The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-26
PREPARING FOR
GREAT STRUGGLE
England May Fight the CONT
mental Powers.
BATTLESHIPS ARE MASSING
Russia, France as ,rmanyAp-
pear VsS, StIess'
MENACING JRoN is FORMED
| Much Comment in Europe Over Seem.
ing Crisis-Claimed That Slightest
Movement Will Cause Out
break-Explanations

London, October 25.-The extent of the
British preparations revealed by today's
information causes a strong reiteration OF
the rumors of serious foreign complications.
1t is now said that Rear Admiral Lord
Charles Beresford will commond the Medi-
terranean squadron, and details of the
activity at the dock yards and naval sta
tons are coming hot and fast. The Asso-
ciated Press learns however, that whether
or not Great Britain seriously fears Rus
sian or French aggression the naval prepar-
ations have been under consideration for
several months, and 1t was the admiralty's
intention to put them into force as soon
as war was declared, deeming it necessary
to increase the active strength of the navy
In order to ensure the large fleet of trans
ports against every possible contingency.
Whether later Developments have trans
formed the admiraltys precautionary
measures INFO preparations for naval DEM
onstration, necessitated by European hostn-
fties, is the question of The hour, and 1t Is
as much a mystery to many high naval
officers as to the public. The exact con-
dltion of affairs consists in ordering the
naval reserves to be in readiness to rejoin
their ships at twenty-four hours notice.
while all the cruisers of the reserve claim
nave been notified to be ready to sail in
the same time limit. These vessels, though
at the dock yards, are never out of COM
mission, and are always supposed to be
ready for immediate manning. A dozen
cruisers, ranging from 6,0O0 to II 900 tons,
are now only waiting The word to embark
the crews.
In addition to the preparation work on
the uncompleted vessels is being hurried
day and night. The special attention being
paid to the cruisers is taken by many naval
authorities to indicate that Great Britain
intends to form a menacing flying squadron,
using the term "menacing" because the ma
val force at sea is ample to convoy the
troops and is thoroughly capable of pre-
venting any interference in South African
waters.
While the British do not conceal their
knowledge of German, French and Russian
antagonism, and their irritation thereat,
they do not give the slightest hint that Eu-
ropean hostility will crystalize into any
probable overt act.
The belief that Great Britain Is on the
verge of crisis or even conflict far
greater than that in the Transvaal has
many supporters, though the lack of all
official confirmation favors the conserva-
tive views that the remarkable military
and naval activity is due to a desire to
take thorough precautions which, though
ominous, have at present no special bear
ing on Great Britain's European relations.
Advices from the continent strengthen
this view For instance, the Fremdenblatt,
of Vienna, today says:
Nothing points to the eventuality of the
intervention of Europe in favor of the
Beers"
The paper adds that Germany especially
has resolved mot to depart from her atti-
tude of neutrality