The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1899-10-19
Washington Letter.


Individually officers of this government
are at liberty to entertain any views they
please concerning the war between Great
Britain and the Transvaal Republic, but
officially they must be strictly neutral,
that being the position which the U. s.
government has assumed and will main
tain during the war. Our consuls will
look after the interests of British citizens
In South Africa, but that has no signi-
ficance, being only a return of the courtesy
extended to US by British consuls in Cuba,
during our war with Spain. The move
ments of the war have been followed with
great interest In Washington. There are
open sympathizers for both sides, but
there Is only one opinion as to the ulti-
mate result. The Beers may win VIC
tories for time, while Great Britain is
massing its troops, but in the end their
defeat and the wiping out of their govern
ment Is regarded as a certainty.
War department officials express salts
faction with the results of the military
movements In the Philippines during the
week just closed, and are very confidently
predicting an early collapse Of the rebel
lion, after the regular campaign gets
started.
Those who believe that the government
should carry kilograms just as it now car
ries letters would be delighted to hear
Mr.. d. Tamaki, who is engineer of the
imperial department of communication of
Japan, and who is now visiting Washing
ton, talk about the successful manage
ment Of the telegraph and telephone lines
Of Japan by the government. He said {:
"Government ownership and control of all
the agencies of communication Is prefer
able to private ownership. In this modern
age, correspondence by wire Is as neces-
sary as by letter, and there is no reason
why the telegraph should not be re-
garded as properly coming within the
scope of governmental operations. We
have first-rate system in Japan, which,
being small and compact country, is
easily served by wire. There are $50
stations, and the cost in your money is a
little more than one cent word"
That the administration means business
In hurrying war ships to the Philippines
was shown by the extraordinary action of
the navy department in the case of the
cruiser New Orleans, which was one of
the ships ordered to Manila on Admiral
Dewey's recommendation that the naval
force over there should be strengthened
as much as possible. When the order for
the New Orleans to proceed to Manila
was first issued, Capt. Longnecker and
other officers of that vessel reported that
two months would be required to over
haul the machinery of the cruiser before
she could start. Later, those officers re-
ported that the work could be done In a
month. That did not satisfy the depart
ment, and Rear Admiral Rogers was
appointed president of board of naval
officers to inspect the New Orleans. AS
result of that inspection, peremptory
orders were issued for the New Orleans to
start for Manila, not later than the 10Th
inst. That was very unusual proceed
Ing, as 1t Is customary to accept reports
from the commanders of vessels upon
their condition, and it is regarded as q
hint to other officers that unnecessary de-
lays will not be countenanced by the de-
partment.
Whether the war between Great Britain
and the Transvaal Republic had anything
to do with Canada's acceptance of the
temporary Alaskan boundary, agreed
upon some weeks ago by the U. s. and
Great Britain, is question upon. which
there are difference Of opinion, but mas.
much as the temporary boundary agreed
upon is much more favorable to the CON