The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-23
STAND ON THE BRINK OF WAR.
r,sHoDA AFFAIR HAS ADVANCED
TO A WARLIKE ASPECT.

,tops In Their Navy Nards-French
Statesmen Cling to the Hope That
war May BE Averted - French
prenarations Admitted to BE
.goinst Great Britain British
Navy stands In "Ever-Ready" and
Absolute seIf-Confidence.
convrfght. 1898, by the Associated Press.
1.ndon. Oct. 22.-Never since Great Brit
ain and France began to dispute over
Fgvpt nor during the most acute stage
of the Niger differences between those
Two countries, has the situation looked SO
ominous as today
Tn spite of the hope expressed in the
soher journals of both countries that the
matter would be amicably arranged, it
&c a fact that the French naval and mill
tarv authorities are making feverish prep
arations for war, and though calm reigns
at the British dock yards at Portsmouth,
Chatham and Devonport, it is only the
calm of preparedness and significant or
ders have been received there from the
admiralty indicating the belief that Great
Britain and France are on the brink of
war
As Mr. Deblowitz, the Paris correspon-
dent of the London Times, writes to-day:
"Ncver before has there been witnessed
such a state of fever as is now prvailing
in Great Britain, nor go great an exulta-
ton Of public feeling over a matter Of
foreign policy, while on her side, France
promptly and rapidly, without looking for
war or backward is prepared to fight any
power provoking her. The French states
men, however, still cling to the hope that
the Marquis of Salisbury will offer some
exchange which win enable them to re-
tire from Fashoda without apparent sacri-
fee of dignity"
This hope is based on conversation be-
tween Lord Salisbury and Baron de Cour-
cei, the French ambassador at London,
which figures in a most important dis
patch in the yellow book which the French
government will issue tomorrow.
1t is learned by the Associated Press
that Baron de Courcel, in this dispatch
says Lord Salisbury, during the CONVEX
sallon referred to- asked him what were
the desires of France in the Soudan, to
which the Baron replied that France
wished for an outlet on the Upper Nile.
A<otA -dAlHbuIy AHGH ISSDOuQGu lIdl ne
could not promise anything and must con-
suit with his colleagues on such a matter.
trenchmen infer from this attitude of
the BRUSH premier that he is willing TO
discuss the French claims, and they even
talk of negotiations being in progress.
The English newspapers, however, vigor-
ousy combat this impression and warn
France not to be led away by such allus-
ions. They declare that the evacuation
OF Fashoda must precede anything else.
The French naval Preparations were at
frst declared to be mere routine arrange
ments, but they are now admittedly direct
ed against Great Britain. The minister Of
marine, M. Jockey, is dispal aching orders
TO All the naval stations along the coast,
and he is receiving reports as to their con-
oitlon. Tho French dock yards and arse
hais are working at full pressure, hurried
ly preparing warships and torpedo boats
Tor active service
on the British side a feeling of absolute
self-conhdence is displayed. Every ready"
is the burden of all the statements from
naval quarters. In fact, the British naNv
mas practically been on a war footing for
year past and an authoritative pro-
houncement TO this effect has come from
me secretary to the admiralty, Mr.. w. E.
Ellison Mccartney.
prominent dockyard official in an in
terVieW, declared that the circumstances
N'i@ lt'9NuLI NIlSlS Hd1 DtSn luly pAO-
Vided for IN the mobilization scheme. He
added that the British naval authorities
mad all their ships ready and could com
mission a squadron of cruisers and have
lhem off the French coast in less than
tWenty-tour hours. This official also
pointed out that it was not for nothing
that the British naval manoeuvres were
pu, off this year. He added that the Brit
lsn ships a. the present moment have a
larger supply of coal on board and availa-
Die and larger stock of provisions than
ever known before
The British admiralty list to-day Nshows
hine British battleships and eleven fast
cruisers are lying in the Mediterranean,
While the British channel squadron, which
was last reported off Villagarica, Spain,
consisting of eight battleships and five
cruisers. constitutes the most modern and
Powerful homogeneous fleet of warships
ahOat
kilograms from Balmoral intimate that
queen Victoria is following the trend of
events with much chagrin. Her aversion
20 war IN the declining years of her reign,
Is Wei known, and is an appreciable fac
ior IN the situation.
Inc Austrian and German newspap pers
are ciosely following the dispute between
NIeat Britain and France, and, while they
eApr4ss the hope that il will not end in
var The general feeling is that the
'1Ncn position is untenab'e, and that
Of victory.
me Brisson ministry appears to have
Uue loot in the grave, and it's prospects of
,aSIAs long beyond the opening of Parla-
."I are very dubious. The French pre-
uDer IS attacked on all sides, and il was
,IoUshl he would try to secure the sup
tolI OF the moderates to carry him
,It.ouga the session, but his list of new
Po95le1ts' issued this week, shows moderate
.,35+ais ,,5 have mostly been replaced by
'.~9.s; This has exasperated the moder-
t%s VINO declare that the ministry has
.Aereby signed its own death warrant. In
tuallons from deputies on the govern
pouring in