The herald., 1896-01-20
GREAT BR|TA|N'S SQUADRON
May Now Be Headed for Ameri.
can Waters
ADMIRAL BELKNAP'S VIEW
England Is Preparing to Take Venezuelan
Territory
Reported Sale Of Cuba bv Spain to England
Gives Rise to Possibility Of I'm.
mediate hostilities
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
New YORK, Jan. 2O.-A special to IT,
World from Boston says:
''If the British flying squadron should
come over to American waters 1t would
not astonish me-" said Rear Admiral Belk.
nap, retired, at his home. II wrote to
Admiral Bunce, at Hampton Roads, three
days ago that it would not surprise me in
the least ii the flying squadron shto:szsarst
be heard from at La Guayara.
From the moment it was announced
that the squadron was to be commissioned
l made up my mind it was for American
waters. came to that conclusion because
matters had quieted down in the Transvaal
and the excitement over Emperor viii
liam's telegram to Kruger had subsidized.
1.-The reported activity at Santa Bucie
and Halifax on this side of the Atlantic and
at the British dockyard ut Esquimalt at the
entrance of the Straits OF Juan de Fuca, in
the Pacific, emphatically confirm such
conclusion.
"While some of our people are arguing
over the meaning and intent of the text OF
the Monroe doctrine and apologizing for
everything England does, of whatever
character, in any part or the globe, the
British government in my judgment 10
deter,ninedly preparing to take what she
claims as belonging to her in Venezuela.
"In my opinion if that flying squadron
does appear in American waters, under exc
as menace to the United States"
THE FLYING SQUADRON
LONDON, Jan. 19.-The flying squadron
has now been completed and 10 lying off
Spithead. IF the weather is favorable steam
will be gotten up tomorrow to enable the
admiral to put the squadronin-motion.
On Tuesday, according to the present
program, the lords of the admiralty will
arrive at Osborne, in the admiralty yacht
Enchantress. The fleet will then move
down to Cowes Roads to be inspected by
the queen and by the lords Of the admi-
rally. The queen will not 60 afloat for
this ceremony, but will witness the maneu-
vers from Osborne house.
The squadron will sail on Wednesday,
probably for a long cruise. as no torpedo
boats have been commissioned to accom-
pany it. Rear Admiral Drake, in COM
mand, will only get his final orders for the
cruise at the last moment.
| A SENSATIONAL STORY
ST. LOUIS, No., Jan. 19.-A special to
the Republic from Tallahassee, Fla. says:
| Sensational stories are afioat here to-
night. Governor Mitchell, at the request
of the war department, has ordered Adju-
tant General Houston to see that the Flor
| ida militia be placed in readiness to take
the field at a moments notice. The gov
ernor, it is reported, will call out the mill
| tia tomorrow. In the meantime the adju-
| tant general is quietly issuing orders.
Similar requests. it is reported, have been
| sent to the governors of other southern
states. The story has become generally
known and is causing excitement through
out the south.
Governor Mitchell and Adjutant-G General
| Houston were asked in regard to it, but
they refused to talk. General Houston has
been in his office all day and has sent tele-
grams to all battalion commanders in the
state.
Major Turner of Jacksonville, command
ing the First Florida battalion, has re-
p, ceived several messages from Adjutant-
General Houston. The battalion COM
manders at Tampa and Pensacola have
also received messages from General Hous-
ton during the day.
| 1t is stated as coming from the executive
Office that the Washington authorities have
reason to believe that deal is pending be-
tween Spain and England for the sale of
! Cuba to the latter, and that the United
States is preparing to resist the transfer of
| the island, and that the flying squadron is
coming to American waters to be ready for
the war with the United States that will in
evitably follow the attempted cession of
| Cuba.
| Dispatches from various cities in Florida
report that the troops are gathering and
that the war fever is higher now than the
day after President Cleveland's Venezuelan
message.