The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-01-13
Usually Unconditional Britishers
Appear to Be Totally Under
Its Spell.
Preparations Proceeding With
All Possible Haste--A
Great Fleet.
DR.. Jameson Removed From the
Administratorship of Ma
shOnaland.

LONDON, Jan. l3.-Great Britain is
seriously and steadily preparing for war
on very large scale at sea and on land
against Germany or against Germany,
France and Russia should they combine
against her. Emperor William threw
down the gauntlet, it was promptly
picked up and energetic steps were i'm.
mediately taken by the British govern
ment to back up this action by most
lmpos ng display of sea power.
Under these circumstances it is al.
most unnecessary to add that the excit-
ing political events of the past week
eclipsed all other topics in the public
y mind and crowded the Venezuelan
question almost out of recollection.
This fact, however, is merely due to the
better feeling prevailing here in favor Of
Gracefully submitting the Whole Matter
to the arbitration of a permanent court
of appeals to be established between
Great Britain and the United States
for the settlement Of all such questions,
or. If there IS no other way out of it,
allowing the United States to settle the
matter in her own way. When Great
: Britain is arming for struggle, posi-
4 bly, against Germany, France and
W Russia. the question of the addition or
subtraction of few miles more of less
of South American soil to the British
empire is a matter decidedly not worth
haggling over. s'~~
Wonderful Activity Is Shown.
The activity in the admiralty, war
Office and other offices called upon to
take part in the war preparations is
really remarkable and London is over
run with officers on the retired list or
otherwise, who are desirous of drawing
sword in defense Of the empire. The
rapidity with which the various naval
stations are commissioning warships,
large and small for active service is
pointed to with great pride.
VIII Have IA Great Fleet Ready.
The Portsmouth authorities explain
that the warships from that dockyari
which are being promptly gotten ready
to join the flying squadron are but three
out Of total of twenty-eight in the
feet reserve, which could be made
ready for active service at short notice.
The gravity of the situation may be
estimated from the fact that it is assert
:. ed that never before in the history of
nations has there been witnessed so
powerful naval armament as will be
assembled in these waters shortly ready
for attack or defense, against Germany
or against the combined powers of
Europe. The fleet being made ready
for battle will be composed exclusively
Of the very
Fastest and Newest British warships
afloat, and will be ready for sea on
channel squadron commanded by Rear
Admiral Walter L. Kerr, with the flag
ship Majestic, first class battleship,
of 14,9OO tons, will assemble off Port
land ON January II. The flying squad
ron, which is to be ready for sea next
Tuesday, also reinforced by six of the
latest built torpedo boat destroyers,
will assemble for final orders off Spit
head on January l6.
The appointment of Rear Admiral
Alfred T. Dale to command the fly ing
squadron is generally approved. His
flag captain. on the flagship Revenge, a
first class battleship of Ii, $50 tons, will
be Captain the Honorable Ashton G..
-CurzeH- Howe. In connection with the
prevailing war spirit here, it is stated
that the queen has expressed the desire
that the British army and navy officers
in future should wear the uniforms
only, putting away the civilian clothes
for the present, like the officers of the
other European powers, who are rarely
seen in civilian dress, even when on
\ leave of absence.
~ The first naval reserve men have been
ordered to hold themselves in readiness
! for service. The second naval reserve,
which is composed Of men belonging to
4 the mercantile marine. have been mott.
Il fed that the services of some Of them
4 will shortly be required.
The War God in Full Control
1t is difficult to give complete idea
of how completely the generally unemo-
tional Britishers are imbued with the
war spirit, how at every public assem-
blage this week there has been some
Il little incident or allusion which has
provoked a tumult of enthusiasm.
II For instance, at the Olympic theater
n the other night, scene which depicts
the last stand of Major Wilson and his
little band Of British troopers in
n Matabeleland in 1894 when, surrounded
by about 5000 natives, they fought for
\ three hours. In depicting the exciting
event, actually part Of the history a,
IL the Matabele war engineered by DR.
Jameson, occur the lines:
"Englishmen are not wont to wait
n when the lives of their countrymen are
in danger. +
Three Cheers For DR.. Jameson.