The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-28
PREPARING
 FOR COMBAT. England Getting Ready
 For War. NAVY YARDS ARE BUSY Channel Squadron Will Sal from Gibraltar Today. The omciaI Expianation for This Movement ,.yta Make "sA'" Attack on the Roek"-coio-
 nial Meeting Called.
 

London. Oct. S.--Notwithstandine the diplomatic check since the receipt of Admiral Rojestyensky's report, It Is evident that Great Britain is preparing for any possibility of war.
 Enormous activity is' evident at all dock yards where vessels under repairs are being made ready for sea under urgent orders from the Admiralty. At Cardiff, it Is said that the Admiralty agents are securing great quantities of coal for Gibraltar, Portsmouth. Nal ta and other ports, and paying high freights.
 The Mediterranean fleet Is hasteninG in the direction of Gibraltar. and It is announced that the Channel squadron with decks cleared will leave Gibral- tar early this morning, it's alleged ob- feet being a sham attack on the Rock" The home fleet, likewise, Is concentrating In fact, almost the en- tire British navy Is pointing in the direction of the Baltic fleet. portion of which is expected to sail from Vigo during today.
 Perhaps the most significant devel- oprnent is the cabinet meeting which is called for noon today. While the call was issued prior to the receipt of Roiestvensky's report, which changed the situation considerably and appears to place some of the burden of proof upon Great Britain, the meeting un- doubtedly marks the reaching of se- rious stage.
 BaIfour to Speak Tonight.
 While up to the present time the government has maintained almost complete silence with regard to the progress of the affair. it is regarded almost certain that Premier Balfour, who will make speech at Ports- mouth tonight will. after a conference with the entire cabinet. be in posi- ticn to make some definite announce ment. Public sentiment which hith- erto has been kept under remarkable control will hardly stand the passing of another day and especially because of the opportunity afforded Mfr. Ball. aour's appearance, on the platform, unless some satisfactory explanation is made. n, - It might be said that yesterday was the first time that any real excite- ment was exhibited by the public. Early editions of the afterno on papers calculated to arouse the most intense national feeling, positively announced that time limit had been set for Rus sias reply and that the cabinet had been called to assemble this morning. This brought out a crowd in Downing Street, but 1t quickly dispersed when informed that Mir. Balfour had not ar rived from Hatfield House and tha, they were twenty-four hours ahead of time.
 Admiral Rojestvensky's report seem ed to stagger almost every one. Its statements were received with iucred- ulity and evidently the reply was re- garded as merely an adroit counter in order to gain time.
 ROjestvensky Condemned.
 The text of the Admtrals telegrams, received at a late hour last night, are calculated to infiame instead of allay the resentment of the British public. His statement that he "endeavored to spare the trawlers and ceased to fire as soon as the torpedo boats were out of sight" together with the virtual ac- cusation of complicity with supposed Japanese torpedo boats against the fishermen Is hardly likely to reconcile an angry nation to the possibility that there is another side to the case call ing for investigation.
 "How much longer?' is the burden of the newspaper editorial articles this morning. Commenting upon the con- tinued delay of the Russian Govern ment and what is characterized as the amazing story Admiral Rojestvensky presents in defense of his action. little disposition is displayed to listen for a moment seriously to the Admirafs story Some St. Petersburg special cor respondents even go so far as to sug- gest the explanation Is home manu- factured." The more serious of the morning papers confess that the coun- try Is under shadow of war and the word is now with Russia
 The Standard editorially described Rojestvensky's whole story as the creation of a disordered imagination. bearing It's refutation on its face, and says:
 Could Only Cause Trouble.
 For Russia to enter a controversy with England on the basis of such a tissue of misstatements can only lead to trouble"
 The Daily Telegraph says: "If the admiral believes his own story all that can be said is that the sooner he re- turns home and is looked after. the better 1t will be for himself. his fam Iy and his country"
 These extracts we'll represent the opinion of the country and press. The fact that the Baltic squadron appears to have fired on vessels of various ua- tionalities is regarded as proving that It's officers were in a condition of ner- vous panic. rendering the squadron a danger to the worlds commerce.
 According to The Daily Telegraph's St. Petersburg correspondent Admiral Rojestvensky received from the admi- ralty in code secret instructions not only authorizing but obliging him to fire upon all ships approaching toe close or otherwise arousng suspicion but that foreign governments were