The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-25
BaseIess Report that EngIand's Fly
Was On It's Way 10 Turkey.
FEARS OF SOME BRITONS
THERE MAY BE A BASIS FOR THE
REPORT OF AN ALLIANCE.
Engiishmen Terrorfxed by Boers-
West River Opened by China.



Russo Turkish alliance Is discredited here
and on the Continent. rup1ors in connection
with ii and various phases OF the Eastern
question are still current. The possibility
of secret understanding between Russia
and France on the one side and Turkey on
the other is more to be feared than open
treaty. Turkey would hardly dare to OPEN
ly defy England by entering into a compact
with Britain's bitterest enemy. but the
Sultan's advisers are known TO be tricky.
and might do secretly what they would not
undertake above board. Ii Is probably this
fear that was responsible for the rumor.
yesterday that the flying squadron. hurried
ly commissioned during the Transvaal war
scare, had received instructions TO immedi-
ately proceed to the Mediterranean and
augment the great fleet Of British warships
already there. In line with the rumor that
work had at last been found for the flying
squadron. was another report TO the effect
that Lord salsburys cabinet, after a con-
ference. had sent an ultimatum to Turkey.
This ultimatum was supposed 10 demand
the immediate abrogation of the alleged Of
fensive and defensive alliance treaty with
Russia In event OF the Sultan's refusal.
the British war feet. so the rumor went.
was 10 force the Dardanelles. destroy the
forts on each side and pour sufficient shells
into Constantinople to bring Abdul Hamid
and his advisers TO their senses. While these
rumors received little or no credence here.
they were cabled to the United States. evi-
dently with the intention OF being used by
spectators to influence the grain and pro-
vision markets Wheat is said 10 have ad-
vanced 2 cents bushel at some places on
the strength OF the false rumor.
| But I'm spite of the denials. official ana
| semi-official, that have been made from
many quarters. the report Of the offensive
| and defensive alliance between Russia and
| Turkey is not viewed with entire incredul-
| ity Special dispatches published by the
London newspapers this morning from the
European capitals. notably from Berlin,
| Paris and Vienna, show tendency 20 ad-
nit the possibility that Russo-Turkish
| treaty has been concluded. II is pointed
| out, with obvious plausibility. that Tur-
| keys impecuniosity may have driven her 10
| seek an alliance as a means of obtaining a
loan, as was the case recently with China.
| II such a treaty has in fact been concludefl
| II will likely be kept a secret until the las-
moment So far there has been no authentic
confirmation OF the report from any quar-
| ter, and a dispatch from Constantinople
quotes an interview with the Grand Vizier.
| Hill Riffat Pasha. in which he is said to
have denied the existence Of the reported
| alliance.
Notwithstanding the prominence given the
latest phase of the Eastern question. great
interest is maintained in the Transvaal
affair. A dispatch to the Times from Pre-
toria, dated Friday. says that all the pris-
oners held there on a charge OF completely
| in the recent uprising, except Messrs. Phil
Inns. Rhodes Farrar. Hammond and Fitz-
natrick will be released on bail to-day, and
! their preliminary examination will probably
| be held next Wednesday, after which IL -
believed the bulk Of the prisoners will be
| discharged. During the crisis the Times
| correspondent continues. "the Portuguese
at Dalagoa bay refused the TransvaaIs
| request TO loan the republic arms The
trade at the Port OF Alonzo Marquis IN
| growing enormously.
A Cape Town dispatch to the Times says
the police there have received warrant
| for the arrest and extradition OF Charles
Leonard. II is reported that he has already
sailed for England.
The English troops who were members OF
Dr. Jamesons expedition have embarked az
Rurban. Natal. for England on board the
steamer Harlech Castle. while the colonial
troops. who were taken prisoners at the
| same tlihcs 81 oA -
Three unarmed Englishmen from the
| Rand. who have arrived at Nryburg. re-
mort that they were fired on by the Beers.
| arrested and imprisoned at Zeerust' ana
subjected TO the greatest indignities ana
kent in terror OF their lives until they were
released by the Landrost
An event of great interest TO the CONNER
ciaI world was announced at Picking yester-
| day. A dispatch from the capital OF China,
nr.nted here this morning, says the Celes-
/ tial government has agreed 10 open the
| West river, provided China is allowed 10 re-
| tain the territory ceded under the Burmah-
| china convention I'm 1894. The opening OF
two posts on the West river, or Si-kiang.
| namely. shao-King and Wu-Chow. was
| stimulated for by the japanese as part OF
the terms of peace. The cities OF Canton
and Hong Kong are situated on the bay
| into which the West river empties. Iae
news that the West river was 10 be opened
| To foreign trade occasioned no small amount
| OF satisfaction in Hong Kong. The trade of
| the rich province OF Yunnan had begun 70
! be diverted by the activity of the French
| IN Tonouin from its natural channel down
the river. The river traverses one OF the
richest and most densely populated dis
1
| long guarded IL against the entrance OF for
| eign commerce with a sort of superstitious
reverence. The territory Of the Mekong.
| which has recently been acquired by France
| from China by treaty. opens another route
TO a part OF this rich country. Frances sue
| cess in securing this territory was part
4 of the situation In the Tar East whlch-has
!! been most trying 10 Great Britain since the
| decline OF her diplomatic prestige with the
J Chino-Japanese war. Great Britain claimed
4 that the territory acquired by France in
| cluded parts OF what were British Burmah.
| but had been ceded by Great Britain 10
| China by a convention which ratified
| I'm London on Aug. .. 1894. In furtheraace
| OF Great Britains project OF the formation
| OF a buffer state, but with the proyiso that
| China should not ALLEVIATE this territory 10
1 any other power without the consent OF
| Great Britain. BY the terms OF this con-
| vention China. on the ether hand. reiin-
| quished certain territory 10 Great Britain
| in the delm.tation CT the frontier between
| China and British Burmah. Within a few
weeks again IL was reported. a set-off 10
4 the Chinese concessions TO France. that
Great Britain had procured the assent OF
1 China TO the cessiol TO Great Britain OF
| four states on the Burmo-Chinese frontier.
/ giving British trade direct access 10 SOUTH
1 eru China Presumably China is now en-
deavoring TO terminate these encroachmsRte