Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-10-26
TO WATCH ENGLAND.
European Fleets Likely to Be
Modified.
NAVAL ACTIVITY IN BRITAIN.
Cruisers Being Gotten Ready and Re-
serves Ordered = France, Italy. Ger
many aud Russia Said to Be Aroused.
Beresford TO Command.

| BERLIN, Oct. 26.-There is talk in
diplomatic circles of the JOINT confer
snce which was held between the en-
peror, Admiral Tierpitz. the secretary
of the admiralty, and Count Won Bue-
low, the minister Of foreign affairs
The admiral, the next day, went TO
Baden Baden for the purpose of report
| ing 10 the imperial chancellor. Prince
Hohenlohe.
The Freisinnige Zeitung asserted that
both the conference and the "trip of Tir-
| pitZ signify that orders will soon lie
given. for the sending of German war
vessels 10 the Mediterranean.
1t is not doubted iii Berlin that fur.
ther aggression on the part OF England
i'll Africa will precipitate an mterna-
tional war.
LONDON, Oct. 26.-Dispatches from
the continent to The Daily News says
that the French feet has received in
structions TO watch the movements of
the British Mediterranean squadron,
and that the Italian fleet is under orders
to concentrate in the Bay of Spezia
LONDON, Oct 26.-BrItish naval prep
arations caused strong reiteration of
serious foreign complications 1t was
said that Rear Admiral Lord Charles
Beresford will command the Mediter.
ranean squadron, and details of the
activity at the dockyards and naval
stations came in hot and fast. 1t was
learned, however. that whether or no
Great Britain seriously fears Russian or
French aggression, the naval prepara-
ticns have been under consideration for
several months and it was the admir-.
ty's intention to put them in force as
soon as war with the Transvaal was de-
clared, deennng it necessary to increase
the active strength of the navy in order
to insure the large fleet OF transports
against every possible contingency.
The naval reserves have been ordered
to be in readiness to rejoin their ships
at "a hours notice, while all the cruIs-
ers of the reserve class have been mott.
fed to be ready to sail in the same time
limit.
In addition to these preparations work
on the uncompleted vessels is being
hurried day and night. The special at
tention being paid to the cruisers is
taken by many naval authorities to IN
dicate that Great Britain intends to
form menacing flying squadron, using
the term "menacing'' because the naval
force at sea now Is ample to convey the
transports and is thoroughly capable of
preventing any interference in South
African waters.
While the British officials did not con-
ceal their knowledge of German, French
and Russian antagonism and their irri-
tation thereat, they do not give the
slightest hint that European hostility
will crystalize into any probable overt
act.
The belief that Great Britain Is on
the verge of O crisis or even conflict |
far greater than that in the Transvaal |
has many supporters, though the lack |
OF all official confirmation favors tine |
col servative views that the remarkable !
aud naval activity is due to u |
desire to take thorough precautions,
which, though ominous, have at present |
no special bearing npon Great Britain's |
European relations.
Advices from the continent strengthen |
this view. For instance, The Fremden- |
blatt Of Vienna said: Nothing points
to the eventuality Of the intervention of |
Europe in favor of the Beers
The paper added that Germany es-
pecially has resolved mot to depart |
from her attitude OF neutrality"
On the other hand the Neues :, elmer
ragblatt published telegram from the
rransvaal legation at Brussels announc-
ing that DIR. Leyds had received formal
assurances that France and Russia will |
not permit Great Britain to annex the
rransvaal or the Orange Free State.
This is discredited, however, as it is
pointed out that even if this were the
Of the powers mentioned they
would not allow their hands to be
shown prematurely through the me-
iium of Dr.. Leyds.
Ihe Russian newspapers may be
somewhat responsible for the impress
'lon in regard TO European interven.
ion, the st. Petersburg Russkija advo-
,ating that Great Britain be brought to
Ter senses by naval demonstration in
south Africa i'll which France would
AXE the lead