The San Francisco call., 1899-10-26
PREPARES FOR
ANY FOREIGN
COMPLICATIONS

LONDON, Oct 25-The extent of the
British preparations revealed by to-day's
information causes strong reitera ton
OF the rumors of serious foreign complica-
tions. 1t is now said that Rear Admiral
Lord Charles Beresford will command the
Mediterranean squadron, and details Of
the activity at the dockyards and naval
stations are coming in hot and fast It
is said that whether or not Great Britain
seriously 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 de-
clared, 1t being deemed necessary to in
crease the active strength of the navv in
order to insure the large fleet of trans
ports against every possible contingency
The Times, commenting editorially on
the rumor of European intervention,
scouts the idea, and says: mo power will
lift finger. The alarming combinations
built upon our naval movements have no
existence save in overheated imagina-
tons
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 fleet is un-
der orders to concentrate in the Bay of
Spezia.
QUEENSTOWN, Oct 25.-The British
cruisers Furious, Pelorus and Pactolus
sailed from here this afternoon, en- route
to Cape Clear, where they will meet eight
battleships and two cruisers of the Chan
mel squadron from the North of Ireland.
The fleet will then proceed ostensibly to
Gibraltar, but it is thought that possibly
its destination is Spanish or Portuguese
port, as the vessels have taken out bills
of health from the Consuls of those coun-
tries.
WASHINGTON, Oct 25.-Interference
by continental Europe in the war between
Great Britain and the South African Re-
public is not expected by administration
officials here Mediation may be offered,
but present Indications show that there
will be no coalition to compel its accept
auce. and there is certainly no anticipa-
ton of the administration that the United
States will be invited to join other pow
ers in rendering it's good offices to bring
about settlement of the war Up to
this time II Is stated authoritatively that
the United States has not been ap-
preached by any power of Europe to use
its influence to bring an end to hostilities,
ard II was stated significantly that ma
tions of the continent are unlikely TO
make such a suggestion in view of their
UNDERSTANDING lNdl the freSlueGl uOeS nOI
intend to take any steps in the matter
until he is informed by both Great Britain
and the South African Republic that they
will be willing for him TO mediate.
The expectation of the authorities that
there will be no interference in the war
is based upon the fact that the British
Government stiH has its strong arm-the
navy-free to use in any direction that
may appear necessary. There has not
been any considerable strengthening of
the naval force in South Africa, because
there is nothing for it to do In that di-
rection. War in that region is purely q
military problem. Great Britain thus has
practically her entire naval strength pre-
pared to resist the Intervention of any
third power. and 1t is the suggestion in
this connection that the mobilization of
her Mediterranean squadron at Gibraltar
is simply step in the direction of pre-
paredness. The movement of the French
squadron in the Levant is not believed to
have any reference to the Transvaal war