The Transvaal War Premeditated.

Manawatu Herald, 6 February 1900, Page 3

The Transvaal War Premeditated.

f i The Africander Bond is, and always has been, an instrument of mischief and an inciter of disloyalty. It is at present in Parliamentary power at the Cape, Mr Schreiner, an important member of the Bond, being Prime Minister. Mr Schreiner has recently shown his disloyalty by allowing guns and ammunition to proceed to thq Orange Free State, knowing that they would be used against her Majesty's forces, and' when war had been declared by the Transvaal and Orange Free State Republics against England, advising Cape colonists to keep neutral and aloof. ! The leading organ of the Bond is a ' newspaper called *' Ons Land " published in Dutch at Capetown. The " Ons Land " has tor some time preached disloyalty and opposition to British rule, and has predicted a war for supremacy. In an article which appeared in its columns more than a year ago, and which-is to be found reproduced in " South Africa " of October 15th, 1898, are the following words : — "When one considers the state of . affairs in the Cape Colony, it must be ( confessed that the future dqes not appear too rosy. The majority ot the Africander nation in the Cape Colony will go bent under the English yoke. The -free section of the two Republics is very small compared to that portion subject to the stranger, and whpt^ver may be our private opinions, one thing at least is certain, namely, that with- ■ out the assistance of the Cape Colonial Africanders, the Africander cau. c c is lost. The two Republics by themselves, surronr-dc-d as they are by the stranger, arc unable to continue the fight. One day the question of WHO IS TO BE MASTER have to be referred to the arbitrament of the sword, and then the verdict will depend upon the Cape Colo- 1 nial Africanders. If they j^ive cvi- ! dence on oue side, we shall win. It ; does not help a brass ?-*.rtVt : ng to ; mince matters. This is the real point ' at issue ; and in this light every ! Africander must learn to see it. And whst assistance can we expect from Africanders in the Cap*.* ? . . . The vast majority of them are ■. till faithful, and will even gird on the sword when the time comes."