The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-11

Special Dispatch to the Post-Inteiligencer
LONDON, March l0-The military sit
uation in South Africa now occupies
secondary place In the attention OF the
British government. and the entire re-
sources OF the empire are now being
utilized In preparations to meet q graver
danger nearer home
RumoRs - Peril.
1t has been known for several weeks in
a vague way that some serious peril
was threatening Great Britain. No other
Interpretation Is possible OF the extra
ordinary measures for defense under
taken by the government. which In
creased instead Of diminished after the
tide was turned in the British favor.
Preparations for naval mobilization. the
queens personal call for volunteers. the
governments appeal to the colonies TO
prepare TO put every available man In
the feld. the queens abandonment of
her proposed continental trip. the sudden
decision to visit Ireland, the premature
issue of the budget and the floating of n
popular war loan. came In quick success
sion.
Frances Hand II Seen.
Apprehensions became more definite
when II was learned that France had
tried unsuccessfully to induce the sultan
to reopen the Egyptian question
Now comes tho definite informa ton OF
the heavy reinfoFrements France il send
ing to Algiers. Madagascar and Tonquin
A correspondent 1t Havrs telegrAphed
have just been chartered to take infan-
try and cavalry through the suez canal.
ostensibly for Madagascar.
BeIlicose Statements Fron France.
Most significant is the series of extra
ordinary beliicoss statements furnished
the foreign correspondents In Paris by
French officials. Some OF these have
been cabied already. and more are Mt
hand today. Now the evident deliberate
purpose of these declarations is to at
tempt to put Great Britain In the atti-
tude of the sSgressor.
war Fever i'm France.
This policy suggests that the war par
ty in France, which Is determined to
force a rupture. desires first 60 shir, the
responsibility for the quarrel. One OF
these national fcvers. which. throughout
her history. have attacked France abou,
once in a generation. until II eliminates
in bioodshed, is now raging violently. Its
essence is bitter hatred OF all things
English.
II is simple truth that the war party in
France IL so powerful at the present time
that the government. which Is none too
strong and may fali any day, almost des-
pairs OF controlling IT,
some French Preparations.
Some OF the French preparations for
war have already been outlined in the
Paris dispatches. Her naval plan will be
TO keep her fleets under shelter of the
guns Of Brest. Cherbourg and Toulon.
the idea being tnat the bombardment Of
rons without landing force are OF littis
use.
Assured of Hnssts's support.
There arises the decisive question es
RusSia's attitude. The following are the
words OF an influential diplomat. delivered
IN Paris yesterday:
France believes she is perfectly as
ssred Of Russian support. for the czAr
must yield 20 popular opinion. which IL
entirely with France Nevertheless. aisn@
HGdeT III " now tANtF nlt@AF1 NJ AfFt-
casse az 81. Petersburg last summer, fnlly
discussed With the crar all the questions
likely 70 arise. and eomplete agreement
was established thereon.
sermsny's Attitude Discussed.
The point 70 arrive az today IL how
far Germany can 90 IN case of war be-
tween France and England Neither 81
Petersburg nor Paris believes the kaiser
would BE- able 10 bring his pecple inie
une against France shcald an Angie
French war follow. or accompany that n
the TrRnsyasl In word. the French
rovernment cont.mpiAfss without fear
the possibility Of war with England
The Danger FaIIy Appreciated.
Turning ncW 10 the BRUSH view % ;hs
situation there is no Lack 81 faM oficgsl
appreciation az the danger. as already
noted In the sxtraogGlnary preparations
undertaken The following plain words
we're used two days ago b. q high British
cffoial.
we fully expect var with Frnnc. and
We are Strainlng every nerve in prepars-
ton II may come at any time. probably
within three months. ard almost certain
ly before the end Of the exhibition"
This sinister warning. II published IN
England. would assonish the masses. who
are altogether ignorant or the grave ten
dency OF events.
The English press has shown remark
able restraint G=Fing the crist. % the
past few weeks. The principal editors are