The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-28

| nately, as II turned out. the advice gave wa
rejected By Gen. Mercler. then Minister OF War
was asked to give my opinion about trans
port in general. and I first asked how mani
white men would take part IN the expedition
and inquired how the transport OF supple,
5000 iron carts. drawn by mules. would b.
| used for tho service. pointed out that the use
OF such carts would be absolute madness. as
knew by my own experience how easily iron
| carts are broken. and how Impossible II
| is to repair them. and added that
| under the circumstances the army would
never be able to 60 forward unless q road
was made. then inquired how the soldiers
knapsacks would be carried. and General
Duchesne. the oomman der -ehef OF the ex-
pedition. to whom put this question. replied
that of course the mon would carry them
themselves In that CASE 1 said. you may
reckon that one-half Of your force will have
died within six months Of their landing In
Madagascar
Tho General said that II was all nonsense
that the mon had carried their knapsacks In
the Tonkin war, and could do 90 quite well In
Madagascar.
NY prediction unfortunately turned out
perfectly correct. and nearly six thousand men
died within six months OF the beginning OF the
operations. A road had TO be made for tho iron
carts. and II the natives had not proved arrant
oowards, the war would have ended In fright
full disaster. II was only due to the untring
energy OF Colonel Bailloud. who was in charge
OF the transport. that tho troops were enabled
to receive any supplies."
Some curious instances are given OF the
jealousy which existed between the army and
navy. This 10 how d. Decle sums up Of the
military force Of France:
Yet how does tho case really standi Are
these armed multitudes as formidable as mere
arithmetic would have US Think France. for
instance. prides herself upon being o. BILE to put
In the fold millions OF trained men. What
does this boast amount TOT Upon the outbreak
OF war. In these days OF rapid moblliza-
ton. much - perhaps all - would depend
upon the troops first In the field. And
these troops. upon whose behavior In the
brunt OF sudden battle tho salvation OF their
country might depend. would be-not q body
OF well-trained fighting men, leavened with
veterans. and relying on their leaders with
glad confldsnce-but . crowd Of half-tauRht
lads. lacking In thsws as well as training. and
lsd-or driven-to battle by officers whom
citherthey have never seen until the day OF
conflict. or whom they know-and hate.
AS for the Reserves. suffice IL to say that
officers OF the active Army refuse to regard
them seriously, and consider them merely In
the light OF civilians playing at soldering. Tho
officers OF the deserves flor the most part
promoted privates) have received no military
education worthy OF the name. The non-com-
missloned officers aud men consider the m onth
they have to serve every other year q hateful
episode. Awkward In their unacoustomed
uniforms. they do not even look like soldiers.
and 1t would take months Of training to con-
vert them into such once more. In point Of
efficiency they are OF course. far inferior to our
volunteers"
But behind these stands yet another line
OF defenee'-the territorial army and It's re-
serye-an army composed OF men who have Q
faint recollection that they once were drilled.
There 10 something pathetic. as well as ABB
surd. in picturng these middle-aged citizens
In time Of war. clad In antiquated uniforms,
handling unaccustomed weapons. and palm
fully. II conscientiously. struggling to acquire
a knowledge OF new regulations and modern
drill. To sum all up. 1t may be true that Provi-
dence Is still on the side OF the big battaliona.
but chiefly. we think. when those battalions
are we'll differed. we'll trained and animated
with all the virtues Of the soldiers"
Mrs. Sara Lane. proprietress Of the Britannia
Theatre. Hoxton. and the oldest mnnagaress In
London. who died thisweek In her 10th year.
enjoy ed the distinction Of having chung to one
theatre all her life: OF never sending out
' travelling company; OF having kept her
house open all the year round sixty years. and
Of having been its sole controller for more
is essentially a local theatre, always worked by
a stock company" and as independent with
out a subsidy as any Theatre in any
German town.
The Britannia Theatre. like most Of the
saloon theatres" began in a tea garden"
Its proprietor. Mr.. Lane llonR since dead).
began business In Shoreditch. but at the
Union Hail." or saloon. he came in collision
with the patent theatre monopolists. and for
the terrible crime OF performing a mutilated
version Of "Othello." the whole com pany. band.
actors. and man ayers were marched through
the streets to Worship street police court.
housed in the court. even on the judgment seat.
for want Of room. and fined and reproved In
the morning At last he got regular license
and his widow steadily accumulated an enor-
nous fortune by catering for tho East Enders
the full bloodod drama that they liked best.
In It's day the britannia has covered prac-
tically tho entire raage o! sensational drama.
while not forgetting Shakespeare. Here
might have been seen such comparatively I'M
familiar works as The Vampires; or. The
Bride Of tho Isles" and The Ocean OF Life or.
Every Inoh Sailor" Here The Torrent OF
the Valley: or. The Dumb Boy Of Italy"
found responsive roar from enthusiastic
admirera- Here Tho Red Rover; or. The
Mutiny OF the Carolina" was not to be de-
splsed. Antony and Cleopatra" rubbed
with Jack Long Of Texas; or. The
Shot In tho Eye" and Richard Ill.,"
did not disdain to consort In the same
bill with Sweeney Todd; or. Tho De-
mon Barber of Fleet Street." II "Abelard
and Heloise; or The Guardian. the Scholar
and the Nun proved little depressing. The
Spectre bridegroom and a variety entertain
ment were at hand to cheer you up; and
should "Zambuca; or The Net maker and his |
Wife" seem oppresslvely classical. Ell Hyder;
or. the Chief OF the Ghaut Mountains was |
certain to arouse sympathy. " The Gondoller;
or. The Three Banished Men OF Italy" might |
not have suited all markets. 1t was quito in
the line OF HoXtOnites, who revelled In Tho |
Island Of Silver Store; or The Wild Horde OF
The VOLTS Lair" Did anyone point the finger
of seorn at "Glendwr Of Mount Snow
don; or. Tho Rock OF Death" 1t was
not the horny-handsd son OF toll In northeast
London. The Pirate OF ARters or st. MAry'a