Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-11
LONDON'S WAR SPIRIT
Speedy Assembling of Powerful Naval
Armament.
British Officers to Wear Uniforms
The Anti-German Feeling
In England.

copyrighted 1896, by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, January 1.-Great Britain is
seriously and steadily preparing for war on
q very large scale, at sea and on land,
against Germany OF against Germany,
France and Russia, should they combine
against her. Emperor William threw down
the gauntlet, it was promptly picked up
and energetic steps were Immediately taken
by the British government to back up this
action by most imposing display of sea
power.
The gravity of the situation may be esti-
mated from the fact that it is asserted
that rever before in the history of nations
has there been witnessed SO powerful a
naval armament as will be assembled in
these waters shortly ready for attack or
defense, against Germany or against the
combined powers of Europe. The fleet be-
ing made ready for battle will be composed
exclusively of the very fastest and newest
British warships aficat, and will be ready
Tor sea on Tuesday next, and the entire
channel squa Iron. commanded by Rear Ad-
mlral the Rt Hon. Lord Walter T. Kerr,
with the flagship Majestic, will assemble OF
Portland on January u. The flying squad
ron, which isto be ready for sea next Tues
day. also reinforced by six of the latest
fGilt torpedo boat destroyers, will assemble
for final orders Off Spithead on January 16.
In connection with the prevailing war
spirit here, it is stated that the queen has
expressed the desire that the British army
and navy officers, in future, should wear
their uniforms only, putting away their
civilian clothes for the present, like the Off
GERS of the other European powers, who are
rarely seen In civilian dress even when on
leave of abseace.
In Great Britain 1t has been different.
When officers have been off duty, out cf
quarters or on leave, they have almost in
variably donned civilian attire, reserviag
their uniforms for duty, balls or state furc-
tions All this. it is saiG, will now be
changed, and the clankiDg os spurs, clat-
terins of sabers and rattle of swords will
be heard throughout the land, and in the
fashionable thoroushfares Of the metropolis
there will be bright visions Of red. green,
black and blue, Soi1 and silver, sparkling
steel and glistening accouterments, to the
delight of the fair sex and the envy of the
swells who are not military or naval Off
GERS. All this, of course, will tend to fan
the war flame in Britain and heighten the
spirit of aggression throughout the en-
pire.
how completely the generally Unconditional
Britishers are imbued with the war spirit
how at every public assemblage this week
there has been some little incident or allu-
sion which has provoked a tumult of en-
thuSasm.
For instance, at the Olympic Theater the
other night scene depicted the last stand
of Maj. Wilson and his little band of Brit
surrounded by about 5000 natives, they
fought for three hours. Wilson, in the
midst of a circle of his dead, fired rifles
handed to him by a wounded man, and
when the last cartridge was fire1, taking
off their hats the few survivors sang God
Save the Queen just as the enemy made
the last rush on them and completed the
slaughter. In depicting this exciting event,
actually part of the history of the Mata-
belle war, engineered by DR.. Jameson, oc-
cur the liz eS:
"EngliShmen are not wont to wait when
the lives of their countrymen are in dam
GER
Hardly was this phrase uttered when
there was a cry from Henly Petit, the
dramatist, who was among the audience,
of: Three cheers for DR.. Jim
There was an inStant'S pause and then,
with roar, the packed audience rose ir;
every part of the house and burst out
into frenzied cheering, which lasted for
several minutes, and then all present sang
God Save the Queen"
The feeling against Emperor William per-
sonally ST most bitter, and questions in re-
gard to his name remaining on the army
and navy list are to be asked in parlia-
ment.
denied by the colonel of the regiment, that
the officers of the Royal Dragons, in gar
rison at Dublin. of which corps Emper or
William Is honorary colonel, had burned
his majesty in effigy, it appears that what
really occurred was as follows: In the mess
room hung a big photograph of the en-
peror in the uniform of the Royal Dra-
goons. This photograph, after dinner, was
torn down by number of the young Off
that the German ambassador has taken the
ma ar