The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-26
FLEET RECEIVES INSTRUCTIONS
TO WATCH MOVEMENTS OF
BRITISH SQUADRON
ITALIAN Ships TO CONCENTRATE
WARSHIPS OF RUSSIA ARE ALSO
MOVING TOWARD EACH OTHER
SUSPICIOUsLY
LION EXPECTS INTERFERENCE

That Is the Accepted Opinion in
Wen-Posted London Circles
Cruisers Leave Queenstown to
Join Fleet at Cape CIear-They
Will Meet Eight BattIeships and
Two Truisers
LONDON, Oct. 26.-Dispatches from
the continent to the Daily Mail say
that the French fleet has received
instructions to watch the move
ments of the British Mediterranean
squadron, and that the Italian feet
Is under orders to concentrate In
the Bay of Spezzia.
LONDON, Oct. 25.-New and stringent
orders were promulgated yesterday with
reference to the defences at Gibraltar.
The privilege Engishmen have hitherto
had of entering the gate without a pass
is temporarily suspended No one is al
lowed to enter or inspect the batteries
Even the famous ST. Michaers cave is
closed, because it is required for the
storage Of arms and ammunition For
months sappers and miners have been en-
gagged in constructing new and powerful
batteries, and it is believed that the gar
rison will be augmented.
The Times, commenting editorially on
the rumors of European Intervention,
scouts the idea, saying:
mo power will lift finger. The
alarming combinations built upon our ma
val movements have no existence save in
overheated imaginations."
The extent of the British preparations
revealed by today's information causes a
reiteration of the rumors of serious for
eign complications, 1t Is now said that
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford
will command the Mediterranean squad
ron, land details of the activity at the
dock yards and naval stations are coming
in hot and fast. 1t is learned, however,
that whether or not Great britain seri-
ously fears Russian or French aggres-
sion, the naval preparations have been
under consideration for several months,
and it was the admiralty's intention to
put them In force as soon as war was
declared, deeming 1t necessary TO in
crease the active strength of the navy
I'm order to insure the large fleet Of trans
ports against every possible contingency.
Whether later developments have trans
formed the adm1raltys precautionary
measures into preparations for a naval
demonstration, necessitated by European
hostility, Is the question of the hour, and
it is as much a mystery to many high ma
val 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 ali the cruisers of the re-
serve class have been notified to be ready
to sail in the same time limit These
vessels though at the dock yards, are
never out of commission. and are al
ways supposed to be ready for immedi-
ate manning. A dozen cruisers, ranging
from 5000 to 11,O0O tons, are now only
waiting the word TO embark the crews.
QUEENSTOWN, Oct. 25.-The British
cruisers Furious, Pe,orus and Pacto.us
sailed from here this afternoon, en- route
to Cape Clear, where they will meet
eight battleships and two cruisers Of the
Channel squadron from the nGIth of Ire
land. The fleet will then proceed, os-
tensibly to Gibraltar but it Is thought
that possibly the fleets destination Is
Spanish or Portuguese port, as the YES
sells have taken out bills of health from
the consuls of those countries.