Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-10-26
ENGLAND'S PERIL.
Serious Foreign Complications
Are Now Feared.
Intervention in TransvaaI BY France or
Russia Among Possibilities.
Extraordinary Activity in British Naval Circles
intends to Be Prepared.

London, Oct. 2J.-The extent Of the
british naval preparations. revealed
by t6day's information, causes n strong
relteEation Of the rumOrs Of serious
foreign complications. 1t is now said
| mat Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beres-
fora VIII command the Mediterranean
| squadron and details of the activity at
dock yards and naval stations are com
ing IN not and fast. The Associated
i'ress learns. however, that whether or
not Great Britain seriously fears Rus
sian or French aggression the naval
preparations nave been under consid-
Grafton for several months and 1t was
the admiraltys intention to put them
in force as soon as war with the Trans
Vaal was declared. deemng it neces-
sary to increase the active strength of
the navy in order to insure the large
fleet Of transports against every posi-
bic contingency.
Whether later developments have
transformed the admiralty's prcautiOn-
airy measures into demonstrations for
n naval demonstration necessitated by
European hostility is the question Of
the hour and it is as much a mystery
70 many high naval officers as to the
public. The exact condition of affairs
consists of ordering the naval reserves
TO lie in readiness to re-jOin their ships
at u hours notice, while all the cruis-
ers of the reserve class have been noti-
fed to be in readiness to sail in the
same time limit. These vessels, though
at the dock yards, are never out of
commission ana are always supposed
to be ready for immediate manning.
dozen cruisers ranging from 5000 to
1000 tons, are now only waiting the
word to embark the crews.
In addition to these preparations
work on the uncompleted vessels is be-
ing hurried day and night. The spec
al attention being paid TO the cruisers
is taken by many naval authorities to
indicate that Great Britain intends to
form a menacing flying squadron, US
ing the term ''menacing" because the
naval force at sea now is ample to
convoy the transports and is thorough
~ capable Of preventing any Interior
ence in South African waters.
While the British officials do not con-
ceal their knowledge Of German. French
ana Russian artag nism and their irrita-
ton thefedt, they do not give the slight
est hint OF probability that European
hostility will crystalline into any 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 nI
all official confirmation faVOrs the con
servative views that the remarkable mill
tary ana naval activity is due to a desire
to take thorough precautions which
though ominOus. have at present no spS-
cial bearing upon Great Britain's Euro
penn relations.
Advices from the Continent strengthen
this view. For instance. the Fremden
hlatt OF Vienna. today, says: Nothing
points 70 the eventuaity Of Intervention
of Europe in favor of The Beers
The paper adds that Germany especi-
ally has resolved mot to depart from her
attitude Of neutrality"
ION tine other hand. the Neuste Winner
Tageblatt publishes telegram from the
TransVaal legation at Brussels announc-
ing that Dr. LeydS has received formal
assurances that France and Russia will
not permit Great Britain to annex the
TranSVaal or the Orange Free State.
This is diecrcditcd ana it is pointed out
that even if this were the intention of the
powers mentioned. they would not allow
their hands to be prematurely shown
through the medium of Dr. LeydS.
The Russian newspapers may be some
what responsible for the general impress.
sion in regard To European Intervention.
the st. Petersburg Russkija advocating
that Great Britain he brought to her
senses by a naval demonstration in South
African water which France would lead.