The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-08
BRITISH PREPARATIONS,
The Formation Of a "Menacing" Fly.
ing Squadron.
NAVAL RESERVES CALLED OUT

The Admiralty's Preparations For
Further Complications - Rumors Of
European observation-disclosures OF
Gibraltar Being Strengthened-Eng
land Prepared For Any Emersenc
LONDON (By Cable).-The extent OF the
British naval preparations causes strong
revival OF the rumors OF serious foreign
complications. It is learned that whether
or not Great Britain seriously fears Russian
or French aggression, the naval prepara-
tious have been under consideration for
several months, aud 1t was the Admiralty's
intention to put them In force as soon as
war with the Transvaal was declared,
deening it necessary to increase the active
strength OF the navy In order to insure tho
large feet Of transports against every pos
sible contingency. Whether later develop
ments have transformed the Admlralty'5
precautionary measures into preparations
for Il naval demonstration necesSitated by
European hostility Is the question OF the
hour, and 1t is as much mystery to many
high naval officers rs to the public.
The exact condition OF affairs consists OF
ness to rejoin their ships at twenty-foui
hours notice, while all the cruisers OF the
reserve class have been notified to be ready
to sail In the same time limit. These ves
sells, though at the dockyards, are never
out OF commission, and are always sup.
posed ia. be ready for immediate manning.
In addition to these preparations, work
on'the uncompleted vessels is being hur.
ried day and night. The special attention
being paid to the cruisers is AIKEN by
many naval authorities to Indicate that
Great Britain intends to form menacing
flying, squadron, using the term "menac-
ing" because the naval force at sea now Is
ample to convoy the transports and Is
thoroughly capable OF preventing any In
terierence In South African waters.
While the British officials do not conceal
their knowledge OF German, French and
Russian antagonism and their irritation
thereat, they do not give the slightest hint
that European hostility Will crystallize In.
to any probable overt act. But the belief
that Great Britain Is on the verge OF
crisis, or even a conflict far greater than
that in the Transvaal, has many supporters,
though the lack OF all official confirmation
fayors the conservative views that the re-
markable military and naval activity Is
due to a desire to take thorough preeau.
rions which, though ominous, have at
present no special DeafinR upOu uleat
Britain's European relations.
The Neues Wiener-Tagblatt, OF Berlin,
publishes telegram from the Transvaal
Legation at Brussels announcing that Dr..
Leyds. has received formal assurances that
France and Russia will not permit Great
Britain to annex the Transvaal or the
Orange Free State. This Is dtscredlted,
however, as 1t Is pointed out that even II
this were the intention OF the powers mem
tionad they would not allow their handsto
be shown prematurely through the medium
OF Dr.. Leyds.
The Russian newspapers may be some.
what responsible for the general impress
sion In regard to European Intervention,
the st. Petersburg Russkija advocating that
Great Britain be brought to her senses by
q naval demonstration In South Africa, IN
which France would take the lead.
New and stringent orders have been
promulgated with reference to the de-
lenses OF Gibraltar. The privilege English
men have hitherto had OF entering the
gate without a pass is temporarily sus-
pended. Nobody Is allowed to enter or to
inspect the batteries.
For months sappers and miners have
been engaged IN constructing new and
powerful batteries, and the garrison will
be augmented.