War Scare in Australia

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 143, 3 July 1888, Page 2

War Scare in Australia

By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright. ( PEE UNITED PBEBB ASSOCIATION. J Melbottbhe, July 1. Throughout the whole of this day great excitement has been prevalent in the city, it being thought that war had broken out. The excitement evidently originated owing to the sudden interruption of the two cables between Fort Darwin and Banjoewongi. It was currently reported that war had broken out, and the authorities here have wired to Admiral Fairfax, of H.M.S. Nelson, who is at present at Brisbane, on the subject. The Governor held a council of war to-day. The result of the deliberations was that the gunboat Albert was sent to the Heads on patrol duty, and the remainder of the fleet got up steam and was placed in fighting trim. The Naval and Submarine Torpedo Corps and Eeserves were called out and ordered on board their respective vessels. Submarine mines were laid down, and the electric light was kept going all night. July 2. The scare resulting from the break in the cables is subsiding. The Government state that they merely used the occasion as a pretext for testing the alactrty of the forces. Adelaide, July 2. The breakage of the cables gave rise to great uneasiness here. A belief is growing that the snapping of the cables was the work of the Chinese as a preliminary retaliation for the restrictive legislation. A council of war was held, and the gunboat Protector was placed in fighting trim. The members of the Permanent Force were ordered to remain in barracks and at the forts. Syenet, July 2. The New South "Wales Government feel no alarm at the sudden interruption of the cables.