The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-05

NIIOkiA, Is. LIZ NOV. f-~>c"o AeNNA'
ed here tonight has caused great excite
ment. Preparations Incidental to the Crisis
between Great Britain and France over
the Fashoda incident are nearing that state
OF completion which will enable the naval
commander here TO say: Ready, aye
ready All the men are aboard the SHIPS
and shore leave is but memory. none
having been granted for several days NOT
since the first instructions were received
ordering the war vessels to be put In
state OF preparedness
Last night 15o men arrived by the cana
dian Pacific for the sloop of war lcaras.
and that vessel. which has been complete
Iy refitted. was put into commission today.
The flagship Imperieuse has been pro-
visioned and has taken aboard the limit OF
her supply OF ammunition All her bunk
ers are full to the utmost capacity of coal,
and she is under steam night and day.
ready to obey the first order which may
be flashed out TO her o3er the cable from
the British capital.
There is an ominous silence pervading
the naval town OF Esquimalt. No longer
do the biuejackets make things lively
around that little ultra Engiish settlement.
The news received tonight is considered
by those in command 10 be the most i'm
portant which has yet reached here, and
although preserving the usual non-com-
initial attitude of the British officers those
in command do not attempt any denial OF
the assertion that crisis has been reach
cd which is the gravest In the history OF
the empire In many years
There is considerable speculation as TO
the destination OF the Amphion. the arTnor-
ed cruiser which left here few days ago
,.ndar sealed orders. The opinion that she
was headed for the French settlement at
the Society islands is giving way 10 the
idea that she may have been ordered 10 the
China coast, although there seems bu, lit
tie foundation for any change of the first
impression.
The Leander will be ready for service in
| few hours and the torpedo destroyer
Virago Is to be recomnissioned a. once.
The Sparrowhowk. another destroyer is
coaled and provisioned.
When the Riojun Maru docked here this
morning her officers were assaiiesi with
questions as 10 the condition of affairs on
| the China coast. Capt. Elliott says the in
| teres. in Manila happenings has now given
| place to the excitement of possible war be-
tween Great Britain and some other Euro
pean power Five thousand men were re-
| Gently landed at Weihaiwe to man the
| British forts, and the large squadron there
| has recently been reinforced by vessels from
| Hongkong He says Russia has - 90 men
| az Port Arthur.
There appears 10 be good foundation for
! the statement that the Empress vessels Of
| the Canadian Pacific railway lire will take
| on their armament Immediately. A proml-
| nent official here. while preserving the
usual re,icence. leaves the impression that
| the next Empress will take on her guns at
| Esquimalt-
| There has not been a more marked state
| OF suppressed excitement than prevails here
| tonight In many years The latest news is
| eagerly scanned, and the general impress
| sion Is that Britain is on the eve OF vital
| iy important combat.
| Autfcostf sale to lie Annullcd.
TORONTO Nov. 4-The foreign office Of
the British government has cahed 10 Can
ada asking for reports upon and an expla-
nation OF the sale Of the island Of Anti
cost. a, tho mouth OF the 81. Lawrence
river. TO the subject os a foreign power
Attorney General Archahauit has received
a request from Ottawa fer a report upon
the whole subject. The purchaser Is
French capitalist who. {; Is said, IS now
eylcting English settlers. and could. with
sufficient arms or the island. control the
ST Lawrence river IN event OF war between
Great Britain and France. This would be
ot immense advantage 10 France II Is De-
lIevej t1ss the British government Will
order cancellation u the sale
Aroused by . story of Marchand.
NEW YORK, Nov. A dispatch TO the
| Times from London says: \ story OF the
| greatest gravity. circulating among per
sens IN touch with official quarters al
leges that when Ma~chaad reache. Fash
oda re ssst two Faesssn gers with three
French sags 20 the khslifs sn,s Ietta-
saying that II ne khR!ifa hoistexs these
rsags at orsfuvaaar &c would be under the
| Esoiectsoa % shs ''grSaE French uaS!on.
| ard the British woui3 Tot IRE upon h.rr,.
| TIE ksaltfa rep,ie3 that Two British dogs
| had attacked the Soudan; that "the dog
| Gordon hai been Killed. while the other
! dog 1a1seSs Kitchener" he was about to
| Kin. He would .hea wipe out the French
/ These letters and three flags are said 70
/ have b~ea captured sy the S3F7.ar's Off
! Gers II ;sis IS confirmed Il - os,v Gus
a ssrse-a o.