The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-19
Copyright, 1897. by the Associated Press.
London Dec 18th 1871

Copyright, 1897 by the Associated Press.
London, Dec. 18th, 1897
The general opinion OF Kiel is voiced
by diplomats remark 1T is a great
pity that Germany, having an easy,
safe and simple, though slightly pratt
cal piece of work OH hand, should not
be able to Perform 1t without setting
the whole world laughing" The papers
are full of comment on the subject
The Times says: '',rhe august utter
ances are worthy of heroes of melo-
drama and would seem high flown to
modern IDEAS if uttered by Phillip IL,
as he dispatched the Armada, or by CO.
dumbus as he started to carry the domin-
ion OF Spain over the oceans. The Kaiser
evoked memories of Metz and Sedan to
encourage Prince Henry to keep n stout
heart as he faces the per!ls of the Sucz
Canal and the terrors of the China seas.
: Prince Henry's peroration was closed
by specimen of almost Byzantine self
abasement unique IN the annals of mod
crn Europe"
The reverse suffered by General West
lnacott's brigade in the Bara Valley
is in the nature of disaster When the
euphenlisms are translated the story
appea:s TO be that the most powerful
force ever sent to the border has been
bundled out OF a F'rediand neck and
crop. On top of this comes the news
that 1t is the intention of Sir William
1ss:khart, the British commandments
chief, to invade the country in another
direction The reasons are obvious.
The government feels that something
must be done forthwith to retrieve
British prestige. The khibe. Pass road,
which the AfrId!s closed about six
months ago, will probably be compare
lively easily opened. In the meantime
the worst impression has been created
IN Great Britain by the rCi:eratinn of
the statement that the rank and file Of
at least four I5gi:ish regiments showed
decided lack of pluck in the presence Of
native regiments. An officer at the
front writes: "The worst is that the
native troops have seen the cowardice
OF their white comrades ana they state
openly that If any Tommy Atkins is
rude to them hereafter, they will ham
mer him, and the awful thing is they
can do so.'
1t 10 obvious that if the natives lose
their respect for British courage, Great
Britain's hold on India is most precari-
Gus. The whole fault seems to lie in
expecting boys 10 do mems work and in
turning them adrift Just when they are
becoming good soldiers The campaign
cannot end before March, and the cost,
fully $S0,OOo 900, will necessita.e the in
tervention Of The British Treasury in
order to avert the bankruptcy of India.
INIItMFIC GOlNGS-ON.
New York, Dec 1S.-rhn Eveninr
Posts copyrighted London cable today
says:
The terrific goinga-on at Kicl, over
Prince Hen:y's departure for China,
have been the all-abso: binS topic with
Englishmen this week. "Pac fear"
says the German national organ I'm
Vienna, will penetrate to John Bulls
marrow as he reads of It," AS matter
of fact, John Bulls first impulse has
been to split his sides with laughter
over farcial melod.ama. such as no
coming Christmas pantomime can hope
to rival.
When the Kaiser talks of "stuking
my only brother" and calls "heavcn to
witness how the German Michael has
firmly planted on Chinese soil the
chield. cmblazoncd with the Imperial
eagle. In order to afford protection once
for all to him who applies for It," the
l1ns'lishmnn rudcly laughs. lie recalls
,thGt the German Michael is the miidcst
hammered of young man. the idol of his
Erardmamnla, VINO is taking whatever
half-seasoncd sailor would regard as
n pleasant cruise with one 1900 ton,
twcnty-ihrce gun. old iron battlcship,
and one 1000 ton cruiser, in order to
secure n coaling station which prac-
tically already has been ccdcd, over
which no che dreams of single shot
being fred. When the same mild man
ncrcd young man apostrophiZes his
own brother with most serene En-
pcror,. most powerful lord, king ana
master, for ever, hoch. hoch. hoch,"
and eulogizcs the gospel OF Your
Alajcsty's haliowcd person." blunt John
Bull seriously asks himself whether
these young people have not altogether
lost their wits.
The Saturday Review to-day builds
up an argument that William, the Wit
less, rs ii used to call him. has now
"Tne stark. staring mad, and 1t Is GER
r,.Re. remembered that, by the