The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-11-04
BRITISH STRATEGIC FEINT.
Hussia ana Not France is the Real Foe
England is After-The Situation
Regarded as Grave

NEI-HAI-WEI, Nov. 3.-An the Brit
lsh war ships here, the first-class bat
tie ship Centurion, the frst-class cruis-
er Narcissus, the Second-class cruiser
Hermione, the torpedo boat DESTROYER
Whiting, the torpedo boat DESTROYER
Fame, the torpedo boat destroyer
Handy and the first-class gunboat Pea
cock have cleared for action and are
ready for sea at an hours notice.
The first class battleship Victorious
and the first class cruiser Undaunted.
at Che-FoO, are cOaling to their full ca
pacity.
The greatest secrecy is maintained
as to the meaning of these warlike
preparations, but there is no doubt i'm
portant instructions are expected at
any moment.
A large Russian fleet is assembled at
Port Arthur.
LONDON, Nov. 3-The dispatch from
Wei-Hai-Wei announcing the war
preparations of the British naval au-
thorities there. is regarded here as be-
ing of grave Importance coupled with
the anglO-French war preparations.
1t is surmised that Russia, profting by
the present strained relations between
Great Britain and France. has decided
to push forward her claims in the far
east by fOrcibly selling the valuable
treaty port of New Chwang, which
Great Britain can not permit, is is said.
On October 20 cable message had
been received in London from Shang-
hal as follows: "A Russian regiment
| occupied the town of Niu-Chwang
| province of LeaO-Tong), and the forts
at the mouth of the River Liaou on
October Is, thus securing complete pos
session of Niu-Chwang. The native
troops fed without making any OppO-
| sitiOn under orders from the empress
dowager and Ii Hung Chang.
a British gunbOat was in the river al
the time. Its nOn-resistance is regard
ed as the virtual British abandonment
of the whole of Manchuria to the Rus
slams and gives Russia an invaluable
strategic position. Great Britain is
certain to lose the Niu-Chwang trade
of which it has had so per cent.
LONDON, Nov. 3. - Great Britain.
naval preparations, Ostensibly mad,
against France, now seem to have beer
made against Russia under cover of tn,
FashOda incident.
HALIFAX, n. s., Nov. 3.-People il
Halifax are only now having their eye
! opened to the tremendous prepare
tons the British war office has beer
making around here for the last coupl
of months to place the garrison at Hal
! flax and the reserve in a condition o
readiness for any emergency. This ha
been done quietly. indeed, but on al
extensive scale. 1t is learned that tn
| arSenals here have been repleniShe
| with ammunition and with over on
hundred guns. chiefly for field use
from 9-pounders to 20-pounders. Fift
quick-fring guns have been received
Thousands of rifles have been store
and thousands of cases of ammunition
put into the magazines ready for in
mediate use if required. All descriT
tions of military equipment hav
been sent out in large quantities
There is no lack of the mos
modern gun carriages, ammunt
ton and ambulance wagons. AL in
portant fact connected with these wal
like supplies is that they are placed j
the keeping of the authorities here, no
merely for the regular forces, but t
be used by citizens and the reserve
The law of Canada makes military serJ
ice compulsory on every male citizen G
the Dominion between the ages Of l
and go.
| n A