The herald., 1898-01-21
Foreshadowed by Orders
to the Fleet
VESSELS NOW AT ESQUIMALI
ORDERED TO PREPARE FOR A
WESTERN TRIP
Nine Vessels of the japanese Squad
ron Will Take Up Stations in
Chinese Waters
Associated Press Special Wire


VICTORIA. Jan. 20. = Orders have
been received at Esquimalt by Rear Ad-
miral Palliser from the Admiralty, in
structing him to have every vessel of
his fleet ready to start for China on
forty-eight hours notice.
Immediately all was hustle around the
dockyards, the crews of the different
vessels being busily engaged in rushing
coal and provisions on board. Then came
an order for H. NJ. S. Pheasant to start
on her trip across the Pacific today,
she being nearer ready than the others.
BY tonight she will be well out to sea.
Later instructions were received for
II. M. S. Imperieuse, the flagship of the
station, to proceed to the scene of ac-
tivity. She will sail on Saturday. 1t is
not known whether Admiral Falliser will
accompany her.
1t is not likely, unless conditions in
the Orient reach a climax, that the
other vessels at present here will be
ordered there. The Icarus is only
small vessel, and the Phaeton and Le-
ander, having just completed long
fact, the Leander is already in the dry
dock, and the Phaeton is to follow her.
1t is not known just where H. M. S.
Amphion is at present, but she has
probably completed her work at Cocos
Island and is coming north, being under
orders to report at Esquimalt. The tor
pedo boat destroyers will remain at
Esquimalt. The next order expected
is one to have the armaments of the
Empress boats ready to be shipped on
short notice.
H. NJ S. Pheasant went to sea under
sealed orders today. The Leander
will leave next Wednesday. Admiral
Palliser refused absolutely to say where
they were going. Opinion among naval
men is divided between China and South
America. Wherever it is, the admiralty
must have received reassuring news. as
late this afternoon it was decided that
the Impereuse should not CO.
JAPANESE WARSHIPS
YOKOHAMA. Jan. 20.-A fleet of nine
warships will leave in the course of a
week for Chinese waters, the Mikado
previously inspecting the Yashima and
the Full, the steel barbette ships of 12,-
45O tons displacement.
DEGREES have been issued appointing
Lieutenant Viscount Kawakami chief of
staff and creating supreme military
advisory council, consisting of Marquis
Yamagata, Marquis Oyama, Marquis
Saigon and Prince Komatsu.
NAVAL RECRUITS
LONDON, Jan. 20.-There has been a
responsible statement that the govern
ment has decided to add 1000 men to the
navy and that the first battleship
Hannibal, now at Portsmouth, is to be
put into commission at once. There is,
however, no official confirmation in
either case.
CAUSES SURPRISE
BERLIN, Jan. 2O-Consderable sur
prise has been caused here by a dis
patch from st. Petersburg to the Co.
logne Gazette, announcing that Russia
has formed two new army corps on the
German and Austrian frontiers, at Wilma
and Kieff
ALL ITS OWN WAY
BERLIN, Jan. 20.-A significant arti-
Gle in the Cologne Gazette asserts that
according to international law Kiao
Chau is German property, and an attack
upon it would enable Emperor William
to declare war without consulting the
Bundesrath. The paper says, further
more, that being leased territory, in
political sense, it remains as before, for
eign territory. Therefore, commercial
and customs treaties between either
China and European states, or between
Germany and other nations, have no
validity there, and consequently foreign
states cannot appeal to the favored ma
ton clauses or claim similar rights to
those granted Germany, while Germany
is in a position to regulate customs and
commercial regulations quite unreserv-
edly if she thinks fit.
NO PROGRESS MADE
PEKIN, Jan. 20.-Another conference
was held yesterday. The situation re-
mains unchanged. Great Britain re-
serves the right of exploration in the
Yang Use Kiang valley.