The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17
Warships Of Interested Nations
fastening With All Speed
to Turkish Waters. + !.
VARIOUS PLANS FOR REFORM.
During Negotiations, However, Con.
!. fagration May Be Started in
.@ the Ottoman Empire. +:
copyright, 1895, by the New York Timeal

| LONDON, ENG, Nov. 16.--Although We
are apparently now within days, or even
hours, of important events in the Orient.
England is very much easier in mind about
the whole business than it was week ago.
! The acton of Austria in assuming the
initiative and formu mulating proposition
I for concerted action of the European
powers has given the entire situation an
! altered tone, which people here will OBJ
serve with deep sigh of relief.
| 1t was England's posture of silly isola-
! ton that frightened everybody. The
spectacle of Austria taking the lead is i'm
mensely reassuring. It recalls at once the
| former manipuIations and temporary set
Elements of the Eastern question, in which
England never failed to get the most Of
what she wanted and was always able to
! dictate pretty largely what others should
get. 1t is in large geinternational conferences
| of this sort that England's genius is most
satisfactorily displayed.
| In room alone with Russia and France
she was at grave disadvantage, but now,
1 that all the six ambassadors are present
i and that the Austrian Premier submits
| his views of how matters should be ar
ranged, England finds her equanimity
|
| OF q game of this nature by centuries of
experience, and if she does not emerge
! with minimum of expense and maxi
mum OF profit and prestige it will be her
own fault. In games that she understands,
too, England is sportsman enough to back
her own luck with unruffed nerve.
/ So anxiety about what the week may
bring forth in the Levant has shifted its
-. - IL
tai countries which have open frontiers
and CONSUMPTION, and cannot help shiver-
ing little when they hear of big shot be-
ing rammed into guns. All these dis.
patches about the squadrons of various
/ powers being hurriedly fitted and dis
patched to the East mean less to the eye
/ of the Englishman, who is used to the idea
OF moving fleets all his life, than they do
to the men on the beleaguered mainland.
= There was a scream of rage all over
/ France yesterday at the news that three of
the biggest French battle-ships had been
calmly run aground in the roads off Tou-
i lon, which have been familiar to French
navigators for a thousand years. At such
moment, when all minds are astir with
excitement at thoughts of naval rivalry,
| such mishap is simply too ridiculous,
and naturally the whole Partisan press are
clamoring for Gervais' head.
Italy sends five war vessels. Austria
similar number, though much inferior in
strength; Britain's huge feet lines up at
| Salonica and, big as is the other vessel on
! the way to re-enforce it, it will probably
meet it at point nearer the Turkish capi-
tai. France has powerful squadron
steaming eastward, and Russia's Mediter-
ranean fleet, which has been in the Attain
tic waters, is heading in the same direc-
tion. Even Roumania is getting her sim
gle man-of-war, the Elizabeta, ready at
/ Galatz, and this reminder that the Triple
Alliance has silent partner comes in the
nature of disquieting surprise.
On the other hand, no one hears syllable
about any German ships. There are Ger
man vessels somewhere in the Mediter-
ranean, 1t is believed, but rumor is abso-
/ lutely silent about them, and not hint
comes from Kiel or Wilhelmshaven Of the
slightest f1uttering of the naval pulse there.
This for the moment is the most interest.
ing phase of the situation.
Grand Duke Vladimir is arriving at Ber.
lin to-day and is to spend next week with
Emperor William in the privacy of q
shooting-lodge. This powerful uncle Of
| the Czar is the most pro-German of all the
factors in Russian politics. His coming ct
this time, bearing an autograph letter from
| the Car to the Kaiser, wears the appear
| ance of political visit, What Russia is
at must always be more or less matter Of
pure guesswork. Often it happens that
Russia is at several mutually conflict