The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-11
Fears Expressed that the British
Army and Navy May Have a Diff
hcuIt Task to Perform.
CLAMOR FOR MORE ARMAMENT
IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED FOR
ALL CONTINGENCIES.
Comments Of the London Weekly
Press on the Abrogation of the
Clayton-BuIwer Convention.

LONDON, Feb. 10.--There exists to-day
what practically amounts to an offensive
and defensive alliance between Great Brit
ain and Portugal For the past week and
longer there has been circulating through
the English press, irrespective of party
lines a nervous apprehension of European
ton Of the fact that Great Britain, at the
present moment, is unable to face it with
honor to herself. Constant editorials in the
most unsensational papers have almost de-
veloped this phase of the agitation into a
national nightmare, which Is not at all
justified by the tenor of the continental
news published in English papers
If the general demands for an immediate
increase in the active naval and military
strength, openly urged to enable Great
Britain to cope with the most aggressive
movements that could possibly be credited
to Russia, France or Germany, were only
corelative with the extent to which Great
Britain has drained herself In order to sup
port her South African war. these mani
festations of the press and consequent pub
lie anxiety would easily be understood, but
naval mobilization so much exceeds the
comparatively slight deficiency in the de-
fensive potentiality caused by the war in
South Africa, that an impartial observer
can scarcely help coming to the conclu-
sion that there is more under the surface
than the news from the continent conveys.
and, after a careful investigation the As
sociated Press learns that the impression
is quite correct.
TO MEET EMERGENCIES.
In the first place much of this press
clamor for tremendous armament in or
der to meet unforeseen emergencies is origi-
nally inspired with view of compelling
Parliament to pass quickly any financial
measure proposed by the government and
to make the same popular with the peo-
pie, who, through additional taxation, may
stupendous plans now pending to place the
British empire on military eminence so
supreme as to be beyond the fear of op-
position. Lord Salisbury himself is, per-
haps, more Independent and more regard
less of newspaper influence and the aid
of advertising than any statesman Of the
day, yet at this crisis he has not disdained
to use his immediate subordinates as di-
rect agents to foster among the leading
London dailies public agitation magnifying
the possibilities of foreign interference
| and minimizing the capabilities of home
defense.
Russia's activity in China and Persia and
| French and German antagonism are freely
| paraded before the nation as an incentive
to be up and arming, even if it needs be
| TO the point of putting into operation the
/ militia ballot act, which is almost synono-
nous with conscription. Yet the accounts
| of nti-British activity all the world over,
| as dished UP for British readers, are not
| causing the Foreign Office any serious anx-
! iety, and they do not include the real
| reason for the tremendous military ac-
| tivity, which is determination to con-
vince Portugal that it is advisable to meet
| Great Britain's demands regarding the
| ports essential for carrying on the Boer
war; namely, Delagoa bay and Beira, and
| at the same time, having secured Portu-
| gals assent to every proposition made,
| be in position to support those ports
against a united opposition. No word of
| this Is printed or limited at here. but the
Associated Press learns that intense pres
sure is being exerted on Portugal by con-
tinental powers to prevent her from giving
| aid to the British. The Portuguese minister
/ here, Senior Pinto de Several, is almost
/ as much an Engiishman as Portuguese,
and his government is only too willing to
do everything far beyond the bounds of
| neutrality to help Great Britain to protect
Portugal.
TO DEFY THE CONTINENT.
| Lord Salisbury Is determined this shall be
| done. and is counting on the cooperation
| of his countrymen to put the nation on a
| footing to defy European opposition He
/ has this week taken definite measures re-
garding the aforementioned ports that can
| only be described as daring. Portugal.
bending to the medium of coercion. and
| convinced that Great Britain is able to up
hold her. has acquiesced until there prac-
tically exists to-day an alliance Of the
strongest fibre between Great Britain and
| Portugal. Yet, for reasons OF diplomacy.
| nothssg could be more quickly o11cially de-
MED In London or Lisbon II Is scarcely
: nsooonesy to ~ that I'll ths foregoing y