out to the sucomir of Jameson had that "reformer" not moved at the wrong time, and had not the Uitlander force been practically without ammunition.

CIIUPAT VALLEY FLOODS. EXCITING RUSH FOR LIFE. SUFFERINGS OF THE WELSH SETTLERS, The Rev. Hugh Davies, one of the two Welsh clergymen sent out some rears ago to Pata- gonia, in the current issue of the "Llan" details his experiences of the recent inunda- tion of the Chupat Valley and the exciting experiences he and his family passed through. "The flood," writes Mr. Davies, "came in contact first with my holding about mid-day j of Saturday, August 23, and I soon discovered that the water would forthwith leap over the, watercourse to the land of my neighbours and myself. I went to st, David's Church to place the embroidered silk covers of the altar—the work of the Hon. Miss E:eanor Pennant, Pen- rhyn Castle—the a,tar books, the lectern Bible and that on the pulpit 8Mlf, and other ob""? in place of safety should the water reach the church which ;tands on an eminence -abo-t the highest p) nt in thM part of the valle)' My gons at that time were engaged in driving the cattle to the adjoining hills. They returned as I was coming from the church, and Bhouted, 'Father, you must take grandmother at once in the trap to the hUs, or the water will be too deep for you to pass through, and we'll follow with as much food and other things as we can carry in the wagon.' There was no time for preparation, only just sufficient to catch the horses. I had scarcely time to secure my cleri- calf. Prayer Book and hymn book, ray writing- desk, and letters of Orders. You can easily imagine my feelings at being compelled to leave behind my home, with my books and my furniture. We had to rush past St. David's Church, being unable to turn in to breathe a prayer to God on this, the shortest day of our year, or to know whether we would be ever per- raitted again to worship God in that shrine which we loved so dearly, and thank Him for our escape from a danger which threatened to involve the whole valley in ruin. Think of it, myself and fami:y in the depth of night obliged to flee for our lives over miles of road through slush and water, the hor?e frequently up to his body. Every minute seemed an hour, and we feared at each step that the water would overtake us before we reached the hills. [y sons and daughters trudged behind, carry- ing everything they were able hurriedly to pile on the wagon. At length we reached the house we were making for, and was welcomed 1 by the owner, one Mr. Hutohins. It was now half-past nine o'clock at night. On reaching the house we found that it contained as many as seveu fami lies-thirty seven souls in two rooms. Another clergyman, the Rev. D. G. Davies, writing to Canon Thomas, of Holyhead, also sent a brief account of the inundation. This gentleman was able to secure most of his fur- niture, but it was seriously damaged through exposure to the rain and the snow. Most of the houses had been swept away, but no lives were lost. His church was standing, and Trelew was safe, Earnest appeals for funds are made, and contributions may be sent to the Rev. Hugh Davies, Hafod Unig, Valley Superior, Colonia del Chupat, and also to the Rev. D. G. Davies, Trelew, Chupat.

DREYFUS AGITATION. GENERAL MERCIER RENOUNCES POLITICS. A Reuter's telegram from Paris on Monday eays: -The "Figaro" "ay mthat the movement to secure a pardon for Captain Dreyfus is gain- ing ground in the provinces. According to the "Journal," General Mercier has decided to prolong his stay at Dinard. He denies that he intends to become a candidate for the Department of the Sarche at the next sena- torial election, and declares he will not again engage in politics. MADAME DREYFUS IN ENGLAND. The Press Association Folkestone correspon- dent states that M. Labori and Madame Dreyfus visited Folkestone on Saturday, when apartments were taken for Madame Dreyfua and her children, who will, in the event of Captain Dreyfus s pardon, reside with him for a time at this South Coast watering-place. M. Labori was on Saturday much "by' Ilh. kindly feeling expressed towards Captain Dreyfus and himself. TELEGRAM FROM A WESLEYAN CHURCH. At the Chertsey Wesleyan Church on Sunday night the Rev. J. Kirtlan asked all those to rise who were in favonr of sending a tele. graphic nicssaje to President Loubet appealing for the immediate release of Dreyfus. Every person in the church rose. The telegram was despatched on Monday morning. I HUNTING A FRENCHMAN. EXTRAORDINARY ECENE AT THE BYDb PARK DEMONSTRATION. At the close of Sunday's meeting in Hyde Park, London, when the resolu. tions had been put and carried, the feel- ings of the cowd were wo;ked up to such a pitch that it was evident that mischief was in the air, The thousands assembled were eager to give a practical demonstration of their sympathy with Mme. Dreyfus. Suddenly there was a movement on the outskirts of the throng. A young Frenchman, dressed in a blue serge suit and straw hat, nurriea rapiuiy downoneofthewanM.AthieheehfoUowed a group of youths. "That's the man who says that Dreyfus is a traitor," they shouted. "Con- spues!" The Frenchman, losing I.I? head, broke into a mh. His pursuers followed hard after him. Their cry changed to "Down with him! Lynch him!" In less than ten seconds 5,000 people had joined in the chase. They swarmed over railings and rushed down by- paths. Most of them thought that they were after Esterhazy. Their quarry doubled. and doubled again. Everywhere he was hemmed in, and turned back by a black mass striking at him with sticks. Then he vaulted a fence and rushed for his life. It was a sight not often seen in England-one man hunted by 6,000. Nursemaids and perambulators were overturned in the mad cnase. Women screamed and men cursed. The mob in its I excitement had gone mad. The Frenchman, in the meantime, managed to reach the rail- ings that border the Park-lane drive in an exhausted condition. Luckily for him, he here found a rescucr. A man rushed forward, and put his arm round the antrt.t. fellow's waist. Shouting for aid. he kept the assafants off with a big stick. Thi gave the police time to get up and form cordon. Then it wm found that the rescuer w u Mr. Tom Mann, who had be?n re-Aigiting the "eenes of his former exploits. The police removed the object of the mob's wrath towards the Marble Arch. where they pretended to send him off in a cab down Oxford-stmt. This cab was fol- lowed by those "ho still thirsted for the Frenchman's blood. The latter was then taken to the Hvde Park Poli?--station. Hem his name was found to be Edmond Regnanit? of 4, Wemberg-road. Highgate. He has only been a year in London, and does not intend to visit the park again when demonstrations are on It is reported that there were several other foreigners who were hurtled in the park on Sunday, and had some difficulty in making their escape.

FATAL EXPLOSION ON A GREEK TUG. A Reuter's telegram from Constantinople on Monday saysThe boiler of a Greek tug in the harbour exploded to-day. are of the crew being killed. I

The Cure of Consumption, Asthma, and Bron- j ohSt by a t«w «y't<m of inhalation by E. W. <SSo?n? K.D. Fhn.. U8.A.. D ex M-B-O-fl-. Eng.; by?"n. &H?b.r?.q?.. London N. V M. emtU pMn?. M. LMM4

CHINA'S REFORM. I I PROPOSED TREATY WITH JAPAN. GIGANTIC SCHEME OUTLINED, I EUROPEAN SUSPICION AROUSED. Reuter's correspondent at Peking writes under date August 8 follows :-Xatnrafy, t'ie reported conclusion of a defensie aliiance be- tween China and Japan is the most interest- ing topic here for the time being. The state- ment which appears td have been made that the alliance was already an accomplished fact is a great deal too premature, as not only has no such arrangement been arrived at, but the probabilities appear to be greatly against the conclusion of anything in the shape of an alliance between China and her quondam enemy, for the present at any rate. Thav negotiations for a rapprochement of some kind have been in progress for some time past is beyond doubt, and that both countries j are keenly desirous of entering into close relations is no less certain. But there are many difficulties in the way of the conclusion of such an alliance on the lines which are said to have been proposed. It must he premi-ed that every- thing connected with the affair has been kept as secret as possible, and it is only with the utmost difficulty that any information what- ever can be obtained on ths subject, and all news bearing on it, no matter from what source, must be accepted with great reserve. The first mention of such an alliance being in contemplation was .ad, day two after i the departure of the two envoys for T.ki., when it was .flde?t,y asserted in Chinese j ,ir' le? that they wre accredited to the Mikado for the purpose of negotiating an offensive ,.d defensive alliance, which had already been practically arranged between Prince Ching and the Marquis Ito. That this was the real object of their visit is now known with almost absolute certainty, though at the time their mission was stated to be for the sole purpose of studying foreign commer- cial conditions. The report that these two persons, whose names are Liu Hsio-Hsun and Ching Rkuan, the latter being also known as Chao, were entrusted with an affair of so delicate a natnre was scouted ae ridiculous by people who are usually well informed on matters Chinese, but it sems that the desire of the Empress Dowager to keep the matter absolutely secret was not sufficiently reckoned with Had efficials of higher rank been sent suspicion would have been aroused at once, but, these envoys being men of com- paratively humble rank, the real nature of tho mission was not suspected by many, and was disbelieved in by those who did hear of it. As regards the terms of the proposed alliance, nothing of a definite nature has trans- pired, but its general terms may be fairly guessed. The main points would assuredly be the re-organisation of China's forces, both nav.il and military, by JapanE? officers, in return for which China would agree to give Japan certain privileges and rights for mining and railway construction in the Fuh-Kien Province, which Japan seems to have regarded for some time as being earmarked for herself in the event of the long for.rtold partitioning of China coming about. Where Japan would find the capital necessary for working such ente prises as thosa named is a problem which only that country herself could answer, but there is strong reason for believing this was one of the proposals set forth. Necessarily, if the refor- mation of China's defensive forces were to be undertaken by the JapanLe, the l?tt?r ??.ld have to be ,rd?d a certain measure of Cf)n. trol over the finances of China, so that there .h.i?ld be no difficulty in providing the large sums necessary to the carrying out of so stupendous an undertaking. This appears ths lock on which the whole affeir Is likely to meet with complete shipwreck. It is hardiy to be conceived that the present generation of mandarins would give up handling even a part of the revenue which at present passes through their hands, and of which by far the larger proportion sticks to their fingers, without a desperate struggle. What- ever part of the revenue might be set aside for administration by the Japanese, the most bitter opposition would be encountered, not only from the officials most nearly concerned, but from the whole mandarinate, who would naturally view with the most intense alarm any innovation of the sort. They would regard it as a most dangerous precedent, and one which sooner or later would involve the whole of Chinese officialdom as it at present exists in one common ruin. That this would be the best possible thing that could happen in China's interest goes without saying, but this is not the view taken by the bulk of the officials themselves. These may be divided into three classes-first, those who look to their offices as means for acquiring a competency in the shortest possible time without regard to the commonest principles of honesty, and who would, consequently, oppose tooth and nail anything likely to interfere with their prime object; secondly, the ultra-conservative party, who, while very little better in the way of honesty than the first-named, conscien- tiously believe that Chinese methods of government are the best for China, and would oppose the innovations for that reason. These two classes are, unfortunately, by far the most powerful. The third class may be defined as the enlightened minority, who are seriously concerned about the future of their country, and who would welcome any changes likely to conduce to the well-being and integrity of the Empire. This latter class, though, it is to be feared, is so small as to be almost a negligeable quantity in the face of the opposition to be looked for from the two first classes of officials. It is, there- fore, evident that no sudden change, such as would be necessary if an alliance of the nature said to be contemplated is not to be a source of weakness instead of strength to Japan, could be carried into effect. It most not be for- gotten in this connection that already many of the high officials have declared against the con- clusion of this treaty-some for one reason, and some for another. For example, Li Hung Chang, when asked by the Empress-Dowager for his opinion on the subject, expressed him. self as being utterly opposed to it, unless a strong European Power was behind Japan, but to enter into an alliance with Japan alone he described u suicidal, because such 11 alliance would undoubtedly give great 41i"I?: to Russia. The veteran statesman turns out to have been quite correct in his antkipation, a Note having been addressed to the Ministers of the Tsung-li-Yamen by M. De Giers warning them that the conclusion of any such alliance would certainly give great offenoe to his Government, and that the consequences would be most serious for China. The Marquis di Salvago-Raggi on Thursday last had an inter- view with the Yamen, in the course of which he informed them that he would shortly lay before them certain proposals made by his Government, and that if China would agree to them the Sanmun Bay incident would be regarded as closed. He prefaced his remarks by saying it was Italy's earnest desire to main- tain the most friendly relations with China, whereupon one of the Chinese is said to have interrupted him by saying, "Ah, no doubt that is the reason Italy is strengthening her fleet in Chinese waters." The Yamen, while willing to discuss matters in a perfectly friendly way, were very firm on the main point, and reso- lutely maintained that it was quite impossible for China to agree to anything that would in the slightest degree prejudice her interests. The position of Italy in this matter Is far from being an enviable one. The balk of the native officials are firmly per- suaded that her demand for a lease of Sanmun Bay was allowed to lapse from sheer fear of the power of China, and openly scoff at the idea of Italy being able to enforce any demand she may now make. It ta very fortunate, indeed, at the present juncture there is one Minister at least in the Yamen who ft well conversant with Europe and European politics, and that his influence has been exerted towards an amiable understanding between the two countries. I refer to H. t. trft Chtnt- heng, formerly Minister to Russia and Ger- C many, a man of broad and enlightened views, and one who strikes those who come in contact with him as being keen, able, and intelligent. It is generally understood that the Italian negotiations will be opened some time this week, though what form the proposals to be made to the Yamen will take has not yet transpired. This mu 11 is known, however, that they will not be of tfc? nature of a demand. but in whatever shape th y are presented they will, undoubtedly, meet with considerable oppoti- tion from the Yamen.

THE ROYALIST PLOT. OPENING OF THE TRIAL. A Central News telegram from Paris on Monday evening says:—The Senate met to- day as a High Court of Ju-tice for the trial of the prooners charged with sedition. The call of the roll showed that there were 265 Senators present. After some preliminary skirmishing be- tween the various groups, the Public Prosecutor was admitted, and proceeded to read the indict- ment, which was a very violent attack upon the prisoners for their plotting with the Monar- chists against the ltepnhlic It vehemently denounced three Republican igenatore-Mes- | sietirs Buffet. Sourirm. and Marquois—for their intrigues with the Due d'Orleans. Thereupon M. Halgan, a Conservative Senator, loudly pro- tested, and asked the Senate not to allow these reflections upon the honour of absent col- IIMgnes, It transpired that of the forty or fifty men against whom proceedings were origi- nally taken by the Pul?li?? Prosecutor only :=l:t :y bil:h:e :)II:'n: be: the Senate, amongst them M. Paul Deroulede and M. Guerin. At the conclusion of the Public Prosecutor's address the Senate, by 23 votes to 32, sent the dossier of the case to a Ciiiiinission of Instruction of the High Court, and reserved the question of competence. On the application of counsel for the prisoners, it was decided to throw open the proceedings to the public. At eight o'clock the Senate sat In open court, and, after some discussion, a decree was approved appointing a Commission to consider the procedure to be followed in th3 trial.

NEW YORK MONEY MARKET ENORMOUS SELLING ORDERS ON THE EXCHANGE. A Reuter's telegram from New York on Monday says:—There were enormous orders to soil at the opening of to-day's Stock Market. Industrials were the severest sufferers, drop- ping from 2 to 5i. Railways were not so badly affected, but in many cases a fall of over a point was registered, while Rock Island lost 3i. Great excitement prevailed, and specu- lators were quite demoralised. The tightness of money is the causo of the selling.

NEGROES AND STRIKES. SEVEN KILLED IN A FIGHT IN THE STATES. A Central News telegram from New York on Monday says:—A fight occurred yesterday at Cartersville, Illinois, between workmen who have struck against imported negro labour and some of the negroes themselves. Seven blacks were killed and two badly wounded. Troops have been ordered to the spot.

KILLED IN SWITZERLAND. AN ENGLISHMAN RUN OVER BY A TRAIN. A Reuter's telegram from Berne on Monday says:—An Englishman, described as Mr. David Finlay, of London, has been run over by a train on the railway at Aarburg. Both his legs were cut off, and he died an hour and a half afterwards.

POLITICAL CRISIS IN SERVIA A Central News telegram from Vienna on Monday evening says:—A dispatch from Bel. grade Etates that the Georgevitch Cabinet is in a peeilous position, owing to the expressed dis- approval of the Russian and Austrian Govern- ments in regard to the persecution of the Radical leaders and the trumped-up charges against them. Pablic opinion in gervia. so far as it is allowed to find channels of expres- sion, is declared to be unanimous in demand- ing the departure of King Milan as the 00:' rreans of pacifying the country.

THE PLAGUE AT OPORTO. A Renter's telegram from Oporto on Monday says:—No fresh cases of plague were reported here yesterday. The members of the German Colony entertained Drs. Aaser and Gurswald. the bacteriologists, at a banquet on Saturday. The Norwegian doctors, who are conducting a series of experiments at the municipal labo. rrtory, will remain here for another fortnight.

THE SERVIAN "PLOT." A Central News telegram from Belgrade on Monday says:—In the course of the trial of the prisoners charged with complicity In the attempt against King Milan three witnesses to-day declared that the attempt was part of an anti-dynastic conspiracy, which was engi- neered from Cettinje with the assent of Prince Nicholas.

FRENCH FLOUR MILLS IN FLAMES. A Renter s telegram from Marseilles on Mon- day says:-Large flour mills at St. Just have been destroyed by fire. The damage is esti- mated at 30G.000f.. but is covered by insurance.

YELLOW FEVER IN THE STATES. A Reuter's telegram from Key West on Mon- day says:—No medical report on tbe yellow fever epidemic was issued yesterday, but there are many cases, and one death is known to have occurred.

THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS NEW COLOURS PRESENTED BY THE QUEEN. The Queen, who was attended by the Prince of Wales, presented new coloura to the Gordon Highlanders at Brackley, near Ballater, on Monday afternoon. A detachment of the famous regiment, consisting of 200 men, engaged in route marching through Aberdeenshire, arrived at Ballater on Saturday afternoon, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Downman. and encamped in a field near the village of Brackley. They were paraded on Monday afternoon ith th?r troops. a»d w? inspected hy the Prince of Wales, ?ith whom were the Duke of York and the Duke of Connaught. The presentation of the colours was made in the presence of about 10,000 spec- ta tors.

ANOrHER BIG CORNER IN WHEAT. A Reuter's telegram from New York on Mon- day says:—The "Herald" correspondent at Chicago states that a big corner in wheat has been inaugurated by Messrs. Weare, the heads of the Weare Commission Company, with Mr. P. D. Armour's millions added to those con- trolled by the Weares, so as to guarantee success. The Weares have elevators In Chicago capable of storing fifty million bushels.

I DEATH OF A DERBY WINNER. A Eenter's telegram from Nashville (Ten- nessee) on Monday says:-Iroquois, the winner of the Bnglish Derby and St. Leger la Ml, is dead,

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