Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-10-24
ANGLO-FRBNCH CRISIS.
Though Hoping For 1beace, Both Coun-
tries Preparing For War.
ENGLAND READY TO FIGHT.
Feeling of Absolute Confidence Dis
played by British Admiralty OIL
cials - Mr.. Chamberlain's
Opinion ON the Subject.

London, Oct. 24-Never since Great
Britain and France began to dispute
over Egypt nor in the most acute stage
Of the Niger differences between these
TWO countries has the situation looked
SO ominous as today In cpite or the
hope expressed in the sober journals OF
both countries that the matter would
be amicably arranged it is fact that
the French naval and military authori-
ties are making feverish preparations
for war, and though calm reigns at the
British dockyards at Portsmouth, Chat
ham and Davenport it is only the calm
of preparedness, and significant orders
have been arriving there from the ad-
miralty, indicating the belief that Great
Britain and France are on the brink OF
war.
On the British side feeling of abso-
lutte self confidence is displayed. "Ev-
erything ready" is the burden of all the
statements from naval quarters. In
fact, the British navy has practically
been on a war footing for year. and
an authoritative announcement to this
effect has come from the secretary of
the admiralty, w. E. Ellison Mccartney.
Great Britain Ready.
Referring to the preparations on the
other side of the channel, he said:
$50 far as the British admiralty is
concerned, the ships, officers and gen.
eral administration are ready now to
meet the wishes of the country"
A prominent dockyard official in an
interview, declared that the circun-
stances of the present crisis had been
fully provided for in the mobilization
scheme. He added that the British ma
val authorities had all their ships ready
and could commission a squadron of
cruisers and have them off the French
coast in less than "a hours. This Off
cial also pointed out that it was not for
nothing that the British naval maneu-
vers were put off this year. He added
that the British ships at the present
moment have large supply of coal on
board and available and larger stock
of provisions than ever known before.
EngIand's Fleet Prepared.
The British admiralty list shows that
nine British battleships and II fast
cruisers are lying in the Mediterranean,
while the British channel squadron,
which was last reported off Villagarcia,
Spain, consisting of eight battleships
and five cruisers. constitutes the most
modern and powerful homogeneous feet
of warships atoat.
kilograms from Balmoral intimate
that Queen Victoria is following the
trend of events with considerable cha
grin. Her aversion to war in the de-
clining years of her reign is well known
and Is an appreciable factor in the Stu
alton.
The Austrian and German newspa-
pers are closely following the dispute
between Great Britain and France, and,
while they express the hope that it will
not end in war, the general feeling Is
that the French position is untenable
and that Great Britain is entitled to
reap the fruits of victory.
MIR. Chnmberlai Opinion.
Current rumor credits Mr.. Chamber
lain, minister of the colonies, with a
statement made in TIVE course of a con-
versation on the steamship Majestic, to
the effect that a war with France is in
evitable within few years and might
as we'll come now, when England is
ready and has a good cause. Mr..
Chamberlain is said to have added that
there are several disputes with France
among them being the future owner
ship of Egypt and Morocco and the
French shore question in Newfound-
land. Persons who are supposed to
know MIR. Chamberlain's views at first
hand doubt il he would have commit
ted himself In the manner suggested in
a mixed company on an Atlantic liner,
but admit that there is not the east
improbabil!ty that the op!rions attrib-
uted by runner are actually held by
him.
Vancouver, b. c., Get. 24.-The Lon
don Daily Iiail co1r,sp nl,ent has been
cabcd by that paper as follows: THE
relations between France and England
over Fashoda ere very critical Watch"
1t is inferred from this that a move
ment from Esquimault of the fleet here
is expected.