The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-19
.ITISA WAR OF WORDS
No Bloodshed Reported From London
or Berlin.
WHAT THEY ALL TALK ABOUT
The English Press Is Eiated over
Recent Victories, So-Called-In
Germany They Celebrate
King Williams Day.

lish that the events of the past week
have in no way impaired the prestige
OF Great Britain. The agreement ar
rived at with France regarding Siam is,
for instance. gravely looked upon in
some quarters here as being an excel
lent reply to Emperor williams dis
patch to President Kruger on the re-
suit Of the Transvaal invasion, in spite
of the utterances to the contrary. La
Liberte of Paris on Wednesday had an
interview with NJ. Berthout. the French
minister of foreign affairs, in which he
was quoted as saying: THE Mekong
convention does not modify our exter-
nal policy. The English newspapers
are wilfully mistaken I'm declaring that
England has obtained Frances coop
GRAFTON in the settlement of English
foreign difficulties" Yet. in the face of
this, the newspapers here look upon the
Mekong agreement as being a triumph
for British diplomacy and a slap at
Emperor William. On the other hand
1t was creditably announced to-day
that the Ashantee wars had been ended
with the complete submission OF King
Drempen. and the news is received
with great satisfaction, as II frees
Great Britain's hands from what once
promised to be a troublesome little
war.
The citation of Great Britain's appar-
emily successful issue from a delicate
situation combined with the confidence
aroused by the promptness with which
the naval preparations were carried
out, has given a tone OF cock-sureness
to a portion OF the press and a majority
Of the people The Standard is so elat-
ed that IL talks about Great Britain's
holding her own against any five or six
of the great powers, and thinks 81 a
matter of supreme Indifference as 20
how the powers may group themselves.
The ST. James Gazette. however, strong
ly reproves Englishmen for utter
ing such an opinion, and de-
scribes the remarks of the Standard
as swagger. and asks pertinently II
Great Britain is prepared to take ON
France. Russia Germany, Austria and
the United States, and says: Surely
this Is making a great deal too much
of the fact that we built a few iron
clads and cruisers rapidly during the
last few years"
Although matters look decidedly more
peaceful than they did a week or so ago,
the production of war material here APP
pears TO have been increased rather than
diminished. The stan OF workmen at the
dock yards and arsenals has been in
creased largely and II is looked upon as
being significant and as having a direct
bearing upon the future. that the work.
men have been mostly promised perma-
nent employment. The military authori-
ties have enrolled a large number OF ad-
ditional employees at the government gun
factories and the men are all working
M frtH rvna for
zine rife are being turned out by the mill
lion and enormous quantities OF shells are
being manufactured. The factories are
also turning out as rapidly as possible
large numbers OF field and naval guns and
steps are being taken TO push this branch
Of the defenses very strongly.
Berlin, Jan. 1S-The week has ended
with everyone's thoughts directed to
the imperial anniversary. The excite
ment caused by the Transvaal incident
is gradually abating and the newspa-
pers uniformly express the opinion that
this difficulty will be adjusted by d.
plomacy. although there may be criti-
cal stages of the negotiations. The
anti English spirit. however, which
was aroused by the invasion OF the
Beers survives with full vigor, and N
Is significant that those In political
circles who are IN touch with the gov
eminent have the idea that an openly
anti English policy will henceforth be
followed by Germany. especially In
affairs.
A conservative leader. discussing the
recent complications, said that. in a
which he had had with
the emperor the latter said he had put
himself at the head of a united Eu-
ropean coalition against Great Britain.
and that the threat OF the latter TO
join the zweibund (the so-called alli-
ance between Russia and France) was
laughable. since both OF those countries
stand closer TO Germany to-day than
Great Britain does TO them. Great
Britain's interests. in no part of the
world, his majesty Is said to have con-
tinued. would tally with those of Rus |
STA and France. Besides. with the I'M
tenure of power on the part OF F..
English cabinets and the shifting OF
party control IN England. IL would be
foolish TO effect a binding entente I
with that country.
The Indignation aroused in Germany 4
by the statement published In the Eng 1
lis newspapers that the emperor wrote I
a sort OF excuse Of his recent Trans /
vaal attitude TO his grandmother. 1
Queen Victoria. is easily imagined. 1
The German government newspapers 4
have fully denied the statement during I
the last few days. although IL is not .
denied that letters have passed be-
tween his majesty and the queen. But .
a court official. who is in daily COM
with the emperor. Is au-
thority for the assertion that his mai I
asty's expression OF regret was not for
having sent his memorable dispatch 70
President Kruger. n was for the man
ner in which IL was received and COM
mented upon in Great Britain.
The oleOmargarinc and Kanltz bills
a the re1chstag both touch American