The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-26
PARAT|ON IN
THE NAVY HURRIED
Work on a Vast Scale Driven
FierceIy.
IcIT tn AHrAIA0r runnnT
Is IT TO MENACE EUROPE
FRANCE AND RUSSIA MAY
CHECK ENGLAND.
WAR OFFICE DOCTORS" DISPATCHES
The War in Natal Has lust Begun. The Beers
by no Means Discouraged. News Of a
Great Battle Expected at
Any Moment,
Any Moment.

london, Oct 25.-The extent of the
British naval demonstrations revealed
by today's information, causes a strong
reiteration of the rlmnors of serious for
eign complications. t.is now said that
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford
will command the Mediterranean Sqlla-
dockyards and naval stations are coming
inhot and fast. The Associated Press
learns, however, that whether or not
Great Britain seriously fears Russian or
French aggression. the naval prepara-
tions have been under consideration for
several months. and it was the Admi-
ralty's intention to put them in force
as soon as war with the Transvaal was
declared. deeming it necessary to in
crease the active strength of the navy
in order to ensure the large fleet of
transports against .evrey possible contin-
gency. Whether later Developments
have transformed the Admiralty's pre-
cautionary measures into preparations
for naval demonstration, necessiltated
by European hostility. is the question
OF the hour, and it is as much a mystery
to many high naval officers as to the
public. The exact condition OF affairs
consists of ordering the naval reserves
to be in readiness to rejoin their ships
at twenty-four hours notice. while all
the cruisers of the feserye class have
been notified to be ready to sail in the
same time limit. These vessels, though
at dockyards, are never out of commits
- al fa hn
ready for immediate manning.
A dozen cruisers ranging from 5000
to II, 600 tons are now only waiting for
the word to embark the crews
In addition to these preparations work
on the uncompleted vessels is being hur
ried day and night. The special atten-
tion being paid to the cruisers is taken
by many naval authorities to indicate
that Great Britain intends to form a
menacing flying squadron. using the
term ..menacing" because the naval force
at sea is ample to convoy the transports
and is thoroughly capable of preventing
any interference in South African
waters.
While the British officials do not con-
ceal their knowledge of German. French
and Russian antagonism, and their irri-
tation thereat, they do not give the
slightest hint that European hostility
will crystalize into any probable overt
act. But the belief that Great Britain
is on the verge of a 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 remarka-
BILE military and naval activity is due to
a desire to take thorough precautions,
which, though ominous, have at present
no special bearing upon Great Britain's
European relations.
Adyices from the Continent strengthen
this yiew For instance, the Fremden-
blatt, of Vienna, today says:
Nothing points to the eventuaHty of
the intervention Of Europe in favor of
the Beers"
The paper adds that Germany espe-
cially has resolved mot to depart from
her attitude of neutrality"
On the other hand the Neues- Weiner
Tageblatt publishes a telegram from the
Transvaal Legation at BRUSSELS, an
nouncing that DR.. Lcyds has received
formal assurance that France and Rus
sia will not permit Great Britain to an
mex the Transvaal or the Orange Free
State This is discredited, however, as
it is pointed ont that even if this We're
the intention Of the powers mentioned
they would not allow their hands to be
shown prematurely through the medium
of DIR. Leyds.
The Russian newspapers may be some
what responsible for the general impress
sion in regard to European intervention,
the ST. Petersburg Rnsskija advocating
that Great Britain be brought to her
senses by naval demonstration in South
Africa in which France would take the
lead
Dispatches from the continent TO the
Daily Mail say that the French fleet
has received instructions to watch the
movements Of the British Mediterranean
Squadron and that the Italian feet is
under orders to concentrate in the Bay
Of SpeZia.
OFFICIAL REPORTS DOGTORED.
London, Oct. 25.-lThe commander-in-
chief Field Marshal Lord Wolseley, has
apparently been convicted of .doctoring''
official reports from the front and there
is strenuous demand ON all sides for a
reversion to the earlier practice when the
rerosfs of General Sir George Stewart
White. the British commander in Natal
were giyen out textually as soon as re-
seived The commander-in-chief's sum
mary read in the House of Commons