The daily critic., 1890-08-25
COSTLY MANEUVERS.
ACCIDENTS TO BRITISH WARSHIPS
AT AN IMMENSE COST
The Admiralty Condemned Destroy
ing Food while People starve.
china Getting Rid Of For
eign Employees.

LONDON, Aug est is estimated
that the accidents to various warships
during the recent naval maneuvres
have cost the Government 81 ,2jO 600.
The evolutions were remarkably ua-
fortunate in this respect, some Of the
most extraordinary collisions and other
mishaps occurring, either as the result
Of inefliciency on the part of the men
or faults in the construction Of the
vessels. And, despite the enormous
costliness Of the maneuvres, the naval
journals rldicule the whole affair as a
fasco. No shots we're exchanged, and,
in fact, the opposing sections Of the
feet did not sight each other during
the whole period Of their supposed en-
gagement.
The critics severely condemn the
admiralty for allowing such slovenly
work to be done by the fleet, and on
every side are heard indignant com.
plants of corruption in the bureau Of
naval construction. IL is charged that
the deterioration noticeable in the
service is only the natural and inevitable
effect of the system of iobbery which
prevails at headquarters. The only
chance Of removing the scandal Is de-
clared by many to be TO separate entirely
the constructive from the operative de.
partments, and to make the acceptance
ofvessels constructed by private builders
conditional upon their success in prac.
tical trials.
JUST CAUSE ron INDIGNATION.
"A cry Of indignation has been caused
among the poorer classes by the iiscov.
cry that hundreds Of tons of fish are
destroyed weekly at the Billingsgate
market, In order to enable dealers to
keep up an agreed schedule of prices.
This wanton destruction Of food at a
time when special attention Is being
called to the prevalence Of starvation In
London, causes feeling Of horror
which extends beyond the limits Of the
classes most severely affected, and phil.
anthropists are endeavoring to devise
some means Of removing the barrier
which the fish trust has erected between
the starving people and natures bounty.
INCREASE OF UNIVERSITY CANDIDATES.
There Is large increase In the mum.
Der Of candidates for Oxford University
this year The returns indicate n reac.
tion against the classics and a prefer.
ence for English subjects in the volun.
tary studies.
CHINA DtspLAC1NG FOREIGNERS.
Advices from the East show that the
Chinese, after having employed British
officers to bring their feet up to the de.
sired standard Of efficiency, are now
getting rid Of these officers. Admiral
Lang who has done much 10 make
China a maritime power, has been
driven into resigning, and his place Is
taken by a native commander The
Chinese evidently mean that no Euro.
pean power shall hold q predominant
influence In their military or naval
aifairs. The Chinese now possess a
powerful fleet, and one which, properly
otiicerCd, would prove a formidable
naval antagonist In war with any ma
tion.
HORSE FLESH ALL TIE RAGE.
The cafes In Berlin which openly an.
nouuce the sale of horse meat are
thronged daily. The patrons Of these
places express a great admiration for
equine steak, but earping critics allege
that II Is the price and not the quality
Of the food which attract the Gus
toners
TO VISIT HELIGoLASD.
Baron Wissman and his associate on.
GERS Of the German African colonial
expedition will, after their soiourn In
Berlin, visit Hellgoland In September.