THE HOME AND FOREIGN OUTLOOK.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9384, 10 March 1898, Page 3

THE HOME AND FOREIGN OUTLOOK.

r T Great Britain and the Defences.

A Big Vote. (Bjr Electric Telegraph — Copyright.) (Per United Press Association.) (Received March 10, at 9.40 a.m.) London, March 9. The Kavy estimates submitted in the House of Commons proposed a vote amounting to £23,778,000. It is proposed to construct three new battleships, four cruisers, four bloops of war, and increase the personnel of the Navy by 6340 men. The total number of war vessels in course of construction in 1898-99 will be 12 battleships, 32 cruisers and 41 torpedoes. Owing to the recent engineers' strike four battleships and two cruisers, authorised to be built, have not been commenced. The effeot of the strike has done much to retard the work of other vessels. H.M.S. Hermione has been ordered to China to reinforce the British squalron. It is considered significant that the Queen entertained Baron Courcel, French Ambassador, and Sir Thomas Sanderson, Permanent Under-Secretary of the Foreign Office, at dinner in the absence of Lord Salisbury, who is suffering from influenza. The Queen's indisposition is not serious. Sir Claude Macdonald, Biitish Ambassador at Pekin, practically confirms the Times cablegram with regard to the menacing attitude of Russia and the threatened invasion of Manchuria. Tokio, March 9. There is great excitement in Japan, and the Government threatens to adopt a vigorous line of action. Washington, March 9. The American authorities have ordered a naval official to' visjt Britain and Erance to 'inspect the various warships offered for saje^ Ktt ' Pekjn, Maroh 9. The Chinese Government has signed the assurance demanded by the Japanese Minister at Pekin that the war indemnity will be paid by May. The Corean Cabinet has decided to impeach Nun Chong Mohk, Minister for Foreign Affairs for leasing December Island to Eussia for a coaling station. St. Petersburg, March 9. The Chinese Minister at St. Petersburg is negotiating for a settlement of Russian demands. Berlin, March 9. The Tagblatt states that China will lease Port Arthur and Talienwan Bay to Eussia for 99 years.