NE WS OF THE WEEK.
Sultan had not yielded on Friday afternoon. This, however, does not show that he will not yield, for previous experience proves that he is a believer in eleventh- hour repentances. It is possible, too, that he may prefer not to yield till actual force has been applied, and he is thus able to plead paramount necessity to the aggressive Mohammedans whose action be has of late been encouraging. Meantime, a powerful British fleet lies in Phalerum Bay with steam up, ready the moment the ultimatum expires to carry out the orders already in the Admiral's hands ; while another strong squadron is at Port Said, prepared to do whatever is necessary to protect the Suez Canal, or to operate on the Turkish flanks should the Turks be mad enough to attempt an advance along the El Arish route. The calm and thoroughness with which British naval force is always ready to be applied is most impressive. With the more general aspects of the situation we have dealt elsewhere.
