The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-31
10000 MEN UNDER ORDER
SECRET AGREEMENT BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND JAPAN.
TO CHECK RUSSIAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT II
Captain RoIfe Takes Another View Reserve
Fleet Not Needed. French Flag Not
Hoisted Over Hai-Nan--Japan
Preparing For War.
Preparing For War.

Preparing For War.
Chicago, Ills, Dec. 30.-A special from
Minneapolis, says:
Advices from Ottawa indicate that
the British government is preparing to
actively resist Russian occupation of
Port Arthur and Russian influence in
Corea; also that the cooperation of the
japanese fleet with that of Great Brit
ain is a well settled fact.
Information has been received from
an inside source that the Ottawa gov
ernment thirty days ago notified the
Canadian Pacific officials to be in readi-
ness for the immediate transportation
from Montreal to Vancouver and Esqui-
mault of thirty-fye hundred men, the
contingent consisting of engineers, gun
ners and deck officers.
According to information at hand the
road has prepared for handling 10000
men, FIVE trains being in readiness for
this service.
The officers included in the first con-
tingent are intended to reinforce the
japanese fleet, which is said to be
very short in engineering talent and
deficient in gunnery. The dispatch
adds that a secret agreement has been
concluded between Great Britain and
Japan by the terms of which the Rus
sian pretensi6ns in Corea are to be
overcome and Russian ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
in Asia permanently checked.
Captain Ronald Rolfe, r. n. (retired)
inspection service, just returned from
the west on his way to England via
New York, says that in his opinion the
force above referred to, is intended to
increase the efficiency of the forts at
Esquimault and relieve the crew of the
North Pacific squadron. He declines
to discuss the probability of an Anglo
Russian imbrogle, and asserts that in
case of actual hostilities the British
Asiatic squadron is of sufficient strength
to enforce any demands Great Britain
may have to make. He denies that
there is any probability of any Anglo
Japanese alliance, remarking that Eng
lands combining with fourth-rate
power like Japan would be confession
of weakness that does not exist. Cap
tain Rolfe asserts with positiveness
that the contingent to be sent west is
not for Japanese reinforcement, but
rather to be used as reserve for the
fleets in operation should naval war
result from the political complications in
the Orient.
Officials of the Canadian Pacific de-
clare they have received no orders to
prepare for handling troops or war ma
terial.
FRENCH FLAG NOT HOISTED.
Paris, Dec. Bottle officials of the
French Ministry of Marine regard the
report of the occupation of the Island of
Hai-Nan, off the south coast of China,
by the French feet in those waters as
being an invention. During the day
there was issued semi-official contra
diction of the report that the French
flag had been hoiusted over the island of
Hai-Nan.
RESERVE FLEET NOT NEEDED.
New York, Dec 30.-Regarding the
rumor that the British government has
decided to call into active service her
naval reserve feet, Bruce Tsmay, agent
of the White Star Line, when seen late
to-day, said he had no official or other
information on the subject.
At the office of the British consul
surprise was expressed at the report, in.
asmuch as Great Britain has a sufficient
naval force to cope with any emergency
that might arise in the east without
calling to her aid the services of the
naval reserve. The British consul here
has no official information ON the sub
ject.
WILL MOBILIZE RESERVES.
London. Dec 30-A news agency an
nounces that the British naval reserve
will be modified.
According to recent estimates, the re-
serve forces of the British Navy num-
ber about $4,000. OF this number it is
calculated that at least 10000 men
would be required in case of war to conf
plete the manning of the war-ships Of
Great Britain, which are understood to
require complement of 10000 men,
whereas only 100000 are actually in
service. The naval reserve problem has
long been discussed by British authori-
ties and the general opinion appears to be
that the number of men available is far
short of the number that would be re-
quired in case of war.
In addition to the men in the naval
reserve, Great Britain has a large re-
serve feet and a number Of reserve mer-
chant cruisers, including such vessels
as the Campania, Lucania, Etruria, Um-
bria, Majestic. Teutonic, etc.
MR.. BROWN'S SUPERCESSION.
Pekin. Pee, 3o-The supercession of
]. McLeavy Brown, the British super
intendent OF the Corean customs, Is at