The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-31
London. Dec. so. 1897.

London. Dec. so, 1897.
A news agency announces that the
British naval reserves will be mobi-
lied.
According to recent estimates the re-
serve forces Of the British navy num-
ber about $4,000 men. OF this numbe,
1t is calculated that at least 10000 men
would be required TO complete the man
ming of the wlrships of Great Britain,
which are understood to require q
complement OF 10000 men, whereas
only 100000 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 available is far
short OF the number that would be re-
qured In case OF war.
In addition to the men in the naval
reserve. Great Britain has n large re-
serve fleet, and a number of merchant
cruisers including such vesseIs as the
Campania, Lucania, Btruria, Umbria,
Majestic, Teutonic, etc.
The officials of the Canadian Pacific
Railway here say they have no know
ledge of the British admiralty having
requisitioned three of the Empress
steamships belonging to that company,
as reported In dispatch from Shang-
hal, and they believe the statement to
be without foundation.
The Daily Graphic asserts "on au-
thority" that the British squadron was
definitely instructed to assemble off
Chemulpo to support strong British
eXpostulation with Corca on the dis
missal of AIcI.eavy Berwin, British su-
perinsendent of Corean customs who,
under the advice of the British cousul,
has twice returned the notice of dis
missal served upon him.
With regard to Port Arthur, the Daily
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.
therefore, no ground for complaint on
the part of England. Neither does the
government regard the occupa ton OF
kiao-Chau as calling for action, be-
cause British interests are not threat
ened. According to the Daily Graphic
both the foreign office and the admir-
atty are agreed upon this point
ON THIS SIDE THE WATER.
New York. Dec. Safeguarding the
rumor that the British government had
decided to call into active service her
naval reserve fleet, Bruce Ismay, 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 sur.
prise was expressed at the report, in
asmuch as Great Britain had sufli-
clent naval force to cope with any
emergency that might arise in the Fast
without calling to her aid the services
or the naval reserve. The British con-
sui here has no official information on
the subject
Chicago. ILL.,. Dec. 3O.-A special from
minneapolis says:
Advices from Ottawa indicate that
the British Government is preparing ia
actively resist Russian OCCUPATION of
Fort Arthur and Russian influence in
Corea; also that the cooperation OF the
Japanese fleet with that of Great Rrt
tain is we'll settled fact
Information has been received from
an inside source that the Ottawa Gov
crnment thirty days ago notified the
Canadian Pacific officials to be in readi-
ness for the immediate TRANSFORMATION
from Montreal to Vancouver and
Esquimault of thirty-five hundred men
the contingent consisting of engineers
gunners and deck officers. According
to information at hand the road has
HiSpo''u 'oi men, live
trains being held in readiness for this
service.
The officers included In the first con-
tingent are Intended to reinforce the
Japanese fleet. which is said to he very
short in engineering talent and def
Client 5n gunnery. The dispatch adds
that secret agreement has been con-
cluded between Great Britain and
Japan, by the terms of which the Rus
sian ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In Asia-Corea are
to be overcome and Russian agcran-
disement in Asia permanently checked.
Captain Ronald Rolfe, II. n. (retireD.
on inspection service. just returned
from the West and on his way to Eng
iand Via New York, says that in his
opinion the force above referred to is
intended to increase the efficiency Of the
forts at Esquimaut and relieve The
crew of the North Pacific sduadron.
He declines to discuss the probability
OF an Anglo Russian imbroglio. but
asserts that In case or actual bo.tIIitioc