The San Francisco call., 1897-09-26
Recent Incident Show
ing Her Military
Weakness.
London Journals ForeSee War
Between Spain and
Uncle Sam.
The Spectator Urges This Country
to "Slop the Long Agony
of Cuba"

LONDON, Eng, Sept. 25.-The average
Britisher has come to the conclusion that
be is the arbiter of the fate of Europe and
holds the balance of power. 1t must be
confessed that the changed tone of the
Continental politicians and newspaper
writer's from abuses to caresses encourages
this assum ption. Even Prince Bismarck
recently deprecated the constant bad ger
ing and batting of Great Britain by Ger
man statesmen and writers.
AS matters stand, in the event ,of war,
the side securing the assistance of Great
Britain must win. In the meanwhile, it
is evident from the tenor of speech OF
Lord Wolseley, commander-in-chie of the
British forces, at Glasgow on Thursday
last, when the freedom OF that city was
conferred upon him, and from remarks
made b. he Parliamentary Secretary for
the War Office, the Hon. w. st. J. Brod-
erick. the same night that the Govern
ment is preparing TO introduce a scheme
for considerable increase in the strength
of the army. which Will probably call
forth the formation of dozen additional
battalions of infantry and proportionate
addition of cavalry and artillery during
the next session of Parliament.
The warnings have not been sounded
too soon. A telling instance of the mill
tary weakness of Great Britain was af.
forded at Aldershot on Thursday, whsn
the Second Battalion of the Rifle Brigade
left camp for q tour OF the colonial
service, including a sojourn at Vancouver.
Though nominal1y a full battalion, there
were only slightly over 400 men, and the
regiment will have to be re-enforced from
the FIRST Battalion of the Rife Brigade,
which is now on it, way home.
The Spectator, accepting as a facs the
report that the United States has admon-
ished Spain, finds it difficult to think war
can be averted, saving: Apart from that,
pride and ignorance of the consequences
did Spain defy the United States, war is
probably considered 10 be the best way
out of the difficulties. We're the Govern
ment TO propose the abandonme ent OF Cuba
in cold blood it would simply mean hand
ing the country over TO Don Carlos, so
the Govern ment proposes 10 m plOy Amer
lea as the surgeon TO do the necessary am
putation, which Will alone prevent the
Gu ban gangrene from spreading to the
rest of the body polite"
After detailing Spain's iniquities in
Cuba the Spectator continues: ITO pro-
long the war would be a crime. and if
America chooses to stop these hideous
cruelties all Englishmen should applaud
and refuse to inquire too narrowly into
the reason which Influenced her statesmen
in putting pressure upon Spain"
Referring to the objection of "patriotic
Americans to the admission into the
Union of CUBA and Hawaii as States and
the consequent election of Senators by de-
graded populations" the Spectator saws
"America's duty Is to stop the long
agony of Cuba, and if her constitution ad-
mits of her doing so safely the sooner she
amends her constitution so she can hold
her new acquisitions on different foot
ing the better for her and for humanity" )"
The Westminster Gazette says that
efforts are being made to build a railroad
from Eltor to the sum- nit of Mount Sinai
The line passes the cave in which Ell jah
remained hidden while fleeing from the
priests of Baal.
Yachting circles here are in a futter
over the internal revenue authorities sum-
moning the secretary OF the Mersey Yacht
Club for using the cub's flag on the off
cial stationery. The magistrates decided
that the burgee OF the club embossed on
the club notepaper constituted armorial
bearings, ano imposed nominal fine
This is the first case of the Find, and it
will be carried to the highest courts, not
only by the yacht clubs. but by the cricket
and bicycling clubs. Even boys display
ing the device of their schools on their
caps are liable under this ruling to pay an
internal revenue fee.