Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-08
ENGLAND SEES WAR
British Statesman Thinks Peace Of World is
Threatened.
Wnl TAKE A MIRACLE TO PRESERVE IT
Consols Slump on News from Africa and
America.
PANICKy FEELING ON STOCK EXCHANGE
Believed that Spain Desires to Provoke
Rupture.
ENGLAND HAS TROUBLES OF ITS OWN
Foreign Complications Arise thnt Mn,
Result In the RcsignntiOn of
saIisbury-EnEIishO Options
ON War ships.
NlcKy FEELING ON STOCK EXCHANGE
Believed that Spain Desires to Provoke
Rupture.
ENGLAND HAS TROUBLES OF ITS OWN

ON War ships.
Copyright 1885, by Press Publishing Company)
LONDON, March 7.-(New York World Ca
blegram-Special Teegram.)-Nothing short
OF a miracle can preserve the peace Of the
world now, it Is believed among British
statesmen and politicians. Not since the Ma
poleonic wars has danger threatened from
60 many quarters Today's news from Wash
ington, combined with the grave tidngs
from China and West Africa, sent consols
down one half on the Stock exchange and
THE panicky feeling there was reflected in
the House OF Commons lobby. The report
that Spain had given the United States to
understand that it desired the recall of
General Lee from Cuba was regarded In par
liamentary circles as positive evidence Of
desire to provoke a rupture. In their pres-
ent temper Englishmen would regard with
disfavor the transfer OF any British-built
war ships to any foreign country.
The admiralty was savagely attacked today
for permitting Spain to take away two tor
pedo vessels recently completed for it, yet,
as was cabled last week. those boats were
only the partial filling of an order from
four torpedo catchers were contracted for
from the Fairfield Shipouilding company. 1t
is proof OF the extreme exigency of Spain's
requirements that those two completed tor
pedo catchers are accepted, notwithstanding
that they failed in their recent speed trials
and showed other defects which there has
not been time to make good. They were
contracted for as thrtyknot boats, but they
only attained twenty-five knots The work
on the remaining two boats is being strenu-
ously pushed but 1t cannot be completed
under six weeks at the earliest
But Englishmen are too deeply preoccu-
pied with their own critical condition with
France and Russia to devote very much
attention to the latest development of the
American-Spanish situation. The news Gu
bled yesterday that the British government
had secured options prior to all nations on
every available war ship building In British
yards was current today in the House OF
Commons where, 1t was said that the Brit
ish navy estimates to be Issued this week
will contain a surprise in the form OF an
announcement that, owing to the threaten
dng aspect Of affairs and the delay in the
completion Of the contracts on war ships
caused by the engineers strike, the govern
ment has completed it's promised naval pro-
gram by securing the right to purchase the
ships now being built on the Tyne and the
Clyde. Public feeling Is so thoroughly
wrought up that this or any other measure
OF national defense would be warmly ap-
proved.
report Is prevalent In the House Of Com
mons tonight that Prime Minister Sails
Faith in his wisdom and courage as foreign
minister has been dissipated and with war
clouds arising on all sides 1t is felt that his
continuance at the head OF affairs is a great
national danger to the empire.
PRESS COMMENT.
LONDON, March 7.-All the morning pa
pers comment on the menacing aspect OF af-
fairs In the far east. The Daily Chronicle
in a strong editorial, says:
'As a rebuff to Lord Salisbury, nothing
could be more clear and painful. Russia
has simply began the partition Of China. II
anybody asks what China will do the answer
is simple. There Is no such thing as China
The real questions are: What will England
do. and what japan?
'If ever Great Britain needed a strong
man It is now. and the country will learn
with dissatisfaction that again. at a momen,
OF acute crisis, the premier's health compels
him to go abroad. Thus, both the queen and
the prime minister are to be absent when
their presence Is peculiarly needed"
The ministerial Standards editorial !,
milder. but to the same effect as the Daily
Chronicles, and says: Years may pass In
the execution OF the designs but from the
moment the covenant is signed the partition
OF China is begun. The disguise is too thir
TO be meant to deceive. 1t Is no wonder that
the eyes Of the nation are fixed In eager ex-
pectation upon Japan. The question remains
whether England will resist Russia or pro
ceed to restore the equilibrium by independ
ent measures OF Its own"
dispatch from Nagasaki. Japan, to tn,
Daily Mail says the Corean cabinet, witf
the exception OF the foreign minister, Mir
Chong Mouk. has resigned because Mil
granted the Deer island concession to Russii
without the consent of ths cabinet.
ODESSA. March THE Russian govern
ment has ordered thirty new torpedo ooat
to augment the Russian Pacific squadron a
Viadivostock and Port Arthur Russia alst
proposes to keep eight cruisers OF the volun
teer fleet continually in far eastern water
instead of the Black sea, so as to avoid tn,
possibility of being hampered by Grea
Britain closing the Suez canal.