The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-26

Britain MObilizing a Powerful s'Men.
acing" Flying Squadron.


acing" Flying Squadron.
LONDON, Oct. 25.-The British cruisers
Furious, Pelorus and Pactolus sailed from
Clear, where they will meet eight battle
ships and two cruisers of the channel
squadron from the north of Ireland. The
fleet will then proceed ostensibly to Glib
raltar, but it is thought that possibly it's
destination is Spanish or Portuguese port,
as the vessels have taken out bvls of health
from the consuls of those countries.
The extent of the British preparations re-
vealed by to-day's information causes a
strong reiteration of the rumors of serious
foreign complications. 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. The Associated Press learns. however,
that whether or not Great Britain seriously
fears Russian or French aggression, the
naval preparations have been under con-
sideraticn for several months and it was
the Admiralty's intention to put them in
force as soon as war was declared, deem
ing it necessary to increase the active
strength of the navy in order to insure the
sible contingency. Whether later develop
ments have transformed the Admiralty's
precautionary measures into preparations
for a naval demonstration necessitated by
European hostility is the question of the
hour and it is as much mystery to many
high naval officers as TO the public
The exact condition of affairs consists of
ordering the naval reserves to be in readi-
fn raia I'm hair CHI -fo,,v
hours notice, while all the cruisers of the
reserve class have been notified TO be ready
to sail in the same time limit. AS the ves-
sells at the dockyards are never out Of
commission dozen cruisers, ranging from
5000 to I1,O0o tons. are now only waiting
the word to embark crews. In addition to
these preparations work on the uncompeted
vessels is being hurried day and night
The special attention being paid to crus-
ers is taken by many naval authorities
to Indicate that Great Britain intends to
form a "menacing' flying squadron, using
the term menacing because the naval force
at sea is ample to convoy the troops 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 conflict far greater than that in
the Transvaal has many supporters, though
the lack of all official information favors
the conservative view that the remarkable
military and naval activity is due to a de-
sire 10 take thorough precautions, which,
though ominous, have at present no special
/ bearing on Great Britains European rela-
! tions.
Advices from the continent strengthen
! this view. For instance the Fremenblatt, of
Vienna, to-day says: Nothing points to
the eventuality of the Intervention Of
Europe In favor of the Beers" The paper
adds that Germany especially has resolved
not to depart from her attitude of neutral
ity. On the other hand the Neues weiner
| Tageblatt publishes a telegram from the
| Transvaal legation at Brussels announcing
that Dr. Leyds has received formal assur-
ances that France and Russia will not
permit Great Britain TO annex the Trans
vaaI or the Orange Free State. This is dis
credited, however. as IL Is pointed that
even IL this were the intention OF the pow
l ers mentioned they would not allow their
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