New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALSa
LONDON.
ENGLAND'S CHALLENGE TO THE RUS.
SIAN PEACE PARTY. ,,
PREPARED FOR RECIPROCAL CURTAILMENr
OF NAVAL BRIGHTER OUT
LOOK AS TO CHINA-A NEW
SUNDAY JOURNAL
lBY CABLE TO THE TRrBuNE.I

LOOk AS TO CHlNA-A NEW
SUNDAY JOURNAL
BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNEl
London. March 1.-THE proposals Of the Gov.
ernment for an increase Of the Navy meet with
general approval and are not likely 10 be seri-
ously opposed in Parliament though some hos
tility to the growing expenditure for warlike
services is evnced by section Of the Radicals.
The estimates. IT must be admitted. some-
what Of a surprise: contrary 70 custom. they
were not published before being introduced In
the House Of Commons, though The Times" OF
the morning before managed to get hold Of tho
substance Of them. Considering the fact that
after the regular shipbuildIng programme Of last
year the Government introduced a supple
mentary scheme for the construction OF four
more battle ships and four cruisers few people
expected that the naval budget this year would
show increase Of nearly t3.UOpD0. but Mr..
Goschens explanation is considered adequate.
He based the demand for new ships distinctly
on the ground OF the further increase OF foreign
navies especially that OF Russia. The English
people accept it a fixed article OF policy
that their fleets must be at least equal 10 those
Of the two next Naval Powers. and any Minis
try that show that this principle is being
maintained obtain practically what sums
There Is substantial agreement among infiu-
cnta men Of all parties 10 the great effect
produced on the public mind by Mr.. Goschen's
statement Of naval mobilization last autumn,
during the crisis with France over Fashoda-
This took place without involving any extraordi-
nary expenditure or exert.ons whatever Much
was said the time In Continental newspapers
about the enormous sums avshed by England
on war preparations; the First Lord OF the Ad-
mralty is able to show that nothing OF the sort
happened there was no occasion to hurry for
ward the completion Of ships no frantic haste
to buy ammunition stores at panic prices or
TO enlist men. ships. sailors stores and compile
ments. all were ready. and It was only neces-
sary to move the vessels to their appointed
stations. draft full crews aboard from the re-
serve and guardships, and fill up the magazines
and bunkers. The entire expense was less than
that involved in the manpuVres and partial
mobilization which normally take place every
autumn The whole episode a most valua-
bic lesson to Engshmen ~ the priceless benefit
Of maintaining their maritime insurance at its
fullest efficiency. and there is no doubt that II
has been fully appreciated. The nation Is de"
tormined to retain its superiority at sea at any
cost
The price il Is true. which has To be paid in
money and men is enormous the personnel OF
the British Navy next year will amount TO
10000: in 1856 1t only 5000 The naval
estimates which for lS39-l90o amount TO be"
tween f26rOOW0 and s2I,oOoCoo. were well un-
der fl4 OOOOo0 in 1890. The expenditure on the
maritime services also has nearly as possible
doubled in years. and there has been an
enormous increase in the cost Of the army as
well
But the most striking feature Of Mr.. Goschen'S
x-ffa ttnu
to Russia which it embodied. The First Lord
Of the Admiralty did not attempt TO conceal tho
fact that the large additions to British naval
construction since last years shipbuildng pro-
granln1e was drafted had been due mainly 10 the
measures taken by the Cars Government for
the augmentation of the Russian feet during
the next few years II is the avowed design or
Lord Salisbury and his colleagues to meet every
attempt of rival Powers TO add TO their naval
forces bv an immediate counter-move. so as 10
demonstrate the eventual hopelessness OF such
an attempt II is true. as the figures just given
prove that the match which is being played Is
ruinOusly costly. but at any rate Great Britain
can better afford 10 play 1t than countries whoss
debts are piling up at such an enormous ratio
as those of France and Russia. NeVertheless'
English public men are sincerely anxious to
reduce the burden of armaments. and though
nobody expects much from the Czars peace con-
ference which is 10 meet at The Hague In
Nav. the Government would be very glad to
come 10 a real understanding with Russia on
the subject If it should be possible
Mr. Cioschen's offer to the Russian Governs
ment is not intended as a mere stroke of satire
The First Lord of the Admiralty stated that
Great Britain was prepared to modify her SNIP
building programme If Russia would abandon
Of .attF ma
struction inaugurated last year. This brings
the matter 10 a direct issue. and tests the SIN
cerity Of the Russian disarmament proposals.
Moreover IL really leaves the determination OK
the matter TO "A large extent In the hands or
the St Petersburg statesmen. on the one hand.
England hopes to show the latter that an at
tenpt TO beat her IN the race il futile; on the
other. she is only anxious to keep her normal
distance ahead, and II competitors "il slacken
the pace she is ready To do the same thin9.
II is probable that this remarkable statement
Of Mr. Goschen is meant for Muscovite much
more than for British consumption
The fact is there are two opposing tendencies
now operating 10 control Russian International
nolicv NJ de Wtte the Finance Minister. like
his imperial master. is sincerely anxious TO keep
the empire at peace. perhaps because he
realizes that il is IN no condition az present 10
incur the financial strain Of a great war. so
far from wishing TO inaame rivalry with Eng
land over the Far East TO "a dangerous point. NJ.
de Witte and those who share his views would
prefer to seek frank understanding with her:
but the old aggressive Forward" party is stu
powerful in the Foreign Office. and It's most
ardent champions are Count Muravien. the For
eign Minister and NJ de Giers There Is no
real system of Ministerial responsibility In Rus
sia and the external policy changes from time
to time according one or the other group
feels able To take the initiative.
The menacing attitude OF the Russian Minis
fer AZ Peking over the Northern Railway con-
cessIon which caused something like a war