The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-09

aiii' a. - nut d<tonl5ning tnat tnere was al
ominous drop in consols. which. as much as
anything. is clear indication that the grav-
ity Of the political situation is not news
paper exaggeration.
Dispatches from Berlin announce that En-
perez William and Prince Hohenlohe had an
important conference this morning with DIR.
kayser. chief of the German Colonial Office.
and that further dispatches have been ex-
changed between Berlin and Pretoria.
NAVAL PREPARATIONS.
Great Britain is evidently determined not
to be caught unprepared for war. The re-
port that orders have been sent TO Ports
mouth. Devonport and Chatham for the inn
mediate commissioning of a flying squadron
of war ships is confirmed this afternoon.
and has caused profound impression in all
circles. The flying squadron is ordered to
De ready for sea by Jan. il. Tuesday next.
1t will consist Of the following ships:
Revenge, first-class battle ship, 14.150
tons; four sixty-seyen-ton guns. ten six
inca quick-firing guns, thirty-six smaller
NOR; speed, 1I12 knots.
Royal Oak, first-class battle ship. 14,l5O
tons; tons four ssxSty-seven-to9 guns: ten six
NOR; speed. l7ls knots.
Gibraltar. first-class steel cruiser, 7,7e0
tons; two -one-half-ton
| guns, ten six-inch quick-firing guns, twenty
four smaller quick-fire guns; speed, l9 40
knots.
Theseus. first-class steel cruiser. 1850
tons; two twenty-two-ton guns. ten six
inch quick-firing guns, twenty-four smaller
| quick-fire guns; speed. twenty knots.
Charybdis, second-class steel cruiser
| 1850 tons. two six-incn quick firing guns,
eight AZ quick-firing guns, thirteen smaller
| tenths knots.
| Hermione. second-class steel cruiser. 1850
tons; two six-inch quick-firing guns. eight
| AZ quick-hring guns, thirteen smaller quick
firing guns; speed. nineteen and iive-tenths
| knots.
| In addition, Rear Admiral Henry w.
! Rawson, &. B., in command of the Cape
| OF Goodhope and West Africa station, has
| been ordered 10 proceed TO Delagoa bay on
beard the fiagshIp st: George, a iirst-class
| ton guns. ten six-inch quick-firlng guns
| twenty-four smaller guns and a speed of
nineteen and seven-tenths knots, and he is
| now on his way there, accompanied by
another cruiser. with all possible speed
| The German Emperor. it appears, had
planned to land force of Germans at
Delagoa bay in order 70 assist the Beers
against the British, and only desisted from
so doing when he learned OF Dr. Jane
claimed, is proof that his message TO Presi-
1 dent Kruger, congratulating him on his
victory over the British and his Majesty s
! the Secretary OF State of the Transvaal,
1 that Germany refused TO recognize any
suzerainty over the Transvaal, were we'll
weighed moves and the result of pre-
| arranged policy. Rear Admiral Rawson
| has also been instructed TO report imme-
diately to the Admiralty what additional
| ron, and they will be sent to him as
promptly as possible. Beside these prepara-
ti,ons the greatest activity Is displayed at at
! for the commissioning OF more ships as
soon as needed. and the naval reserve lists
are being prepared in readiness for an emer-
| gency.
ACTIVITY IN MILITARY CIRCLES.
The military authorities no longer at
| tempt to conceal the fact that they are
actively preparing for the possibility of
war. All the regiments of the British
| army (army reserve, volunteers, militia, etc.
! have been ordered to make immediate re-
| turns of their strength for mobilization,
, but as yet no further steps in this direc-
tion have been deemed necessary. Among
the volunteers and militia there is strong
| feeling in favor of enrolment for active
service, and on all sides the greatest en-
thus.asm is displayed There seems to be a
| feeling here that Great Britain has about
stood all she cansstand in the way of stud
| led opposition on the part OF Germany,
! Russia. which is not considered to. be by
any means certain. The commanding Of
| ficers OF the different regiments of volun-
| teers have been overwhelmed with letters
| from the men under their command, ex-
| pressing the desire to be enrolled for
active service. At the War Office this aft
| turning from India bound for that part
| of the British empire had been ordered tC
call at Capetown before the crisis oc-
Cured, and all that is necessary is 10 in
| struot their commanding officer to land
drafts at the cape. 1t was further stated
that detachments of troops are now on
| troops there and that the latter will be
| instructed to remain at the cape for the
| present so that double forces will shortly
| be available at Cape Colony, beside the
| Indian troops en- passage, which can be
| landed there shortly.
| tional, it safely be said that the wal
spirit is lowering over the British empire
and that people of all classes are eagerly
! supporting the attitude of the government
| in resenting the attitude of Germany to.
wards Great Britain. The press is unani.
nous in its approval of the preparations
OF the naval and military authorities, and
the newspapers of all shades of opinion
! agree TO the manner in which Germany's
attitude must be met The Globe, for ex.
| ample, says this afternoon There Is abso.
lutely no difference of opinion among Brit
| ons in their keen resentment Of the wholly
unprovoked affront put or this proud land
by Emperor William and his foolhardy
! counseiors. Instead OF working England
harm with the Americas, the Emperor's in.
| soent interference has revived the feeling
of kinsh:p and is making easier a friendly
| arrangement of the Venezuelan question"
1t may be added that there is little doubt
have had a very good effect here IN show
ing that it is more than likely that Great
| Britain is wrong in the boundary dispute
and, following the Chronicle correspond
| ents suggestion, that some means of arbi-
| trating the matter should be promptly
| found. a movement is already foot here
| among prominent Americans and Britons tc
bring about the formation of a permanent
| court of arbitration for the settlement of al
disputes between the two nations.
| Regarding the report that Germany had
| prevailed on Portugal to allow German
| troops to traverse the Portuguese South Az
rcan territory adjoining the Transvaal
with a view OF reinforcing the Beers, a
| special dispatch from Berlin this Afternoon
says il is rumored there that Portugal has
positively refused TO consent to any such
| movement upon the part OF Germany. The
idea that combination of powers has beer
formed against Great Britain seems to be
| gaining ground, aud a dispatch to the So
| leil. OF Paris, to-day says that a movement
| is really on foot to establish an anti-Britisf
| alliance.