New-York tribune., 1899-12-31
LONDON IN WAR TIME
NOTES AND COMMENT FROM THE Bril-
IsH METROPOLIS.

ENGLAND awake TO HER GREAT DEPENDENCE
m, .uEp1cA-EcoNoMIC DEVELOPMENTS.
London Dec 30.-It is strange TO note 'na'
os the New Year dawns for Great Britain the
greatest army she ever put In the heiu ie'''"'''
massive in South Africa. held at bay py '"o VI
the smallest republics on the face OF the eai -"
while at home in spite Of the large 'oiulhe -
trade AMI apparent prosperity, her hna'oi"i III
terests are in state OF instap''S "''
since the Barring crash All Europe Is 5eip'"e
=, her heels and the necessity for Americas $
friendship is recognized on all sides Papers anu
naonle who for years have been ready with
t,ha FOR Americas goodwill no longer make
anv attempt TO belitte the deslrability OF secur-
inc her friendship. America" says ne
ctohs " usually humorous at the expense OF ali
,,,ngs transatlantic, with a wheat crop Oh
h4o 600 600 bushels. is especially In posiuoh
to help US" -,
rho econoroic shoe already begins to pinch
tho military foot Not very seriously. but enough
70 sueeest grave cogitatons as to what "ouia
banpen II Great Britain were at war win
,raat Power The fact that the Government mas
chartered so many transports has resulted IN
r,sa in the price OF bread, while coal Is rlslhs
nv leaps and bounds to famine prices IL u
such unpleasant results these that silence
the scofrer at things American and induce such
n vituperative publication as The SATURDAY
Review" TO say:
The Americans have had their eyes opened TO
the possibilities OF a foreign policy, and are TAX
ing a sounder because n cooler view Oh , the
situation. They are not less friendiy 10 US Ina uIai
before but the nsincere element has been eIlinl-
mated and has left a reliable substratum oI
goodwill.
II must not be inferred that this view Is held
nv many OF the sincere English friends Of Amer
lea. who now point to what they are pleased
to term its great frendliness as proof OF what
they have always maintained.
With such a serious outlook for the coming
year. 1t is hardly surprising that articles appear
under the heading, Are We Decadent?" and
similar strains. On the other hand, here Is still
a small section Of the press and public which
devotes It's energies to senselessly abusing the
Beers and prophesyng the speedy entry OF the
British into Pretoria. Yet, on the whole, the
organs voicing the better class Of opinion face
1900 and it's eventualities in South Africa with
an even minded, unhysterical determination
that compels admiration. That there will be a
day Of reckoning for some one Is certainty
that even the most guarded and conservative
do not try to conceal. Whether 1t be LORD
Lansdowne, Lord Wolseley or General Butler
II is impossible to tell. But all the information
obtainable at present and the gist Of criticisms
point to Lord Lansdowne having to shoulder
the onus for the terrible acknowledgement.
BOERs COUNT ON AMERICA. TOO.
While Great Britain feeds contentedly upon
long special cables showing American friend
ship, the Boer agents in Europe believe senti-
IN has been gradually
turning Boerward. until the time is now ripe
to develop 1t into material effect. Under this
impression, The Associated Press learns that
they are contemplating dispatchng a special
mission TO the United States for the purpose OF
influencing public opinion, possibly by open
meetings and by personally assisting the efforts
OF those in Congress whom they believe friendly.
Moreover, they consider it advisable to offset
what they declare has been a systematic cam
paign OF John Hays Hammond, the American
engineer who was a member of the Johannes
burg Reform Committee. to influence Washing
ton opinion. If the plans now under consdera-
tion are carried out, the mission will include a
prominent Boer agent and a pro-Boer member
of the British Parliament, who intended TO sail
this week, but prevented by what is
thought to be a temporary hitch in the arrange
ments. Their desire is to affiliate themselves
with no particular party, but. by influencing
political and public opinion, to secure at least
offer of mediation from the United States.
The British Government is threatened with
coal famine the most serious development OF
recent weeks Unless the conditions improve
many industrial concerns depending upon the
coal supply may have to suspend operations be-
fore February as their margin of profit is rap
idly being wiped out. The root OF the trouble
appears to be the withdrawal Of so many coll
iers to take their places in the ranks Of the
reserves Wages have gone up, but labor is
hard to find The normal Christmas conges-
ton Of traffic aggravates the situation, while
the Government need of fuel for transports,
war vessels and depots on the way TO the Cape
has created an unprecedented demand.
King Menek Of Abyssinia is soon going to
Cairo as the guest of the Khedive. thus dis
posing Of the stories that he is collecting an
army to invade the SOudan.
Nearly all the military men in Dublin are
wearing mourning for General Roberts's son.
Among the prominent men going to South
Africa is Captain Hoford, who is one OF the
closest friends Of the Prince OF Wales and his
equerry. The Captain sails January to join
his Regiment the 1st Life Guards. From 1SSS
to 1892 Captain Holford was equerry to the late
equerry to the Prince Of Wales. He is wealthy
landowner. and proprietor OF Dorchester House.
London famous for it's picture galleries.
MOURNING AND MARRYING.
The death Of the Duke Of Westminster, COM
bined with the mourning already prevalent on
account Of the war losses. left few Of the titled
families Of Great Britain free to celebrate
Christmas week with the usual festivities. The
Grosvenor family has so many ramihcations
among the nobility and such a large number
Of other tiled people have recently died that one
would almost think the Court was in mourning.
To this condition OF affairs a pathetic paradox
is found in the society news columns which
daily announce a long list Of forthcoming mar
riages, the bridegrooms in a majority OF cases
being soldiers. 1t Is a season OF short engage
ments and sudden deaths. Momentarily ex-
pectlng orders TO sail for South Africa, the Brit
ish officers have apparently taken the oppor