The record-union., 1897-12-31
Announced That Naval Reserves are
to be Modified.
viii Uphold Brown, Deposed Superintend.
ent of Corean Customs.
Four British Warships OFF Chemu1-
po-The Report That the French
Have Seized the Island of Nai-
nan Semi-Oficially Contradict
ed at Paris.

LONDON, Dec. 30.-A news agency
announces that the British naval re-
serves will be modified.
According to recent estimates, the
reserve forces of the British navy
number about $4,000 men. Of this
number it is calculated that at least
10000 men will be required in case of
war to complete the manning of the
warships of Great Britain, which are
understood to require complement of
10000 men, whereas anly 1OO, 900 are
actually in service.
The naval reserve problem has long
been discussed by British authorities,
and the general opinion appears to be
that the number of men availble 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 fleet and a number Of reserve
merchant cruisers, including such YES
sells as the Campania, Lucania, Etru-
ria, Umbria, Majestic, Teutonic, etc.
BROWN WILL BE UPHELD.
PEKIN, Dec. 30.-The supercesSion of
J. McLeavy Brown, the British Super
intendent of the Corean customs, is at
present engaging the attention of the
British Government, with view of up
holding his rights. Four British war
vessels are understood to be off Che
mulpo.
LONDON, Dec. 31.-A dispatch to the
'Daily Mall from Shanghai, dated
yesterday CThursday), says:
A British fleet of eight ships and four
torpedo boats has arrived at Chemulpo
the port of SeOuD. 1t is reported that
there are two japanese cruisers in the
Yang Use Kiang River. Japan is
working night and day preparing for
war. 1t is believed that the British
and japanese fleets are in close touch.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail'' from
Toxic says Marquis Ito is forming a
Cabinet.
According to a dispatch to the same
paper from Nagasal1i, dated yesterday
Thursday, it is believed that Marquis
Ito will aim to maintain peaceful at
titude
The "Daily Graphic" asserts, ION au-
thority," that the British squadron
was definitely instructed to assemble
off Chemulpo to support a strong Brit
1sh expostulation with Corea on the
dismissal of McLeavy Brown British
Superintendent of Corean customs. who,
under the advice of the British Con-
sui, has twice returned the notice of
dismissal served upon him
With regard to Port Arthur, the "Dai-
ly Graphic" asserts that there is every
reason to believe the Russians will
adhere to their pledge to evacuate at
the end of the winter, and there is
therefor, no ground for complaint on
the part of England. Neither does the
Government regard the occupation of
klaochau as calling for action because
British interests are not threatened
According to the Graphic" both the
Foreign Office and the Admiralty are
agreed upon the point
DENIED THAT FRENCH HAVE
SEIZED HAINAN.
PARIS. Dec. 30-The officers of the
French Ministry of Marine regard the
occupation of the Island of Hafnan. off
the south coast of China. by the French
fleet as an invention. During the dav
there was issued a semi-official contra
diction of the report.
LONDON. Dec. 31-The DAILY NTail,
has received telegram from Honekong
and from Tonquin denying the report
OF French occupation of the island of
Hainan, but ii regards it as morally GER
tain that Hainan was occupied about a
fortnight ago when Port Arthur was
occupied by the Russians, the coinci-
dence forcing the suspicion that France
and Russia are acting in concert.
A dispatch TO the Daily Mali from
Singapore, dated yesterday CThursday).
says: The news that the French had oc-
cupied the island of Hainan was brought
here from Saignon, Capital of French
Cochin China. on Tuesday by the
French mail boat Ernest Simon. Be
fore the latter left Saigon on the 25th a
French cruiser arrived there with Ad-
miral Bedoliero or letters from him to
the French Governor of Saigon. The
Ernest Simon was delayed for an hour
at Saigon in order TO take the Governor s
dispatch relating 10 the hosting of the
flag on the island of Hainan TO the
French Governor. The cause OF the de-
lay was known only TO a few officers on
board the Ernest Simon. but inadvert-
entity the secret was impaired to a
French officer here (Singapore) who. not
being bound to secret, let the matter out
It IS believed that the French hold the
telegraph office at Hoy Kow CHow Kow)
and prevented communication to Hong
kong. The cable between Hal Phong
tTonquin) and Saigon is broken and
under repair, and therefore it is impos-
sible for Admiral Bedoliero to tele-
graph the news of the seizure to Saigon.
Admiral Bedliero. with the warships
Bayard and Descartes. left Hongkong on
December 11th. He called at Hal Phong
on December 18th and attended the
meeting of the defense committee at Hal
Phong about that date. when the seiz-
ure OF the Island af Hainan was de-
cided upon.
ENGLAND WILL RESIST RUSSIA.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 30.-Advices
from Ottawa indicate that the British
Government is preparing to actively
resist Russian occupation OF Port Ar
thur and Russian influence in Corea !;
also, that the cooperation of the Jap
anese fleet with that of Great Britain is
a we'll settled fact.
Information has been received from n
reliable cource that the Ottawa Govern
ment three days ago notified the Cam
adam Pacific officials to be in readiness
for the immediate transportation from
Montreal TO Vancouver and Esquimalt
of $500 men, the contingent consisting