The morning call., 1893-03-26
NOTHING BUT WAR.
That Is all Europe Can
Talk About.
1T IS A GREAT ARMED CAMP
Why Such Tremendous Interest Is
Taken in the Invention of Bull
let-Proof Armor.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

New YORK, March 25.-Harold Frederic
cables the Times from London: The essen
TALLY military conditions under which
Europe lives from month to month, always
drilling new soldiers, always keeping an ear
alert for the beating of war drums. was ex-
empliied by the sensational prominencs
given in the whole Old World to the alleged
discovery of a bulet-proof material for
soldiers euirasses. Such long and differing
accounts of 1t come from Germany that
it is difficult TO say exactly how
well the invention has been tested
or how much it resembles the familiar
Austrian device patented in all countries
several years ago by Viennese engineer
Karl Scarned. This armor was cf un-
dressed hemp stitched together and then
put under hydraulic pressure. Specimens
of 1t may still be seen in Vienna with the
bullets fattened and twisted as they were
fired into 1t in the official tests. The trial
then resulted in decision that it was use
less in time of war. and when the inventor
relieved his feelings by appropriate remarks
he got month in prison for insulting the
Austrian Emperor.
1t seems likely from the descriptions that
the new Mannheim invention is much the
same thing, but with the addition of wire
netting. 1t is stated to-day that a Berlin
firm has succeeded in buying the invention
for huge sum. but il it is really useful the
German Government will undoubtedly take
1t over and do all 1t can to keep the trick of
its composition secret. At all events the
report OF such discovery easily takes pre-
cedence over all other topics in the Euro
pean mind.
1t IS fair inference that there is some
connection between the revived activity in
nihilist circles and the shooting OF Alex
len, Mayor OF Moscow, in the Town Hall
on Tuesday. Il is impossible 10 obtain any
public news abOutthe event, or about the
personality of the man who did the deed,
and now there is no one left in Moscow
from whom Lean get letter through.
AleXef was burly. swarthy sort OF Jim
Fisk. with great wealth and no end of osten-
tatiouS swagger and much rude pushing
power. Although belonging 10 the mer-
camille classes he managed 10 cut
bigger dash than any Of the old mobiles in
Moscow, and he gradually showed them
aside by dint of his energy and cheek, until
he was perhaps the most prominent COM
moner in the Interior of the empire. Un-
der the former reign, when that sort of
thing was desirable. he was a great pro-
fessed friend Of the Jews, and he added his
signatures 10 that of MoscoW's Chamber Of
Commerce. protesting in 1880 against
the threatened Judenhetze. But imme-
diately the new Gar showed a different
spirit, Alexpff became the bitterest, most
active and implacable Jew-baiter in all Rus
sia, and he was largely responsible for the
fact that persecution assumed the most ter
rible and tragic aspect In Moscow. He was
also vehemently a psn-siaYst and made
celebrated speech about RussIa's never
resting till the Greek cross should rise again
on the dome OF Mosque at ST. Sophia. This
said, the present Gar thought he was tre-
mendous fellow and intended to elevate
him to the nobility.
Speculation has been busy all the week
with Langtry's prospects. of inheriting some
of Bard's millions. She raced back to
London from her Mediterranean yachting
tour with the utmost speed when she heard
the news Of his death, but except to law
yers she has been at home to nobody since
Her biz costly mansion in Pont street is be-
lieved 10 be in her own name, though Abing-
doD's right to smash the furniture used to
be recognized. She used to have a good
deal Of other property, but her annual ex-
penditure was S250.000, and the rapacity of
the gang about her swept this away and put
her in debt instead.
A curious statement came to me the
other day from the lips Of a Cabinet Min
lister. l mention the source simply because
person of less respon sibility might be
supposed TO be talking at random The
statement was that William Waldorf Astor
is transferring as rapidly as possible all
classes of investments from New York to
London, and that he is going to become
an English subject. Presnma bly, this latter
is surmise, but about the property l am
assured there Is no doubt whatever. This
would explain his whimsical purchase of
the Pail Mall Gazette, which not even his
money can prevent now from being dull
and amateurish 10 a degree and his found
ing of a new monthly magazine, to begin in
May under the joint editorship of Sir
Douglas Straight and Lord Frederick HAM
ilton. Neither of these gentleman know
anything about running a magazine or
about much else, for that matter, but they
both have very good form socially aud may
be trusted 10 get through their share of this
fortuitous transatlantic windfal with
p0liteness and dispatch.