The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-31

Ece-German Navy Increase Is
Due to Fear of the Political Lead
ers of Great britain.
Copyrighted 10y the Associated Press.
BERLIN, Dec. 30-The South African
war overshadows everything else here.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press has Just had an interesting inter-
view with the liberal leader, DR.. Barth,
who Is one of the most steadfast friends
of Great Britain and America. but who
also cond, INNS this war. Dr. Barth 81 d:
AT present It looks rs If England might
lose the whole of South Africa. I have
private Information from Africa, via II l.
land. according to which the rebellious
movement among the Cape Beers has as
sumed much more serious proportions
than the English newspapers admit
There never was a greater piece of po-
litcal stupidity than that shown by Mr..
Chamberlain in provoking war without
having made the necessary mil .tary prep
arations- If England had only waited a
few years she could have had everything
without war. If England IS totally de-
feated this war Will be the best thing for
the world, even fer England. Ii will be
"A lesson she will not soon forget 1t Will
have wholesome influence upon the
jinsoes Of all countries, including the
Ger man. Our navy scheme, which is al
most sure of adoption, must be undsr-
stood to be In connection with the war
IN South Africa, all fine phases offered
I'm explanation not withstau0ing The in
crease was decided upon because Ger
10 Loo
are shaping Fngland's policy. The bru-
tally of the present English policies rem
ders Germany'S position toe insecure
What happens in the TransvaaI today on
land may happen TO Germany UPON the
sea tomorrow. Distrust of England
makes it necessary for Germany to be
so strong at sea that the English iingoes
VIII think twice before attacking Ger
many If the English statesmen of today
were of the type of Gladstone and Morley.
We should have no concern, but with such
political ack-o'-lanterns as Mr.. Cham
berlain at the helm we do not know
what to expect and must arm for any
eventuality."
The German press, generally, during the
last few days has expressed the opinion
that Great Britain will lose not only the
war but also South Africa \ mil tarv
writer in the Deutsche Mages Zeitung
says:
1t Is no longer a question of whether
England will not subjugate the Boer re-
pubiics. but Of whether he will also lose
cape Colony 1t is true England Will re-
tain the haTbors, for they lie under the
guns of English ships, but the entire in
terror she Will lose. End instead Of the
oreamed-of enormous British South-Af-
rican empire, England will only keep a
the issue of the war If England does not
hurry up and conclude peace"
REFORMS ARE IN ORDER.
From an excellent authority the cor
respondent of the Associated Press hears
that Great Britain has instructed her
minister at The Hague, Sir Henry How
ard, TO sign the peace convention with the
reservation of article 10, all the confer
ence powers having consented to such
reservation.
The new German civil code goes into
effect Jan. l.
The German papers are publishing the
annual and century reviews, the general
tone being satisfaction with the turn
German affairs have taken.
One of the reforms to be carried out
IN 1900 will be in connection with the Ber-
lin criminal police which is grossly in
efficient. The reform will be thorough
distribution of the force Hereafter the
criminal policemen viii be chosen from
civil life, and their number viii be in
creased.
While the weather here has been mod
crate, the reports from elsewhere in Ger
many tell of severe cold A letter car
rier named Luedtke was frozen to death
while on duty at Damnatz and another.
named Anton Baumann, was killed by
the cold at Frankfort-on-the-M Main The
snow lies Fundamentally high in the
mountains
At the royal opera tomorrow night will
take place the first performance of the
fairy opera, king Drosselbart'' the
text by Delmer and the music by Kulen-
kampff
A perfect epidemic of weddings broke
out here, the number of persons married
being six times the ordinary number
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns in government circles that
Germany does not believe the report
that Great Britain intends to take de-
cisive steps soon at Delagoa bay 1t Is
admitted that Germany would be in
formed beforehand if any serious step