The Portland daily press., 1898-11-01
ALLEGED WAR PREPARATIONS.
London Papers Are still Full of such
Reports.

authorities are doing their best to dis
courage publication and are even denying
statements that have already appeared.
Yesterday (Monday) sudden order was
received at Dover for an experimental
mobilization of the defense forces All
the he ghts and forts were sInartly ocou-
pied in manner giving full satisfaction.
The arsenal at Woolwich is working
until eleven O'Clock every night, the
government having given large orders for
guns, searchlights and other naval equip
ment.
The British channel squadron has cast
anchor off Gibraltar.
The advices from Paris in the special
dispatches this morning add little to
what was already known regarding the
situation at Fashoda. 1t Is believed that
{ captain Barratier is taking only verbal
instructions for Major Marchand. The
lea prevails at the French capital that
Count Muravleff, the Russian foreign
minister, while there on his recent visit,
promised Russian support in re.opening
the whole Egyptian question and that
Major Marchand will be instructed to fall
back and maintain his occupation of all
Bahr-El Gael posts.
BUSY AT HALIFAX AND VICTORIA
Victoria, B. c., Oct. 3l.-The depar-
ture of Her Majesty's ship Amphion,
Sunday, for the Society Islands, the
French colony in the South Seas, did not
end the activity at the Esquimault naval
naval station. AS soon as she left the
wharf at the dock yard, the dock yard
crew were detailed to get the dry dock
in readiness for the reception Of Fer
Majesty's ship Leander. She, too, is to
go on a long voyage. or at least be in
readiness for any duty that she may be
called upon to perform.
The most significent feature outside
of the departure of 1.-The Amphion, how
over, is the activity of Her Majesty's ship
Imperiuse, Admiral Palliser's flagship.
Sunday, large number of men were
given shore leave, very unusual thing
on Sundays. and this morning she COM
menced coaling. 1t is understood that
she goes ont under orders on Thursday.
Halifax, N. S., Oct. 3I.-Every avail
able shipwright in this city has been
engaged by the naval authorities here,
and orders have been given to prepare
the batteships and other vessels for the
sea as soon as possible.
Saturday, the men worked all day,
something unprecedented in the dock
yards here.
The great activity displayed is the re-
suit of messages from the home au-
thorities. The battleship Renown,
cruisers Pelican and Cordelia, gunboat
Columbine and two torpedo boats are
now here and are being fitted out as
rapidly as possible So far they have
not been ordered away, but instructions
are hourly expected.
NAVAL TRAIN WRECKED.
Halifax, n s., Oct. 31.-The naval
train wrecked near Rat Portage on the
Canadian Pacific railroad, left Halifax
Thursday night on the arrival of the
steamer Carthagenian from Liverpool
with drafts for the British Pacific squad
ron. The train consisted of six colonist
cars, baggage, tender and locomotive
aud carried one hundred and thirty
three sailors and eleven officers. Two
sailors had suffered so severely from
sea-sickness they remained over at Hall
fax in the military hospital. The train
was made up under Imperial govern
ment officers inspection and was being
rushed to its destination in view of the
Anglo-French controversy. 1t was a
special and had clear track and was
due to arrive at Esquimalt one week
from date of departure. Admiral Sir
John Fisher was interviewed tonight by
the Associated Press correspondent and
said he had wired for full particulars of
the accid ent.
GLOOMY FEELING ON ExCHAN GE.
British Naval Preparations Pushed Wit h
Great Activity.
London, October 3l.-There was an ex-
pectedly gloomy feeling this morning on
the Stock Exchanges and the Paris
Bourse, both of these markets being in
fiuenced, it is inferred from the aggres-
sive tone of some of the French papers
Beside this something extraordinary
seems to have happened and it looks as if
a crisis were approaching. The British
naval preparations are certainly being
pushed with great activity.
The British emergency squadron is
gathering at Devonport with all possible
speed. Seven battleships and one cruiser
have thus far been designated to join this
squadron. Officers and sailors have
been hurriedly recalled from leave of abb
senoe. Several battleships and cruisers
at Portsmouth are taking their full crews
on board and other warlike preparations
are being made.
A number of signal men on duty with
the British Channel squadron, which
arrived at Gibraltar this morning have
been ordered home for service, it Is pre-
sumed, on board the auxiliary cruisers
If the latter should be. required for active
service.
A sensation has been caused by the ar
rest this morning of supposed Russian
spy at fort near Harwich. The man
was already under surveillance and went
to redoubt, where he tried to obtain
come information from q sentry regard
ing the Notifications. He was promptly
arrested and inquiries are being made
regarding .his antect dents. 1t was also
asserted today that the commanding off.
Ger of the London volunteer regiment had
received orders to prepare for immediate
and it was asserted that the
different artillery corps have been in
formed as to the forts on the southern
and eastern coast to which they have been
allotted.
The Pail Mall Gazette this afternoon
says: w
England has been and even now is,
near war, and the government has carried
it's preparations to the furtherest limit of
the preparatory stage. 1t has been ar
ranged to call out the reserves and