Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-11-09


tween Great Britain and Russia look
ing to settlement Of the North Sea
affair are progressing favorably and
there Is not the slightest danger
Of any friction arising between the
two governments. The constitution
Of the international commission under
The Hague convention is on the
verge Of settlement.
In spite of these specific conditions,
Great Britain experienced war
panic. Not for years have so many
alarmist reports and flaming extras
flooded London. The most cXtraor-
binary feature Of this scare is there
was not one single circumstance to
justify it. The excitement started
early in the day, when newspapers an
nounced the departure of the Russian
Baltic squadron from Vigo. The pub
lie were not in possession Of the in
formation cabled by the Associated
Press that only the officers concerned
In the firing ON the British trawlers
would be detached, and jumped at
the conclusion that Russia had bro.
ken faith by not OBTAINING tho yes
sells involved in the affair On top OF
this came wild reports of tremendous
activity at Gibraltar. Hour by hour
the news from Gibraltar became more
serious, until at last the climax was
reached with the announcement that
the British fleet had cleared for ac-
ton. In huge type the papers made
the parallel statements. THE Russian
Fleet Has Sailed"-"The British Fleet
Has Cleared for Action" No news
paper, no person seemed able to eX-
plain these events.
The news from Gibraltar became
more and more alarmst. Ambassa.
dor Benkendorff was quietly discuss
Ing with Foreign Minister Lansdowne
the personnel of the International
commission, but it was populagly I'll.
mored that he. was receiving an ulti-
matum. Premier Balfour, Admiral
Sir John Fisher, commander.in.c chief
at Portsmouth; Lord Selbornc. First
Lord of the Admiralty. and Prince
Louis Of Battenburg, Director of Ma.
val Intelligence, were all in the con-
ference, and it was openly limited that
they were planning the first stroke Of
war. AS u matter of fact, they, like
Lord LansdoWne, were engaged in
considering names that had been sug-
gested for the international commits
sion. When all London was in this
state OF mind the Foreign Office de-
cided TO adopt q course most unusual
for 1t, and in order TO allay the pub
lie excitement, gave out to tho press
the following statement:
Before the Russian feet left Vigo
instructions were given to the Rus.
sian admiral with the view to prevent
ing injury or Inconvenience to neutral
shipping during the passage of the
Russian fleet TO the Far East. In /,
-eampliance with sRHssiassavsengagss.
merit four RussiaS officers have been
left behind at Vigo. The two govern
ments arc now, discussing the terms
with reference to the international
commission, which will be entrusted
with the enquiry"
The Foreign Office is intensely ir.
ritated at the construction placed up
en- what they declare must have been
mere fleet and garrison exercises.
The Associated Press is authorized to
state that no orders have been given
the huge fleet now concentrated at
Gibraltar to make any preparations in
connection with the departure Of Ad.
miral Rojestvensky's squadron.
Both the Russian embassy and the
Foreign Office affirm that the nego.
tiations were entirely confined to the
selection of the international commits.
sion, in winch no hitch has occurred
The admiralty late this evening re-
fused to discuss the reports of activity
at Gibraltar, but it was intimated that
the movem ents were part of a pre-
arranged plan rather than the result
of orders following the announcement
OF departure of the Russian squadron
tYom Vigo.
Ambassador Benkendorff had
most cordial interview with the King,
who, It Is understood, expressed for
transmission to st. Petersburg his
satisfaction at the present method Of
settling the dispute.