The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-24
HURRY ORDERS
Issued to Officers by the French
Naval Department.
TOul0n Designated as a Base OF
Operations.
ENGLAND is READY
And the War Fever is Raging
Throughout the Island.
No Longer Any COncealment on
Either Side.
ENGLAND is READY

Paris, Oct. 24-The municipal author
tiles of Toulon have been notified that
that place will be the center of i'm
portant naval and military preparations
and have been instructed to arrange for
the immediate reception of 1900 ma
rines and 600 artillery men.
The naval authorities have been or
dered to expedite the preparations for
the Quitting of the new squadron.
War Fever is On.
London. Oct. 24.-Mr. De Blowitz, the
Paris correspondent of the London
Times, writes today: Never before
has there been witnessed such state
of fever as is now prevailing in Great
Britain, nor so great an exaltation OF
public feeling over a matter of foreign
policy while on her side, France Is
promptly and rapidly, without looking
forward or backward, preparing TO hShC
any power provoking her. The French
statesmen. however, still cling to the
hope that the Marquis of Salisbury Will
offer some exchange which will enable
them to retire from FashOda without
apparent sacrifice Of dignity. This hope
is based on a conversation between Lord
Salisbury and Baron De COurcel (the
French ambassador at London), which
figures in a most important dispatch IN
the yellow book which the French gov
ernment will issue tomorrow.
It is learned by the Associated Press
that Baron De Courcel, in this dispatch,
says Lord Salisbury, during the con-
versation referred to, asked him what
were the desires of France in the Sou
dan, to which the baron replied that
France wished for an outlet on the Up
per Nile Lord Salisbury then re-
sponded that he could not promise any
thing and must consult with his col
leagues on such a matter.
Frenchmen consider from this ChaI ne
is willing to discuss the French claims,
and they even talk of negotiations be-
ing in progress. The Engllsh neWspa-
pers, however, vigorously combat the
impression, and warn France not TO pe
led away by such illusions. They de-
clare that the evacuation Of Fashoda
must precede anything else
The Times today, referring to the Fa-
BhOda question, says:
1T is not worth trying to Illuminate
France, but it is France who seeks TO
put a great humiliation upon US. we
have beaten the khalifa and have ell
fectively occupied the provinces he
l1surped We are now asked to clear
out at the orders of an exploring party
of nine Frenchmen, VINO owe lhelI
escape from destruction to our military
success. If we are kindly permitted not
to clear out, we are to pay cOmpensa-
wrested from the khalifa. This is not
a thing we can consent to do upon any
such high handed summons. We are
there in effective occupation and there
we intend to remain
Against Great Britain.
The French naval preparations were
at first declared to be mere routine ar
rangements, but they are now admit
tedly directed against Great Britain
The minister of marine is dispatching
orders to all the naval stations along
the coast, and he is receiving reports as
TO their condition The French dock
yards and arsenals are working at fuIl
pressure and hurriedly preparing war
ships and torpedo boats for active ser
On the British side, feeling of abso-
lutte self-cOnfidence is displayed EV-
ervthing 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 past,
and an authoritative prOnouncement to
this effect has come from the secretary
to the admiralty. Mr.. w. z. Ellison
Mccartney. Referring to the prepara-
tions on the other side of the channel,
SO far as the British admiralty is
concerned. the ships, officers and gener-
al administration are ready now to
meet the wishes of the country"
A prominent dock yard official, in an
interview, declared that the circumstan-
ces of the present crisis had been fully
He added that the British naval auth
critics had all their ships ready and
could command a squadron of cruisers
and have them off the French coast in
less than "a hours. This official also
pointed out that it was not for nothing
that the British naval maneuvers were
put off this year He added that the
British ships at the present moment
have larger supply of coal on board
and available and larger stock of
provisions than ever known before
The British admiralty list today
shows nine British battle ships and
eleven fast cruisers are waiting in the
Nediterra mean. while the British chan
mel SQUADRON, which was last reported
off Villa garia, Spain, consisting of eight
battle ships and five cruisers, consti-
tutes the most modern and powerful
homogeneous feet of war ships af1oat
kilograms from BalmOra1 intimate
that Queen Victoria is following the
trend of events with much chagrin Her
aversion to war, in the declining years
of her reign is well known and is an
appreciable factor in the situation The
Austrian and German newspapers 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.
France States Her Ease.
Paris, Oct. 24-The newspapers here
today warmly praise the exposition of
the French side of the Fashoda ques-
tiOn presented by the minister of for
eign affairs, NJ. Del Casse in the yellow
book on the subject issued yesterday.
The Figaro says: IF the British gov
ernment rejects Frances moderate and
just proposals it can only be because
the government of Great Britain desires