Evening star., 1898-10-31
Great Britain Continues to Rapidly
Push War Preparations.
EMERGENCY SQUADRON GATHERING
London Volunteers Under Orders
for immediate Mobilization.
RUSSIAN SPY ARRESTED

| LONDON, October 31.-There was an un-
| expectedy gloomy feeling this morning on
| the stock exchange and the Paris bourse,
| both these markets being Influenced, it is
| inferred from the aggressive tone of some
| of the French papers. Besides this, some
| thing extraordinary seems to have happen
| ed and it looks as if crisis were ap-
| preaching.
! The British naval preparations are GER
| tainly being pushed with great activity.
The British emergency squadron is gather
| ing at Devonport with all possible speed.
! Seven battle ships and one cruiser have
| been thus far designated to join this squad
| ron. officers and sailors have been hurried
ly recalled from leave of absence. Several
battle ships and cruisers at Portsmouth
are taking their full crews on board and
other warike preparations are being made.
A number of sgnalmen, now on duty
with the British channel squadron, which
arrived at Gibraltar this morning, have
been ordered home for service. it is pre-
| sumed, on board the auxiliary cruisers, II
the latter should be required for active
service.
Alleged Russian Spy Arrested.
A sensation has been caused by the ar
rest this morning of a supposed Russian spy
at fort near Harwich. The man was al
doubt, where he tried to obtain some in
formation from a sentry regarding the foru-
fcations He was promptly arrested and
inquiries are being made regarding his an
tecedents.
1t was also asserted today that the COM
manding officers of the London volunteer
regiments had received orders to prepare
| for immediate mobilization, and it was as
serted that the different artillery corps
! have been informed as to the forts on the
NOV, and a-tn 90 c
| have been allotted.
| The Pail Mall Gazette this afternoon
SAYS: England has been and even now Is
| so near war that the government has car
| red it's preparations to the farthest limit
of the preparatory stage. 1t has been ar
ranged to call out the reserves and militia
and to mobilize the volunteers simulta-
neouSly, and to form large camps at various
important railroad functions, where rolling
stock and locomotives will be concen-
trated."
Narchand to De Recalled.
PARIS October 31-The Eclair today
says it learns on reliable authority that the
Taskoda question will be settled favorab!y
to Great Britain by the recall of Maj. Mar
chard. France, the paper adds. yields ALL
1eserving only. the question Of the right to
the Bahr-el-GhaZal district, which she does
not consider as belonging to Egypt.
Continuing. the Eclair remarks: m. Del
ca sse, however, has now decided to raise
the whole Egyptian question. which should
have been done from the first and thus
avoiding the humiliation of yielding to the
British matum When the question is
thus enlarged France will not be alone in
its discussion with the Marquis of Sails
bury. Egypt interests all the powers. Rus
STA has promised NJ. Delcasse it's most ef-
fecuVe assistance and, besides, Germany
has the biggest interest, in view of her
east African possessions and trade in the
far east that the SueZ canal should not be-
come exclusively British and is disposed
to SlODOrt Fra
definitive settlement of the Egyptian
question"
Activity at EsquinauIt.
VICTORIA, B. c., October 31-The d.
parture of her majesty's ship Amphion
sunday for the Society Islands, the French
colony in the south seas, did not end the
activity at the Esquimault naval station
AS soon as she left the wharf the dock
yard crew was detailed to get the dry dock
IN readiness for the reception of her ma
1estys ship Leander. She, too, is to go on
long voyage, or at least be in readiness
lor any duty that she may be called upon
to perform.
The most significant feature outside of
the departure of the Amphion however, Is
the activity her majesty's ship I'M
per1euse, Admiral Pallsers flagship Sun
day a large number of men were given
shore leave, very unusual thing on Sur
days, and this morning she commenced
coallng. 1t is understood that she goes out
under orders on Thursday but it Is not
likely that she will follow the Amphion as
that would leave ESquimault with a small
leet, the Leandar, IcaruS, two torpell boat