The San Francisco call., 1896-04-05
Absolute Friendliness Toward
England the Latest Attitude
of the Emperor.
TANGLED TRANsvAAL AFFAIRS
Duels Declared to Be Nails in the
Coffin of the Existing Social
System.

BERLIN, GERMANY, April A recent
development of the Governments policy
has created feeling of serious alarm
within the German diplomatic circle,
where the tendency of the policy of the
Government is best known. while Mar
schall Won Bieberstein, Minister of For
eign Affairs, is inspiring the Cologne Ga
zette and the Hamburg Correspondent
to declare that the Government policy re-
mains strictly the same as it was recently
proclaimed in the Reichstag. Well-in-
formed opinion outside of Government cir
cles can only discern deplorable vacila-
ton instead of the firmness and decision
which the Government authorities affect.
The Emperors telegram of congratula-
ton to President Kruger of the Transvaal
Republic, which was supposed to be a dec
laration of an anti-English policy on the
part of Germany in South Africa, received
the spontaneous assent of all Germany
Now the Govern ment has adopted line
of absolute friendliness toward England
and is supporting the Egyptian expedition
up the valley of the Nile, and also seems
to be doubtful in regard to affording pro-
lection to the Transvaal republic against
British encroachments.
The Ham burg Correspondent, as quoted
in the North German Gazette, says that
Germany does not desire any protectorate
over the Transvaal, and adds that if Presi-
dent Kruger makes an appeal to the
powers against Great Britain's coercion
DIR. Leyds, the Transvaal Secretary of
State, is in position to say whether or
not that appeal would be in vain. Every
body who reads would accept it as an.
nouncing the fact that DR.. Lsyds has re-
ceived no assurance that Germany would
actively intervene in behalf of the Trans
vaal should Great Britain attem pt coerciye
measures.
The North German Gazette gives equal
prominence to an article reproduced from
the Hamburg Nachrichten, Prince Bis
marck's organ, saying that the notion of
war between Germany and England on ac-
count of the Transvaal republic is a mere
bugbear to be set up before the general
world, the situation offering ample oppor-
tunlty for German diplomacy to thwart
the English attempts to obtain monopoly
of South Africa without resort to fighting.
These uncertain pronouncements, how
ever, do not meet the approval of the
press generally. The Vossisehe Zeitung
holds that an English policy of adventure
in the Transvaal would unchain the
tempest and would certainly result in the
intervention of the powers.
The National Zeitung says: 'tGreat Brit
ain must accept the German view of South
African affairs or face imminent danger" J"
The Lokal Anzeiger predicts that coali-
ton of the South African States will be
formed against England which will result
In the interference of the powers. The un-
ceasing feud between Freiherr Marschall
Won Bieberstein, Minister of Foreign AZ
fairs, and DIR. Mibuel, Prussian Minister of
Finance, receives further accentuation in
the renewed attacks of the Foreign Minis
ter's organ upon DR.. M iouel, denouncing
his recent speech in the Herrehaus in crit
icism of the resolution passed by the Reich
stag adverse to his financial policy. DR..
Miquers opponents accuse HIM of incitine
Rrussian antagonism against the imperial
measure by describing how seriously
Prussian interests are affianced thereby
while the adherents of Miguel charge that
Count Posadowski-We Weinar, Minister of the
Imperial Treasury, and Freiherr Marschall
Won Bieberstein are endangering the re-
lations of the federated States bv meas
ures restricting their financial liberty.
The inner side of the conflict is the cues.
ton which of the two Ministers will re-
tain power through the Fmperors conf
dence. DR.. MIGUEL. with scheme for pro-
viding the money which the Kaiser wants
for the purpose of increasing the strength
OF the navy, has the pull.
Lieutenant Won Kettleshodt, who killed
Lawyer Zenker in duel near Potsdam on
March 26 and was thereafter arrested bv
order of the Emperor, has been released as
the result of an official inquiry into the
circumstances OF the meeting. The lieu
tenant has not been permitted to return
to his post as second officer of the imperial
yacht Hohenzollern, but the Emperor will
permit him to join the corps of marine in
spectors. Public discussion of the death
of Herr Zenker at the hands of Lieutenant
Won Kettleshodt has not yet abated. At
Bantzen few days ago Colonel Won
Schwanewade challenged doctor named
Rohr for writing articles against the new
Saxon electoral law. General Schulz and
Colonel Steindorff waited upon Dr.. Rohr
and presented the challenge, but Rohr de-
clined to receive it, saying that he could
not recognize Colonel gon Schwanewade's s
right to shoot him because b e (Rohr) hap
pened to differ with him in their opinion
Of public measure.
In the same town this week Lieutenant
Lindermann had his leg amputated as the
result of receiving therein ball from DR..
Schredel's pistol in duel growing out OF
the Won Kotze court scandal. The affair
is made more notable from the fact that
while Lieutenant Lindermann is lying in
the hospital with his leg cut off as the re-
suit of a duel fought in 1895, he wanted to
fight Master of Ceremonies Won Schrader.
but his friends prevailed upon him TO post.
pone his shooting of Won Schrader until
after Easter.
The Vorwaerts. the socialistic organ. in
commenting on the society duel, says:
"These affairs are grist for our mill. and
each one is a nail in the coffin of the exist
ing social system. Let these gentlemen
continue to shoot each other, although
none of them is worth wasting powder
on"
The North German Gazette reaches the
conclusion, from study Of the situation