The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-11-02
DENIES
RUMORS OF WAR
NOTHING TO THE STORIES
OF A CLASH OF GREAT BRITAIN
AND RUSSIA.

In spite of the Calm Progress of
the Plans for the Arbitrament of
the North Sea Affair Alarming
Reports Reached London and
Caused War TaIk-FIaming Ex-
tras Whetted the PubIic's Excite
ment-Ministers Denied the War
like RumOrs.
London, Nov. Negotiations be-
tween Great Britain and Russia looking
TO a settlement of the North Sea af-
fair are progressing favorably, and
there is not the slightest danger of any
friction arising between the two
governments. The constitution of the in
ternational commission under The
Hague convention is on the verge of
settlement.
In spite of these pacific conditions
Great Britain to-day experienced a
war panic. Not for years have so
many alarmist reports and flaming ex-
tras flooded London. The most ex-
traordinary feature of this scare is
there was not one single circumstance
to justify it. The excitement started
early in the day, when the newspapers
announced the departure of the Rus
sian Baltic squadron from lVigo. The
public were not in possession of the in
formation cabled by the Associated
Press to the United States that only
the officers concerned in the firing on
+ba Pri+isb t,.a 14-Iarc mould he datacl,
ed, and jumped at the conclusion that
Russia had brokn faith by not detain-
ing the vessels involved in the affair.
On top of this came wild reports of
tremendous activity at Gibraltar. Hour
by hour, the news from Gibraltar be-
came more serious. until at last the
climax was reached with the announce
ment that the British fleet had clear
ed for action. In huge type, the papers
made the parallel statements, ''The
Russian fleet has sailed"-"The British
fleet has cleared for action" No news
paper and no person seemed able to
explain these events.
Alarming News from Gibraltar.
The news from Gibraltar became
more and more alarmist. Ambassador
Benkendorff was quietly discussing
with Foreign. Minister Lansdowne the
personnel of the International eommis-
sion, but it was popularity runored
that he was receiving an ultinaatum.
PREMIER Balfour. Admiral Sir John
Fisher, commander-in-ch at Ports
mouth; Lord Selborne, first lord of the
admiralty. and Prince Louis of Bat
tenburg, director of naval Intelligence.
We're all in conference, and it was
openly hinted that they We're planning
the first stroke of war. AS a matter
OF fact they, like Lord Lansdowne,
We're engaged in considering names
that had been suggested for the in
ternational commission.
When all London was in a state of
mind the foreign Office decided to adopt
a course. most unusual for it, and in
order to allay the public excitement
gave out to the press the following
statement:
Before the Russian fleet left Vigo,
Instructions were given to the Rus
sian admiral, with the view to pre-
venting injury or inconvenience to neu-
lral shipping during the passage of the
RUSSIAN fleet to the Far East.
In compliance with Russia's engage
ment four Russian officers have been
left behind at Vigo.
ne Two governments are now dis
cussing the terms with reference to the
International commission which will be
entrusted with the proposed inquiry"
Foreign Onice Irritated.
The Foreign Office is intensely irri-
lated at the construction placed upon
what they declare must have been
mere fleet and garrison exercises. The
associated Press is authorized to state
tndt no orders have been given fha
huge fleet now concentrated at Gibral-
tar TO make any preparations in con-
nectlon with the departure of Admi-
Ial RoJestvenslky's squadron.
Both the Russian embassy and the
Foreign Office affirm that the negotia-
IONS to-day were entirely confined to
the selection of the international COM
red.
The admiralty late this evening re-
used to discuss the reports of activity
at az Gibraltar, but it was intimated that
tne movements were part of a pre-ar-
ranged plan, rather than the result Of
orders following the announcement of
tne departure of the Russian squad
ron from Vigo.
ambassador Benkendorff had most
cordial interview to-day with the King,
Mno' 1t Is understood, expressed for
transmission to st. Petersburg. his
sausfaction at the present method Of
settling the dispute.