The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-31
MORE FALSE WAR ALARMS.
ENGLAND HASN'T DECIDED TJcALR
THE NAVAL RESERVE.

Hnsot Has petrea Haitian. but tho Daily
NAN sticks 60 us story-EpEiand's CenosPn
over Russia'S DotnGu In Corca-Tho Oriental
Newspapers Sag that Russia IL Rnsa
TishteninE Hor Grip on Corca ana China.
Special caole DespateA to TIE Sun.
LONDON, Dec. 30.-The Central News says
that the British Government has decided 70
call out the naval reserve forthwith.
The Central News statement is entirely un-
supported. Inquiries at Portsmouth, whore
such action would DO known first if the rcport
wore true. elected the Information that n ma
jority of the naval officials were away on
their Christmas holidays. and that those who
were at tho station wore ignorant OF any de-
clsion Of the Government TO call out the 70
serves. This and many other sensational TO
ports result from the absence Of official state
ments and the obscurity Of the G~overnment's
intentions.
Information from the most reliable quarters
is to the effect that the situation 10
serious In posse rather than In csse. There
is reason to believe that Great Britain
IL really concerned over tho superces-
sion Of J. McLeavy Brown, the English
financial adviser to the Government of Coren,
and also over Russia's insistence that China
shall appoint q russian controller OF tho GUS
toms after Sir Robert Hart's term expires. It nay
DO regarded as true that Great Britain is resolved
TO support the rights Of Mr.. Brown, who, It 10
understood, has twice returned to the Corean
Government the notice Of dismissal they served
upon him. Hence the decision to retain the
British feet in the vicinity Of Chemulpo.
Perhaps. actually, there Is seriousness added
to the situation by the fact that the superses-
sion Of Mr.. Brown has been the subject of treaty
between Russia and Corea. 1t is believed
that the Russian occupation of Port Ar
thur and the German seizure of Kiao Chou
Bay do not enter into the situation so
far as Great Britain is concerned. The e-
plantations regardingithese matters have been
satisfactory, and tho action of the two powers
is not regarded as calling for interference.
The report of the French occupation of the
Island of Hainan is semi.officially denied in
Paris, and is discredited elsewhere. Neverthe-
less the Daily Mail again asserts that the
French have seized the island. ascribing the
SEIZURE to a coup OF Admiral Bedolliere. who
commands the French feet.
The Singapore correspondent of the Daily
Mail telegraphs that the mailboat Ernest Simon
brought the news to that place on Tuesday
from Saigon. Before the steamer sailed
from Saigon, on Sunday last, o French
cruiser had arrived there. bringing
either Admiral Bedolliere or dispatches
from him to the Governor Of Saigon. The Err
nest Simon was delayed for an hour in order to
take q despatch from the Governor to the
French Government relating to the hosting Of
the French flag at Hainan.
1t Is believed that the French hold the tele-
graph office at Hoi-Hu, the northern port Of
Hainan. to prevent communication being sent
to Hong Kong. Tho cable between Haiphong
and Saigon has been broken for several days.
but Is being repaired.
Admiral Bedolliere, with the warships Bayard
and Descartes. left Hong Kong on Dec. IL, and
called at Haiphong. Tonkin, on Dec. 1S. The
| seizure of Hainan virtually coincided with tho
Russian occupation of Port Arthur, creating
the suspicion that it was prearranged with
Russia.
A despatch to the Daily Mail from Shanghai
says that two Japanese cruisers are at tho
mouth Of the Yangste Kiang and that a British
feet is cruising between Port Hamilton and
Chenulpo.
A despatch from Pekin says that the action of
Sir Claude Macdonald. British Minister to
China, in asking the Chinese Government
to delay the arrangement Of the pro-
posed Russian guaranteed 4 per cent.
loan Of 100. 600, 900 taels for n few days to en-
able him to consult with Lord Salisbury In the
matter was largely influenced by British opinion
In China.
British residents throughout China are ear
nestly urging the financial Intervention OF
Great Britain in order to ~forestall Russia in
coming to China's relief.
A despatch to the Daily Mail from Toxic says
that Marquis Ito is forming q Cabinet Hence
1t Is probable that Japan will try to maintain o
peaceful attitude.