The Portland daily press., 1888-05-12
ENGLAND NOT DEFENCELESS.
Salisbury Creates a Sensation by
upbraidIng Gen. Wolseley.
France Not Disposed to Make Trou-
BILE with America.
A Patriotic sIlesian's impracticable
Offer to the Emperor.

LONDON. May 11.-In the Lords today,
Viscount Harding asked what truth there
was in the report that England was in de-
fenceless condition. The Duke oil Cam
bridge, commander of the forces, denied that
the country was in imminent danger. The
government was fully alive to the import
ance Of reforming and strengthening the de-
fensiye forces, and were considering kthe
means by which this should be done.
Lord Salisbury protested against the pre-
vailing impression that, because the govern
ment did not make snowy speeches, its vigi-
faRce slept. Nothing could be more insane
than to- explain to the world England's
strength and the nature oil sliS sslsS precautions
taken. There had been considerable increase
in preparations within recent years, and the
panicky tone pervading the language used
by the military authorities outside the house
was not shared by the government, who
were fully conscious that any disregard Of
national defenees In the present state Of the
world would be very grave derelictiOn Of
duty.
High military authorities were making
statements against the government at public
banquets, where they could not be answered
Gen. Lord Wolseley recently declared that
the reason the army and navy was not as
strong as they ought to be was because Of
the system of government by party, which
was the curse OF England, depriving the
English statesmen Of manly honesty. Lord
Wolseley ought to have made this statement
in the House, where 1t could have been
answered.
In the Commons, Lord George Hamilton,
First Lord of the Admiralty, in answer TO a
question, stated that the Russian fleet in the
Pacific was not equal, either in numbers or
strength, to the British force on the China
station alone.
Lord Salisbury's speech caused sensa-
tion in political and military circles. His
attack upon Wolseley was wholly unexpect-
ed. The general opinion Is that Wolseley
will resign. after replying The Liberals are
which is approved by all the military men,
bers of the Commons.
The Duke of Cambridge, Gen. Wolseley
and other officers held a long private meet
ing in the war office yesterday. 1t is report
ed that they decided to propose to Parlla-
ment Immediately to place the first and sec
ond army corps on a war footing, and issue
magazine rifles to all regular troops.
The Suffering Kaiser.
BERLIN, May 1.-THE Emperor continues
to improve. He remained in his study until
$50 p. m. He tried to walk about the room
with good snccess. He has had periods Of
depression due to weakness from fever in the
past two days. A deaf mute in Silesia has
written to DR.. Mackenzie, offering to sacri-
fee his larynx If it would be possible to
transfer it to the Emperor's throat. DIR. Mac
kenzie replied that the loss of the mans life
would neither help the Emperor nor benefit
science.
France willing to Yield.
PARIS, May ia semi-official note states
that there has been no dispute between the
French and United States governments re-
garding the enrolment Of naturalzed clti-
zens of the United States in the French
army. 1t says that two persons enrolled
whose release the United States demanded,
were accordingly sent home. Another man,
demand of the United States for release. Ii
remains for both governments now TO neg0-
tiate for an amicable understanding for the
adoption Of general legislation concerning