New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-04
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
BUT NOT DESPAIR. TIE
NOTE IN THE WAR SITUATION.
THE FAVORABLE EFFECT OF wTNDHArs
ART AND THE THEATRES.

Observation-Disclosures OF THE FLEET
ART AND THE THEATRES.
Icopyright: 1900: BY TIE Nev-York Tribunal
IBY THE rRrBUxE-I
London. Feb. 3-The week closing to-day has
been the most critical period Of the war. al
though battle has been fought and no new
reverse has been sustained. There a black
week in December when the army corps which
had been expected to march in triumph 10 Pre-
toria was defeated at three points. Those disas-
ters were borne with fortitude and self-controI
because the nation. while bitterly disappointed.
was not cast down. but confident OF ultimate
success Buffers retreat across the Tugela az
ter Spion Kop has been less serious reverse
from military point Of view. since il has been
quickly followed by evidence that efforts for the
relief Of Ladysmith viii not be relaxed; yet the
conditions of public opinion have been more
alarming than they were when Gatacre. Meth
uen and Butler failed during a single week
This has been because there have been many
signs that the endurance Of the nation is giving
out and that while success may be a certainty
by virtue Of the superior resources OF the EN-
pire the English people may not have the pa
tience and grit 10 wait for it, The armies have
not been trial this week. but Parliament and
the country have been subjected 10 a supreme
test of faith in the energies and virtues CT
Anglo-SaxOn blood and the resources OF modern
progress To Americans with memories OF the
storm and stress OF their own Civil War. the
British casualty lists may seem trivial. and the
reverses of the army in the field OF slight con-
sequence; but the strain here is intense and
wearing, for the system OF military and Imperial
defence, which has been equal 10 all emergencies
Of a glorious reign has shown signs OF breaking
down under the resistance offered by two feeble
little republics.
It is frankly admitted by the press OF both
parties that Parliament has not appeared to good
advantage during this week OF trial and search
ing Of heart. The Prime Minister chose the wrong
moment for the discovery that the British con-
stitution good fighting machine; Mr..
BaIfour has been limp and Hstless when ne
should have been in1exible and full OF faith;
| the Opposition has not been we'll led. even from
| the point Of view OF party politics. and II has
not been inspired by a high sense OF patriotic
/ obligation in supreme crisis. Mr. Chamber
lain. Sir William Harcourt and Mr., John Morley
have not yet spoken. but the debate with the
single exception of Mr., wyndhams speech.
/ has been unprohtable and disheartening-
The smoking room Of the House OF Commons
! has been the gloomiest cave OF ruraors and
Iaments in England. Anything could be told
there with group of listeners ready to believe
It. One hour it has been reported there that
the hnanciers of the city were preparing a
conclusion Of peace at the earliest possible mo-
ment. and the next hour Dr.. Leydss ultimate
success in organizing the forces OF European
opinion has been conceded as foregone cor
clusion, and Presidents Kruger's terms for the
partition Of South Africa have been seriously
discussed. with the final reflection that Russia,
Austria, Germany and France would ultimately
warn England that they would not permit her
to annex the territories Of the two republics.
hberate discussion. and the bears in the Street
needed only to repeat the stories told in the
smoking room at Westminster in order TO send
stocks down few points
| The redeeming feature of the debate in Parlia-
ment has been the speech by Mr. George wyrd-
| ham the work of the War Office This has
| raised his reputation greatly. and has brought
| him into the front place Minister with 4
/ great future. He has not spoken as dreamy
fatalist like Mr.. Balfour willing TO believe that
| whatever is is wrong. but in due time viii turn
/ out right; he has not been apologetic in tone
/ but has told plain story of the military or
/ ganization, worthy of the resources of a mighty
! empire. by which nearly two hundred thousand
| men in the course of five months have been
! brought into the field to fight the Queens bat
! ties This single speech has dispeled the nIu-
| sion that the UniOnist Government is lacking n
administrative efficiency and has done much
i
/ rant for the belief that the Ministers when the
debate the Address is finished viii pro-
| duce series of large measures OF Imperial de-
/ fence. and accompany them by the mobilization
/ of the fleet as warning that European inter
vention in South African affairs viii not be toll
| Grated That will suffice to put an end 70 the
| Continental campaign of intrigue now in prog
ress against England lines similar to those
followed against the United States during the
| war with Spain.
the tactics of the dspirfted black press. which
has been assailing the Government for incauaci-
/ ty and calling for reinforcements OF one hun
has already been moved across seas and re-
/ cruited with colonial blood and that there Is no
/ lack of men. guns horses or mules; the generals
must demonstrate that there is no lack OF
/ brains
Mr. Alfred HarmswOrth's plea for the dis
missal Of the Government ard the formation
/ OF Rosebery- Chamberlain Ministry for I'm
/ perial defence is now like the sound OF tink-
/ ling cymbal for beating up new subscribers 20
/ The Daily Mall The movement for putting
/ in Mr.. Spenser Wilkinson. dramatic critic OF
The Morning Post" as Commander-in-Chiefo OF
/ the British army. Is also retarded. and croakers
/ and pessmists generally are demoralized- At
the close Of this gloomy week victories are need
/ ed sorely and reserves OF patience and patriot
4 ism even more than victories; bur Ladysnith
has not yet been lost. nor has the faith OF the
/ English people IN their armies and in them
\ selves been shaken.
American questions have fallen completely
into the background. owing 70 the preoecupation