The morning call., 1894-12-01

lines, that the vessels thereof may be con-
verted Into cruisers in event of war. Is
about to be practically illustrated. The
Canadian Pacific steamship Empress of
China at a very short notice can be
turned into powerful cruiser. Her gun
mountings, gunshieids and guns have
been unloaded at the Yokohama docks.
Measurements Of the steamer have been
made, and all that is left to do to make
the Empress swift unprotected cruiser is
for the War Department of the old country
TO give the word.
Gun mOuutings and guns have been
ordered for the Empress of japan and
Empress of India. They are expected to
arrive at Yokohama by freight steamer.
Two guns of 6-inch caliber, in addition to
these for the Empress of China, were re-
ceived with the fitting for the latter ship.
They reached the orient on the steamship
Beulawer, and were being unloaded when
the Oceanic, that arrived here this week,
was in Yokohama harbor.
The story of the sudden activity of Eng
| land is complicated one. 1t commences
with dispatch sent from the British lega-
ton at Shanghai stating that Admiral
TytkOf of the Russian navy had been
secretly gwen orders to select vessels to
compose powerful squadron that is TO be
added to the fleet already established at
VladivOstock and North China. Two
Russian turret ships, three torpedo catch
ers, three unprotected cruisers and four
torpedo boats of the first class will COM
pose the admiral's squadron.
Russia's actions and mysterious prepa-
rations are said to be the cause OF Eng
lands making such vigorous preparations
for concentrating a feet in Chinese waters
and arranging to arm the emergency"
vessels. Though the telegraph messages
of yesterday stated that England is getting
ready TO bulldoZe the Japs by big show
ing of power, the truth is the movement
of ships recorded is only the cUnsumma-
ton of plans made sixty days ago. The
| question now presents itself for solving:
Is England bluffing Japan or Russia ?
From a reliable source it was learned
yesterday that a steamer now on the way
to Vladivostock has on board an immense
quantity OF munitions of war.
England has detached two of her East
India squadron and ordered them to the
North China station. Ships are due there
also from number of other places. Ves-
sells at Esquimalt have been given orders
to be in readiness to go into service at a
moments notice. Yet no one seems to
know what all this means.
| AS the preparations to arm the Canadian
Pacific steamers interest us locally more
attention was given to that end of the
story by reporter. None of the repre-
| senta;ives Of the company here had heard
anything about the matter. They would
not be likely to.
On the Oceanic there were only few
who had heard anything about the guns
for the Empress of China, but they mad
heard Of the safe arrival Of the Beulawer
with war material There had been some
discussion over the matter. as it seemed
| impoiitic OF England to assume the right
to arm in foreign port when she was
supposed to be acting as peacemaker.
1t is rumored that the Empress line will
fetch the guns and mountngs to Victoria,
whence they 90 to EsQuimalt, where they
can be adjusted at any time.
Doubtless the English will make some
denial Of this story, but one fact remains
that cannot be disputed. A local firm, hay
| ing some interest in the Beulawer's cargo.
! has received a duplicate manifest. On
his paper is the entry (amnng others),
"three gun-carriagea for Empress of
| China's guns; three 6-inch guns for con-
verted cruiser Empress of China"
The steamers Empress of Japan. En-
| press of India and Empress of China are
naval reserve vessels. Unlike most ships
Of that order their native crews are COM
posed of reserve men. Usually reserve
chips only carry thirteen men of the or
ganization before the mast. The COM
manders of the three liners rank as first
lleutenants in the royal navy and can be
pressed into service as regular officers at
the order of the admiralty.
There are few finer vessels af1oat than
these Canadian Pacific passenger boats.
| They are of 10000 horsepower, are driven
| by twin screws and can attain speed of
II knots an hour. They are built with
three decks two of which are steel. Their
length is 440 feet, beam 81 feet, depth of