Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25
FEAR OF FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS.
British Naval Activity ArOuSes the
Fears of LOndOners.

LONDON, October 25.-The extent of the
British naval demonstration revealed by to-
days information causes strong reitera-
tion of the rumors of serious foreign COM
plications. 1t is now said that Rear Ad-
miral Lord Charles Beresford will com
mand the Mediterranean squadron, and de-
tails of the activity at the dOckyards and
naval stations are coming in hot and fast.
The Associated Press learns, however, that
whether or not Great Britain seriously
fears Russian or French aggression, the
naval preparations have been under con-
sideration for several months, and 1t was
the admiralty's intention to put them in
force as soon as war with the Transvaal
was declared, deeming 1t necessary to in
crease the active strength of the navy in
order to insure the large fleet of transports
against every possible contingency.
Whether later developments have trans
formed the admiraIty's precautionary meas
ures into preparations for naval demon
stration necessitated by European hostility
is the question Of the hour, and it is as
much a mystery to many high naval Of
icers as 20 the public. The exact cOndi-
tion of affairs consists of ordering the
naval reserves to be in readiness to rejoin
their ships at twenty-four hours notice,
have been notified to be ready to sail in
the same time limit. These vessels, though
at the dockyards, are never out of com
mission, and are always supposed to be
| ready for immediate manning. A dozen
cruisers, ranging from 5000 to IL 600 tons,
are now only waiting for the word to en-
bark the crews.
Work UncOmpleted Vessels.
In addition to these preparations, work on
the uncOmpleted vessels is being hurried
day and night. The special attention be-
ing 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'' be-
cause the naval 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 conceal
| their knowledge Of German, French and
| Russian antagonism and their irritation
thereat, they do not give the slightest hint
| that European hostility will crystalline 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 favors
| the conservative view that the remarkable
military and naval activity is due to de-
| sire to take thorough precautions which,
though ominous. have at present no spe-
cal bearing upon Great Britain's European
| relations.
| Advices from the continent strengthen
this view. For instance, the Fremdenblatt
| of Vienna today says:
Nothing points to the eventuality of the
intervention of Europe in favor of the
| Beers"
| The paper adds that Germany especially
| has resolved mot to depart from her atti-
tude of neutrality
| LONDON, October pa dispatch from
the Morning Post from Kimberley, dated
| the afternoon of October 20. and carried by
| a dispatch rider via the Orange river
| where it is dated October "a, reports slight
! skirmishing and small casualties. 1t is be-
| lieved, however, that the dispatch must
| refer to the armored train fight at Ma
| feking.
No news has been received in London of
| fighting at Glencoe beyond the vague re-
ports Saturday and Sunday. already cabled,
| in which statements were made that long
range firing had occurred at Dundee
| The Chronicle this morning, commenting
| upon the mysterious reticence in regard to
the war office dispatches. says that there
is nothing to prove that there has not heen
fighting at Dundee or Glencoe. which COM
pelled Gen. Yule TO retreat.
\ dispatch to the Daily Mail from Cape
Town dated October "A. says that five big
guns have been sent from Pretoria to Ma
feking.
| QUEENSTOWN, October 25.-The British
cruisers Furious, Pelorus and PactoIus
sailed from here this afternoon en- route
TO Cape Clear. where they will meet eight
battle ships and two cruisers of the Chan
mel squadron, from the north of Ireland.