GREAT ON THE VERGE OF WAR.

Thames Star, Volume XXXXI, Issue 10451, 28 October 1904, Page 2

GREAT ON THE VERGE OF WAR.

AN ULTIMATUM ISSUED TO RUSSIA. England's Demands Must bs Agreed To. RUSSIA. GIVEN 24 HOURS NOTICE. Great Activity in British Arsenals. Bomb Ships and Cruisers Being Equipped Britisn Squadrons Lying In Wait. (Per United Press Association.)' Our cables to-day explain the silence of the Biitish Government as to their attitude on tho outrage committed! by the Russian Baltic squadron on tho English fishing, fleet, in tho North Sea. An. ultimatum* has been issued to Russia, that the demands of Great Britain must bo aceeeded to. and 2-1- hours' notice haw been given. -Tho tinici expires «>ti 12 o'elodk to-night (.Xb«' Zealand's time) and the British Cabinet, will meet immediately after. Thisi means that, unless Russia agrees to* the conditions war will bo declared- The publication of the* official news has naturally created intense excitement throughout. Groat Britain and that excitement will to-day unread to the colonies 1, when the news becomes public. There is feverish activity at Home. The arsenals are equipping the bomb ships, and cruiser.-;, while the various squadrons are taking up positions in the event of hostilities occurring. Tho Channel, Home, and Mediterranean fleets■ are all on the move, while battleship* and cruisers are lying in wait for the Baltici fleet, which' is also being ■shadowed by English vessels.