The San Francisco call., 1898-04-17
BETTER THAN
 UNCERTAINTY England Quite Prepared for HOStilitieS to
 Begin.
Naval Experts Think the First Battle Will Be Between
 the Combined Fleets.
Outside of Great Britain There Is a Most Bitter Feeling Against the
 Aggressive Yankees"
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LONDON, April 16.-After a momen- tarv fit of depression there has been sudden recrudescence of optimism In banking circles, notably among the banks closely allied with the United States. Four -fifths of the people, how ever. expect war and think it will be an improvement on the present state ol uncertainty. They do not belleVe lIle Sagasta Ministry, even if 1t IS ready to bow to all the American demanoS' IS strong enough to contend with the rls- ing storm of Spanish pride or the halI- yelled menaces of the army ana the Carlist pretender. So a conflict IS eX- pected to be reached through Spaln re- sentirg the action of America ana py Congress declaring that state or war exists, as in the case of Mexico.
 The hide bound, anti-freedom doc- trinaries, who are pretending to cen sure Congress and President Mchln- ley, are received with open expressions of vexation and even disgust. The opinion of the great majority Of Eng lishmen is that the United States IS indisputably right and that she IS only pursuing a course identical Wltn Great Britain's historical policy in put ting an end to the appalling mlsgoV- ernment of Spain, which is wholly III the wrong, and they point out that England in similar position, would have been as equally inflamed by hu- man emotions as America is at pres ent.
 This feeling was exemplified at the Liberal banquet at Plymouth last even ing, when William Alexander McAr- thur, M. P, former lord of the treas u~y, was heartily cheered when he said: T do not think England has auy right to throw stones at congress. Englishmen should only applaud the noble indignation of America at the horrors daily presented during the last two years"
 The Cabinet is expected to meet cary next week and deal with the question of neutral vessels in the event of war. It is believed some understanding Vlll be awarded between the great powers. and the United States is prepared to acquiesce to certain conditions whic2. will not impose heavy burdens upon neutral governments.
 | Outside of Great Britain the feeling toward the United States is distinctly l hostile. The inspired Government or gans of the continent express indigna- tion at the way the United States has
 ignored the concerted powers" and 1 speak or the SWaSSerlng A1nerlcar self -conceit." The inherent dislike Of | the continental monarchies for the
 great republic is due to it's very great l prosperity, which is inimical to mon archical principle, and this dislike is
 cropping out in all directions, proba- | bly, aided by the thirst for a chance o1 | coloniZing, or absorbing Spanish Amer | ica, from which they are at present de | barred by the long arm of the repub | lie. The fact seems to be that th' | continental observers foresee the in evitable expansion of Anglo SaXonism
 British naval experts discredit thu report that the United States will frit
 ter away her forces by a simultaneou: | attack Uoon the different Spanish col
 onies. They point out that Spain ha: shown her appreciation of the most i'm | portant element of naval strategy
 namely, that sea power can only bt | upheld by a ,mbined fleet. By hel concentrating formidable force at the l Cape Verde Islands the naval men an | ticipate that a big engagement be- 1 tween the combined fleets will be l fought in the neighborhood of Porto
 Rico.
 There is intense excitement among | the members of the American colony 1 here. Their thirst for information is SC | great that a private news service has
 been arranged. American ladies are
 discussing the question of organizing | to assist the wounded immediately after war is declared. It is understood that the interesting questions will come relative to neutral ships in the event nf tryor