The sun., 1900-05-07
THE WEEK IN ENGLAND
Lord Roberts Advance the Main
Topic Of Interest. .,u
WARS END THOUGHT NEAR.
Englishmen Are Eagerly Discussing
American Affairs - Germany's Ag-
gressiveness Our Only Menace,
According to Their Opinion.

awaited movement has thrown open to
the papers and the people, hitherto too
conservative to prognosticate or criticise,
the sluices of free thought Hence the
probable duration of the siege of prcto-
ria, the facilities of the Beers for carry
ing on guerrilla warfare subsequent to
being defeated in decisive engagement
and the possibilities of retaining the colo
mails ana reservists now under arms as
settlers i'll British South Africa are mat
ters of serious speculation
Upon details Of the military strategy
that is to accomplish the putting into ac-
gfi0n of the various theories advanced the
wiscst are silent for the war critics have
hccn so evidently ut sea regarding Lord
Roberts plan of campaign that the staid
wccklies prefer 10 jump ut the result
without deyoting space to prognostca-
tiOnS of the steps to accomplish the same,
}lowevcr celebrated the prophets may he.
Still there is IL widespread feeling that
Abe end will come quicker than expected.
This impression figures not SO much
among the writings of professional critics
who have found themselves SO often
wrong that they are almost afraid of
their own Judgment as among prominent
business men, Stock Exchange leaders
and those in close touch with the govern
ment, majority of f'whom are inclined to
draw a close parallel between the Boer
war and the conquest of the Sudan.
Think War Is Nearly Over.
Keen recolections of General Kitchen
er's long wait before striking any blow
and the rapidity and decision with which
he smote when transport and essentials
mad been organized lead the bulk of the
best British opinion to believe that sim
Ilar plan has been followed in the Free
State, though for fear of being thought
overconfident it is hard to get those hold
ing this idea to express it in print or any
where but in confidential conversation.
Were Lord Wolseley's prophecy that
Lord Roberts will be in Pretoria on May
rs accomplished there would be no undue
eiation or surprise, and there are men
who believe that Sir George Whites
opinion that the war will last only six |
weeks longer may be justified within an
approximate limit 1t is, of course. pos
sible that this hopcfulncss is based chief |
w on the principle that the wish is father
to the thought.
IIopelessly but withal interestingly in
fermingled with the countless war Ques-
tions are matters of American internal
and external policy. These are receiving
a need of notice that delights the heart
OF him who fears that the United States
is, not Il factor in the affairs of Europe.
TheNisit of the Boer delegates is perhaps
sioyc responsible for this phase than any
bfher factor, but Secretary Roots dccla-
Tnti0n for an aggressive Monroe doctrine
comes in for large share of comment,
whilr Admiral Dewcy's candidacy, the
continued troubles in the Philippines and
Ia
n Secretary Roots MOnroeism uttcranccs
are dealt with in long article in The
Spectator which maintains that "thc war
secrctaiy's explanation that he was
speaking academically must not be taken
mo account and that hc deserves praise
Tor speaking as frankly as he did" The
irtielc continues:
NIny Have Trouble With Germany.
.s.No American who takes the trouble
o look the facts in the face can fail to
ee that the doctrine cannot be supported
n tall talk. America must not imagine
hat it She ever goes into Il serious con
roycrSy with great continental power
be will be treated as Lord Salisbury,
yith the full consent of the nation, treat
diner. Here we should dread victory
yer America, supposing we were able to
btain il, only one degree less than de-
eat But it is idle to suppose that the
1ntinental powers, Germany for in
tance, would take such things into con- [
deration granted she wanted to infringe
pom the Monroe doctrine. Germany
ould simply consider whether America [
I'd physical power to maintain it. If
Ie hadn't, Americas historical claims ,
Guild not be held to be worth straw"
The Spectator then goes on to say that ;
Vp0wcr would dream of invading Amer
/ but Germany. The paper adds: For {
stance. the latter country might get in [
dispute with Brazil and prepare to
cupy it's territory. If America should
ish to enforce the Monroe doctrine, she
Iist be able to destroy the German r
ct. Her present officers and men," the G
ticle continues, "are as good as possi- '
!. They have superiors nowhere and I
uals only in the sister navy of Great y
itain. But there are too few of them" i
Regarding the strength of her forces :
paper Sayse +
CLEARLY if while Germany is building /
ips America is doing little or nothing 4
nerica will not be in Il position to fet- L
Germany's will or to tell her that she N
all not make what terms she likes with
.South or Central American powers.''
The Spectator diSclams in these alarm
views any wish to tempt America to $
eeta warliie course or to make any i'll 1
cd between America or Germany. but a
intains that Secretary Root is right, "
1"if she sticks to the Monroe doctrine b
vel refuses to prepare there is in il
re for America great humiliation" Il
The epaper concludes by reiterating the "
ihenticity of former articles dealing o
b German activity in South America c
Tits attendant dangers.
American Visitors Welcomed.
10 harbinger of spring has been well q
ned in England as has the American c.
ytor this year. Every shopkeeper and n
manager has been ready to embrace n
trnnsatlantic patron. The American il
ux has opened extremely early, and n
az Of the leading hoteds are already b
ning away would be guests. There is
ample room in the less popular estab- o
ments, however, where the American W
ar will prove a godsend after the a
,nant winter. 1t is in no small way il
this question Of American summer
.ors is regarded, and the attraction
is Is likely to have for Americans is
enly the concern of every storekeeper b
caterer here. but is of vital impor- Il
to the London money market itself. b
fact that the Bank of England is e,