The sun., 1893-12-24
LATEST NEWS FROM EUROPE.
sLADsToNEs ATTITUDE ON NATkL
MATTERS cRITICISKn


Him and the War Scare Increases-sir
Cs-rs-- Dnse Says Enzi.nd i- the Nost
Unpopular OF the Great Powers-Tropbis
Ihre.tened between Turkey and Russia
-opeuinG or the First Section Of the Con-
20 RsiIroad-war on the Buehet shops
Mr.. Cro-bie Permitted TO Retain the Love
Letter, OF IEi- False Sweetheart - An
American Girl Pro-ecutes q Theatrical
svindier-Thsre 10 No Harm In Kissing
the Girls OF Holland on the Streets.
LONDON, Dec. 23.-The action and language
ef the Liberal Government this week have en-
tirely failed to check the popular war scare.
The effect has been, II anything. to increase
che panic It must be said, also. that Glad
atone IL not supported In his present position
'by the solid Liberal party Many OF his fol-
lowers are much dlspleased because he In
sisted upon making imperial defence o party
question.
Il IA generally admitted In the Liberal ranks
THAT the Grand Old Man has suffered serious
loss OF public confidence. which will have dis.
astrous consequences unless Offset by vlgor-
GUS naval policy
The Government was fortunate enough to
escape Thursdays bye election with the loss
of only half OF its majority. 1t is doubtful II
the seat could have been retained II Mr.. Har-
courts retraction OF the statement that the
Lords OF the Admiralty supported the Gov
ernment In saying that naval suprem acy
would be maintained under the present plans
had been made public In time. 1t was this as
sertion in Tuesdays debate which was the
strongest point OF the Government case. The
permanent officers OF the Admiralty compelled
Mr.. Harcourt to withdraw 1t. Indeed. tits fair
no assert that the naval Lords quite agree that
British naval supremacy is fast disappearing.
Hsrcourt's explanation removed entirely
the reassurinR effect OF the Government
speeches. Public feeling 10 heightened by the
report that Harcourt withdrew Tuesdays san
,Euine assertions under pressure OF the threat
ened resignation OF the entire Board OF Sea
Lords.
Many believe that Sir Charles Dixie touched
ths only real reason justifying the war scare
when he said In Tuesdays debate:
The most dangerous illusion any inhabi-
tant OF tho United Kingdom can have is that
we are popular power We are probably the
most unpopular OF the great powers"
1t Is the strong and growing antl-EDglish
sentiment especially In France. which leads
many observers. Ignorant OF state secrets.
to fear that England will soon need all the
naval power she can got. Those seeking
clues to the Intentions OF the possible emo
mics oil Great Britain have their eyes liked
on Constantinople this week. The most
panicky dispatches from the Turkish capital
arc printed In the principal London newspa-
pers. A prominent military authority Is
quoted rs asserting that Constantinople is as
completely at the mercy OF the russians as Il
shs were totally unarmed. Private advices
received to-day say that the tension Is greater
than since the hours just before the conclusion
OF the peace OF San Stefnno In 1878. There 10
added the usual cry OK Wolf! which. go often
repeated no longer alarms. II Is on all
hands believed that the present position 10
Impossible Tor more than few weeks.
Everybody knows that tho Suitan's excuse
Tor not receiving the proposed visit oil the nus
Sian Admiral Avilan few weeks ago was only
protext Tor Keeping the Admiral away from
the capital. 1t Is also admitted that the Rus
sian ships can pass the Bosporus at pleasure
and Join the Mediterranean squadron.
1t Is rather odd that the microbes OF the
naval scare have crossed the Channel and at
tackled tho Frenchmen. though not so violent
y as the English. Cltmencsau's exposure OF
laval defects Is having greater effect than
the Government Is willing to admit. There is
no doubt that he has exaggerated. but many
OF his criticisms are believed by foreign crit
ics to be Just The fact is that all the great,
untriod nHvies OF Europe have serious points
OF weakness. and their strength is quite Irob-
lematicuL This is proved again to-day. when
ono u EnGlands ilnest battle ships, tho lieso-
Lutte assigned to take the place OF the Victoria
In tn" Mediterranean squadron. put back to
Queenstown. unable to face the heayT seas 1t
was feared she would founder. one man was
washed overheard. several were injured and
the damage TO the ship will require repairs
before she sails again.
1t may be assumed that the French Govern
nent will adopt naval defence measures fully
~ vigorous as any Gladstone may recommend
rs soon ~ tho Chamber reassemblos in Janu-
arr
Lord SalisburJ's speech In the uppor House.
during tho debate on Indian finance. is ra-
garded as q definite procurement in favor
OF international bimetallIsm. 1t is POSSIBLY
destined to have momentous consequences
bAngulne bimetalllsts predict the early in
oluslon OF their currency scheme as a plank Of
ths orthodox Tory PLATFORM but that is
scarcely probable until tina numerous Tory
monometalllsts have been converted. The
subject acquired considerable prominence In