The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-10-27

Queenstown, October 25.-The British
sailed from here this afternoon Ell route
to Cape Clear. where they will meet
eight battIeships and two cruisers Of
the channel squadron, from the north of
Ireland. The fleet wMl s$hen proceed
ostensibly ito 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 counsuls of those countries.
London, October 25.-The extent of
the british naval demonstration reveal
ed by doday'S information causes
strong reiteration of the rumorS OF Sc
rious foreign complications. 1t is now
said that Rear Admiral Lord Charles
Bedsford will command the Mediterra-
mean squadron, and details OF the ac-
itivity at the dockyardS and naval sta
tionS are coming in hot and fast. The
Associated Press learns, however, that
whether or not Great Britain seriously
fears Russian or French aggression, the
naVa preparations have been under
consideration for several months and 1t
was the admiTalty'S Intention to put
them in force as soon as war with the
Transvaal was declared, deeming 1t nee
the navy in order to ensure the large
fleet Of transports against every posi-
BILE contingency.
Whether later developments have
transformed the admiralty'S precau-
tionaIy measures into preparations tor
a naval demonstration, neceSSDtaited 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
ITO be in readiness to rejoin their ships
at twenty four hours notice, while all
the cruisers of the reserve class have
been notified Ito be ready TO SaI III .hs
same time limit. These vessels, though
at dOckyardS are never out of cOmmlS-
sion, and are always supposed to be
ready for immediate manning.
A dozen of cruisers ranging from o.
600 ITO IL 900 tons are now only waiting
for the word to embark the crews.
In addition to these preparations,
work ON the uncOmpleted vessels is be-
ing hurried day and night. The special
attention being paid to the cruisers is
taken by many naval authorities to In
dicaite that Great Britain intends to
form a menacing flying squadron, using
the term ''menacing'' because the force
at sea now 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 anita goniSm and their lr-
ritation 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 crisis, or even a
conflict far greater than that in the
Transvaal has many supporters, though
1,a To- rf oil off a.
vors the conservative view that the
remarkable military and naval actlFl-
ty is due to a desire to take thOrOugn
precautions which, though ominous,
have at present no special bearing upon
Great Britain's European relations.
AdviceS from the continent strength
en- this view. For instance the Frem-
denblatt, of Vienna, today says: Notn-
ing points to the eventuality of the IN
tervention of Europe in favor or the
Beers" The paper adds that Germany,
especially, has resolved mot to depart
from her attitude of neutrality.
On the other hand the NeueS- Welner
Tagblatt publishes a telegram from
the Transvaaa legation at Brussels, an
nouncing that DR.. Leyds 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 out that even if this We're
the intention OF the powers mentioned
they would not allow their hands TO
be shown prematurely through the me-
dunn of DR.. LeydS.
The Russian newspapers may be
somewhat responsible for the general
| impression in regard to European In
| tervention, The St Petersburg Russ
Kija advocating that Great Britain
be brought to her senses by nava
| demonstration in South Africa IN which
| France would take the lead.
DISPATCHES from the continent to The
| Daily Mail say that the French feei
has received instructions to watch the
| movements of the British Mediterra-
mean squadron and that the Italian
| fleet is under orders to concentrate III
I tho ho of