The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-27
British Ambassador Has Made No Repre-
ssntatlOn on Subject Up 10 This Tine.
GOVERNMENT WILL ACT IF NEED Be.
PROMPT Expressive Measure Will Be- Taken u The
Occasion Should Arise Probable Object Of
the Movement IS 10 Ffghsn Canada.

Washington, Dec 27.--The alleged at
tempts in different parts of the coun-
try to organize Fenians for a raid in
to Canada have not as yet been drawn
TO the attention OF the state depart
ment, and nothing is known upon the
subject beyond the matters set out In
the newspaper publications The Off
cials do not give the smallest credence
TO the stories and are of the opinion
that the purpose in setting them a1oat
is 10 frighten the Canadians into keep
ing their soldiers at home and failing
10 answer the appeal Of England for
volunteers for the African campaign.
Lord Pauncefote, the British Am
bassador. Is too well experienced in
American methods to make this mat
ter the basis OF official representations
at this stage. and indeed. IL Is said at
the state department that he has not
even found " necessary TO demonstrate
against the alleged violation OF neu-
trality involved i'm the recruiting Of
soldiers for the Boer army within the
domains of the United States. Ii is
suggested that the explanation for this
attitude is a 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 il is not doubted
that all of these movements that really
promise To amount to anything are
being carefully watched with "A view
TO catching the volunteers at some
convenient point by fleet cruiser.
REPREssIvE ACTION.
Should 1t turn out that a Fenian
movement Of the kind alleged to exist
is actually discovered and brought to
the attention of the United States gov
ernmen:, sharp and prompt repressive
action will be taken not only TO pre-
vent the violation of the neutrality
laws but also To save the raiders
themselves from such consequence Of
their actions as befel the unfortunate
Fenian raiders OF 1866.
. The talk OF Fenian raid is well cal
culated 10 cause alarm on the Cana
dian side of the border, as the people
OF that section were greatly agitated
during the former Fenian excitement.
Although an actual movement took
place at that time the chief troubles
occurred over alarming reports OF in
vasons which never took place. some
thing Of a panic took possession Of the
Canadians on the border, and many
women buried their household si'Ver
and Valuables on the small ISLANDS Of
the border rivers fearing, that the Fee
mans ANete- about loot the towns. on
the American side the excitement was
intensified by local Fenian organiza-
tions. which drilled i'm apparent antici-
patton of movement, although
these proved TO be purely To-
cal bodies more or less sympathlzng
with the movement. but wholly without
systematic connection with the head
organization.
NO PROTEST MADE.
The Butish ambassador Lord Paun-
ceforte, has made no protest 10 the au-
thorities here relative TO the reported
organized movement in various parts OF
the country i'm behalf OF the Beers. al
though these matters were subjects for
discussion between Secretary Hay and
the ambassador as late as yesterday
afternoon, including the alleged Fenian
movement The only attention which
the embassy is giving TO these reports
Is TO keep advised through the British
consuls at various points as to any
movements Of Importance. Thus far
however. nothing has come from the
consuls to indicate that any OF the
movements was more than local and
uifing. All the advices show there has
baen nothing in the way OF general or
ganization. As is usually the case in
times OF war. the British officials re-
Ccive many letters Offering to disclose
secret movements or TO sell balloons
CNnlLSives and various other nlNel war
inventions. But most OF these are an
oLvmous. and they receive no attention.
TALK OF INVASION.
Boston, Dec 27.-It has developed
that a movement looking TO the inva-
sion NJ Canada by the Fenians and ad-
vanced Irlsh Nationalists has been agi-
tated for some time by leaders OF these
organizations IN and around Boston.
COL. Robert F. Scannell, who has been
identified with Irish agitations for 4