Washington sentinel., 1898-01-08


affords no grounds for the belief that
any European Great Power Is disposed
to give les interests in China a form that
could lead 10 such far-reaching conse-
quences.
THE BRITISH SAILOR AND THE BRITISH
NAVY.
Siren.
II has ever been favorite occuoation
with philosophic spectators to discuss
the pros and cons ofthe conditions which
would or might obtain did we become
engaged IN dispute with some power
ful maritime State. The usual form
which this mental problem takes is
whether or no the British feet would be
sufficient to protect our commerce. and
also If the vessels themselves were
adequate to the task could we obtain
the requisite number OF men to place
the navy on a thoroughly efficient war
footing Now, such brain searching as
this is not only interesting, it Is useful,
for it accustoms the public mind TO grasp
hypothetical situations which some day
or other may be converted into stern
reality. The return recently issued by
the Registrar General of Shipping
throws an important sIdeight on the
number and occupation of the men
engaged IN the British mercantile ma.
rine. and from this data a writer in the
United SsyOrce Nag azige proceeds 10
discuss the extent to which these crews
would be available for the British feet
in case Of emergency.
From the return above mentioned il
IS calculated that there would be en-
ployed or available tor employment, in
the British Merchant Service between
the ages of 10 and IS a iotal OF I7s.8oo
officers and men. In case ofa naval war,
however. all merchant shipping would
not lie up, We world still be dependent
upon y, e. rec supplies OF food and raw
materials. and foreign S.:stomers would
still continue to purchase our maEnfsc-
lures and Goals. There would, OBJ.
viouslY, be a very serious interference
with the transaction OF this commerce,
and the foreign.going sailing vessel par
ticularly would perforce be compelled
to lie snugly in. port. This means that
two and a quarter million tons OF SAL
would remain in enforced idleness until
peace was restored. With regard to
steam tonnage, too, the slow vessels
would necessarily cease running, and
thus the calculation is made that were
we engaged, let us say, with France and
Russia, something like three million
tons Of British shipping would cease to
earn freights. while France and Russia
would each reduce their sea.going tom
mage by 25o, 1000 tons. Assuming,
therefore, that the withdrawal from the
active list would be what we have stated,
there would be available, after the wants
of the merchant tonnage were supplied,
a paper reserve for warships OF 5000
officers and 10000 men, but such figures
as this must be accepted guardedIy, for
granted that a section of our mercantile
ieet continued, or attempted to con.
tinue, its work, il IS obvious that more
hands would be carried, and also that
the enhanced remuneration offering
would ensure that the pick OF the mer-
chant sailors would still be employed ON
merchant vessels.
The next question, of course, which
comes up for settlement is whether this
reserve is adequate, that is. is 1t equal
to the combined forces of France and
Russian The French navy is credited
with personnel OF 10000. and in addi-
ton has reserve of 9o,ooo to fall back
upon, while Russia can boast $1,000 men,
plus a reserve Of 10000. Great Britain,
to meet these possibly hostile forces,
has 100, 600 men in her navy and a reserve
force OF $4,000 That total, il is held,
should be increased to $1,000. This, of
course, could not be done with the tree
hands from the mercantile marine.
There would be almost sufficient sea-
men, but the engineering and artisan
departments Of the short handed war
vessels would show a great shortage.
These calculations, however interesting
they may be, and serving the useful pur.
pose OF approximately indicating the
probable extent to which the royal navy
might IN case OF an emergency recruit
itself from the ranks Of merchant sea-
men, are not altogether profitable or
logical. II is one thing to reckon that
in case OF war a certain number of Brit
ish sailors would be available for service
on war vessels, but il is quite another
thing to guarantee that such service,
even if engaged upon, would be worth
the paying for, save and except proba
tionary period Of special training were
insisted upon The average British tar
is-with sorrow be it said--not so much
OF sailor as his name would seem to
imply Something more than a tempo.
rary sojOurn IN the forecastle is needed
to warrant the bestowal Of the title.
CosMO DE MEDIcI, AS STATESMAN
Consular Journal.
There must have been some strange
force in the family of the Medici, which
enabled them tor three centuries to
make their own history in the history of
Florence. Cosmo was one of the first
who left his stamp on his country, and
handled the men OF MS time to his own
glory and the peoples gain. Cosmos
gifts were backed by immense
wealth, and he exercised over Europe
the influence that money gives. The
AHa~ls-s ..,a~.a s,e.autsaIl., ,,,,uD,r Iar,Ja~c