The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-27
Well Calculated To
Cause Alarm.
Any Movement Would Be
Promptly Checked.

washin gton, Dscembsr e6.-Ths alleged
attempts in different parts Of the country
TO organize Fspians for . raid into
Canads, have not as yet, been drawn to
the attention OF the State Department,
and nothing is known upon the subject
beyond the matters set out In the news
paper publications. Ths officials do not
give the smallest credence 10 the stories
and are Of the opinion that the purpose
10 setting them aflost Is to frightsn the
Canadians into keeping their soldiers at
homo and failing to answer the appeal OF
England for volunteers for the African
campaign.
Lord Pauncefote. the British ambassa-
der, Ia too we'll experienced In American
methods to make this matter the basis OF
official representations at this stage, and
indeed, 1t Is said at the state department
that he has not even found IL necessary
to demonstrate against the alleged Viola
t,on Of neutrality Involved In the recruit
ing of soldiers for the Bosr army within
the dom aims OF the United States. 1t Is
suggested that the explanation for this
attitude 10 q preference on the part Of the
British to deal with such persons as may
enlist here for the Boer army after they
| leave the boundaries of the United States
and 1t is not doubted that all OF these
movements that really promife to amount
to anything are being carefully watched
with o view TO catching the volunteers at
some convenient point BY fleet cruiser.
Should 1t turn ous that tenian move
ment of the kind alleged to exist Is
actually discovered and brought 20 the
astsn tion OF the United states govern
! reat. sharp and p-onrt repessslvs action
will be taken, not only to prevent the
| violation of tee neutrality laws, bat also
to save the raiders themselves from such
consequences Of their actions as befeli ths
unfortunate Fenisn raiders OF 1865. Tbs
| talk Of a Fenian raid Is well calculated
| TO cause alarm on the Canadian side OF
the border. as the people OF that section
were greatly agitated during the former
Fenian excitement. Although an actual
movement occurred at that time the chief
| uble occurred over alarming reports OF
| invasiors which never took place. Some
| thing Of a pan 10 took possession of the
Canadians on the border and many
women buried their household silver and
| valuables on ths small islands OF Tbs
| border rivers, fearing that the Benians
were about to loot the towns. On the
American side, the excitement was inten-
| s'fisd by local Fenlan organizations
which drjllsd insapparsrt an ticipation of
a movement, although these proved to be
purely local bodies, more or less enypa-
tbizing with the movement but wholly
without eystemadc connection with the
head organization.
HAS SEEN HAY ABOUT IT.
Washington, December 26.-The British
am bassador, Lord PRuncefote has made
no protest to the authorities here relative
TO the reportsd orsanized moyements la
various parts Of the country In behalf of
the Beers, although these matters wee
| subject for discussion between Secretary
Hay and AMBASSADOR Pauhcefote as late
as this afternoon including the alleged
| Fenian movement. The only att ntion
| which the embassy IL giving to hese re-
rorts Ia to keep advised through the
| British oonsuls at various points as to
| any movements of Importance. Thus far,
however, nothing has come from the SON.
| suls to indicate that any OF the move
ments was more than local and trifiing.
All the Gdvioss show there has besn moth
| ing In the way OF general organization.
AS Is usually the oass In time CT war, the
| British officials receive many letters offer
| ing TO disclose secret N movements or to sell
balloons, explosives and various other
novel war inventions But most Of thes 90
are anonymous and they reosive no at
tention.
FENIANS ORGANIZING.
Buffalo, NY, Dscemtar 26.-A special
from punkrik says: The Fenians are
said to be organizing here for an invasion
| of Canada. A man known to have
knowledge Of the eondidtian OF Fenian
affairs In Dunkirk says that city has been
called upon to raise six hundred men TO
| form q part of 125, GOO men that are to be
enrolled throughout the country. 1t is re-
ported that the FeniaIs have two Car
loads of arms and piunitions Of war In
| concealment In or near this city.
OTTAWA LAUGHS.
Ottawa, Canada, December %. --Ths
stories recording Fenian invasion Of
| Canada, tsisgrsphsd here from the Unit
ed States are laughed at by the militia