The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-10
ENGLISH RECRUITS SHORT.
ord WoIssIey Having TronbIe 10
Enlisting Ten ThOusand.
FRANCE PREPARING 10 ABSORB SIAM
seventy Thousand Men VOW IdIs and
. Milton and : Half Invoived In
the strike Of the Engineers.

London, October (Copyrighted. 1897.
by the Associated Press. Lord Wolseley.
commander In chief OF the British forces,
IL making desperate efforts to surmount
tho difficulties which Great Britain Is ex-
pcriencing In finding troops for her num-
erous small wars. That the government s
at IT'S wits end TO secure the additional
1000 men, which parliament will be asked
TO add TO the permanent strength OF the
army, Is shown by the plan elaborated by
the war Office by which the volunteers OF
Great Britain Will be liable for service
abroad In case OF war. Up to the present 1t
! has been impossible to call them for duty
abroad only for the defense OF the colonies.
Tho proposition, however, Is regarded as
threatening to smash up the volunteer
| forces. In addition to the proposition to
| make tho volunteers liable for service
abroad In case Of war, the government Will
| introduce an army reserve bill during the
next session OF parliament. According to
this measure 1t Is proposed to enlist 5000
| reserves at a rate Of pay, thus forming
reliable reserve force.
| The British government Is also consider
| ing the adoption Of an Internal bullet in
vented in Birmingham. This bullet is made
OF lead and instead OF being conical the
top Is level and has "A cup-like cavity. On
entering the flesh this bullet acts like
punch. cutting clean round hole which
does not close. The bullet begins to ex
! pand Immediately after entering and after
| 1t has travelled six inches 1t produces
] Jagged hole three or four inches in dia-
meter. The bullet ID said to be the most
terrible wound producer known and 1t is
question whether its use would not be
| breach OF the international convention.
In spite of the French Balloons d Ess1i
| suggesting European coalition to turn
Great Britain out Of Egypt the evacuation
OF that country by the British was probably
never 10 remote as 1t Ia now.
Russia. 1t is said. has eifectually snubbed
| the French efforts to make the Egyptian
question n European one.
| The difficulties in West Africa between
the British and the French which WAS
! toreshadowed In dispatches to the Asso-
ciated Press on October 2, and which have
been brewing since 1889, are assuming the
| form Of French expedition. consisting Of
| 500 soldiers and 2000 carriers, which has
| started from the port OF Novo for Mikki.
whence 1t proceeds to the Hlnterland OF
Lagos. according to reports, but 1t Is said
| this movement s really to reinforce the
French troops which are already occupying
settlement OF the disputes, among which
| Is tho question of the ownership OF Mikki.
and 1t is possible the diplomatisls VIII
| awake TO find themselves saved the trouble
! of the ILLUMINATION OF negotiations, by seri-
Gus events ON the spot, for II Is known that
tho British colonial authorities are taking
active steps to prevent tho French force
from encroaching on tho British territory.
Thus far the Marquis OF Salisbury or Mr..
| Chamberlain. the secretary OF state for
| the colonies, who Ia generally credited
| with being the power behind the throne. at
| tho present moment has not shown sign
| OF yielding an iota OF the British claims
In the Hinterland and the authorities at
| Lagos have been preparing for come time
| past TO clrcumvent the French plans They
| have already sent numerous reinforccmuts
| OF troops and gunboats to the front, and
| on Friday they ordered Captain Frederick
Lugart a thoroughly experienced officer,
to go to the front. All tho stelmers from
| Liverpool TO the west coast Of Africa are
taking officers troops and large quantities
| OF mrritions of war.
| In addition to this attempt at colonial
expansion upon the part OF the French
In West Africa. France Is apparently pre-
| pairing to swallow the Kingdom of Slam.
| The Temps. organ OF tho French foreign
| office, enumerates the points In dispute
| with siam in such manner as to lead TO
the belief that the French intend to force
| Siam into vassalage unless Great Britain
| interfercs.
| All social Intercourse between he Amer
team minister at Madrid, Spanish officials
and diplomatic corps has been suspended
Tor more than year, according TO an
| American diplomat Just returned from
Madrid. For eighteen months MIR. Taylor
mad not been on speaking terms with
the Russian ambassador CT the papal
1 Thc -, ~.
bassador was because Mr.. Taylor protested
| against being omitted from the list OF
| gGesta at reception given by the am
bassador.
| There is no indication of any improve
! ment In the engineering strike and the
| embittered. determined struggle between
the employers and the engineers OF whom
10000 are now idle. continue with almost
| a certainty of bringing about general
strick throughout shipbuildlng establish
ments OF the country. Involving another
| 90 600 men.
The railroad employees threaten to add
TO the chaos. They are to hold con-
ference at Birmingham In few DAYS and
| VIII formulate demands which the COM
panies say II is impossible for them to
| grant ana IN the event of the lattpr's re-
trsai, general strike OF $50 600 railroad
| workers, which will probably mean that
the idling OF 100000 others will follow.
| ne liberal newspapers. headed by The
Daily Chronicle aud the Westminster
Gazette are advocating war to the death
ana nave opened subscription lists. urging
levy upon all unions in support of the
STRIVING engineers and 10 befriend trade
nhohism. whose very existence they saw
| Is at stake. guy
IN me meanwhile the entire naval rro-
erammc ia dlsjointed. Work ON doye,
warsn'ps Is at standstill and several
DINERS which ought to have been launched
curing the past week, are still on The
s.ocks ana must remain there for an in
me ensineers have sent a manifesto IA
the public. appealing for funds ami eayins
'ney are Going to fight to the finish.
s,a,a. "ony hope has sailed for the United
s'a'es 10 engage In platform readings.
i ----- JARANESE n