New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-28
BRITISH TOPICS.
NOTES FROM LONDON.

IRON THE REGCLAR coRREsPcNDESr OF TIE rRIpCSI.l
LONDON, April 10.-It would be difficult to affirm
that Parliament offered anything of political inter
est resuming work after its Easter vacation. Its
first night was devoted TO Guns. There is perhaps
hardly a subject in which the civilized world IL
more interested; unless il be Ships and the two go
together. England in particular is dependent on
the two for her existence. Whether she has any
good ships of iron is question which somebody asks
at least once year. The present Naval Minister
said she had only phantom feet, but afterward
took it back again, and il is time since there
has been any serious scare about the navy. II may
be revived by the next discussion about guns, for
the best ships could do nothing but away if they
had DO guns. The Army would be in a similar pre-
dcament, and it is in fact, the army guns princi-
pally which have given rise TO debate.
To state the whole matter in sentence, England
is armed with muzzle-loading artillery, which the
rest of the fighting world has discarded for breech
leaders. To Capt Nolan, Home Rule member for
Galway, an officer of reputation, belongs the credit
of calling attention to the singular position England
occupies Russia he tells us, adopted breech load
ers in 1886, and Prussia did the same, SadOwa
having taught her that the muzzle leaders Of which
proportion up to that time had been retained were
a useless incumbrance. Austria used both kinds till
lately, only last year discovering that the gun OF
which she had hitherto been proud made only one
seventh the number of hits of breech-oading
Krupp at ZOO PAGES, one-eghth at 5000 PAGES and
One-fourth at 900 PAGES. She saw that she would
be simply helpless against Prussia were a new war
to break out. Turkey, Sweden, and Belgium have
all adopted breech-loading artillery. France went
into the last war with muzzie leaders. The returns
showed that only 10 per cent of wounded Prussians
were wounded by artillery fire. against % per cent of
Frenchmen in other words that the Prussan breech-
loading guns were two and half times as
effective as the French muzzle-lOaders. Italy and
Spain have thrown over the old system, while the
United States which, according TO Capt. Nolan, was
practically without a system during the rebellion,
has now adopted breech-loaders for her navy; this
step having been taken the report Of Capt. Simp
son. a naval officer who examined the European sYs-
tens. Among military powers the world over, there
are only China Japan, and Brazil which follow the
English example, and that because they buy their
guns in England. Practically, exclaims Capt. Nolan,
England stands alone in the face Of the military
opinion and example of Europe. What he asks En-
gshmen to infer from this fact is that the majority
is probably ight and the English minority of one
probably wrong. But Englishmen are slow 10 draw
differences of that kind They will be more likely to
be affected by the consideration that they spend
ing some 100000 year on the manufacture Of
muzze-loading guns and projectiles, which will all
be wasted should breeel- loaders be in the end
adopted as Capt Nolan believes they must be. Ii is
only question of time he insists. The time in any
case be long for he tells that it would take
ii years to replace one system by the other
All the Government had to say IN reply did not
amount 10 m.lch. series Of scientific committees
from 1854 to 1871 had reported in favor of the
muzze-losder; the DirectOr-Genera of Naval Ord
nance was ia favor Of them, and an enormous sum
had been spent on them, which would be thrown
away if breech-lOaders shOuld be substituted. By
next year. said the War Secretary this country will
have expended Gf,220, 000-$21, 100, 000-in garri-
son and naval muzEle-oaders. Widch does not seem
to be precisely reason for spending any more when
something better can be had. The conversation
ended in nothing better than an assurance that the
War Office would keep its eyes open. But outside the
House the effect Of Capt Noan's statement is con-
siderable, and here as in so many other cases the
country may resolve on a change while the official
mind is still wondering whether it is necessary TO
begin TO think about it.
The hero of the hour is Mr.. serieant Balantine.
His successful-for 1t is practically successfu-de-
tense of the Guikwar of BarOda has more than re-
stored whatever prestige he may have lost from his
connection with the losing side in the TichbOrne
cause In India he is looked upon by the natives
man who has overthrown the English Government
in a conflict where the whole power Of the Govern
ment was brought to bear against native Prince.
In England il Is of only his professional re-
nown which is enhanced, but the circumstances are
so peculiar that they will be long remembered He
went TO India at a moments notice, tempted by
fee which, large as it is, would scarcely have been
large enough TO secure his services five years ago.
He was to have $4,000 for a journey of three
months IL was said at the time that an effort was
first made to retain Mr.. Hawkins. That eminent
barrister declined, because no fee could compensate
him for the loss of practice which would follow so
long an absence. SERGEANT Balantine is reported TO
have lost portion CT his from the mere length OF
time during which he was occupied IN the TichbOrne
business. English habits are peculiar When
attorneys and clients find they cannot
get the man they prefer in a particular
cause they must necessarily go to some one else The
mischief they are likely keep to the second man,
and the first gradualydrops out of the custom which
has so long been his. This ought to have been true
ii would seem, in Mr.. Hawkins's case well in
Mr. Ballantine's. suppose Mr. Hawkinss wonderful
success brought back his old clients Be that as it
NAV there is no doubt that his great rival has re-
gained all his old fame, and more than all. The
leading journal of England paid him the extraordi
nary compliment of saying that the result OF the
trial would probably have been different but for his
Examination of Col Phayre-the whole OF which
II reprinted The American public has been taking
good deal Of interest lately in the art Of crossex
animation You would perhaps find Mr.. SERGEANT
Ballantine's performance not less mastery than
those of Mr. Evarts and Mr.. Fullerton. / have read
nv share of all three and am not clear which ought
TO be called the subtle the most persuasive, or
the most deadly.
The Prince of Wales, let me say. was good enough
TO come back this week from his brief continent
tai trip in time to appear as he had promised at
IL chnnf schnol in