New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
TREMENDOUS WAR FX
PENSES.
MR. AsQUITH. LORD EDWARD GREY AND
THE LIBERAL LEADERSHIP-THH
END OF THE SEASON
ICopyright: 1900; BY The Nsw-Yorz Tribune.



has become a conspicuous figure in current
diplomacy and politics. has a rough way OF
forecasting conditions in the near future. He
asserts that pound earned will be worth
nineteen shiIlings for long time 10 come.
and possibly sixpence under. Whatever
may be the mysteries in China or the
military calculations in South Africa. the
magnitude OF the relief measures required
for the famine in India. the continuance OF
taxation at the present high rates is a Ger
tainty. and the outlook is serious from the
point of view Of the street. because the burdens
during the long period OF peace were those OF
war taxation, and according TO English
theories there must be recourse to tariff
schedules to meet the emergencies OF war The
cost Of the war in South Africa. as estimated
by Mr. Wyndham. already exceeds S305OOOOOO
and he is probably the only Optirnist who fancies
that the aggregate expense is already closely
included The first estimate asked for the
China service is S15OOOOOO but there is 10
clairvoyant among the Government 1nanclers
imaginative enough to conjecture what may be
. the cost of preserving the English commercial
interests in Middle China If the catastrophe at
Peking opens the way for the partition OF the
. Empire
If Lord Wsmyss's vaticinations respecting an
! invasion from the Continent in the Ides Of
/ November are taken more seriously than Lord
E
crack.d his joke over the collection OF shoot
ing stars the income tax payer may be con-
| fronted with a choice between ruin at home
and emigration to some cline where the re-
sources of taxation are not exhausted IN times
Ct piping peace, and no reserves left for a
period of war. This is exigency not beyond
the range of possibility when skies are over
clouded in every quarter and zigzags OF light
ming spell increased taxation and whoever runs
may read.
The immediate prospect for the man in the
street is dearer money. The Bank Of England
has obtained complete control OF the market
during the week and has enforced the official
minimum of per cent. All the financial ex-
perts expect that the tightness of the money
market will continue and that the pressure
will increase since the Indian Government
loan Of 100000 has been already announced
and it is also evident that the Chancellor Of
the Exchequer must speedily be in the market
to borrow large sums to meet the supplement
! tary army estimates and other charges Tie
reduction of the Banks reserve, experts as5ert,
| must be, prevented by higher rates. and
/ a large amount Of gold must be Sc
| cured from some quarter. The problem which
| the Banks directors are now considering IS
| the easiest and surest method OF attracting
| gold from America and It may safely be as
sumed that the rate of interest Will be raised
point by point until it comes.
| \ remarkable feature OF the war in SoufH
| Africa is the public indifference TO the details
Military experts no longer comment in the press
| upon the operations in the field. war maps have
disappeared from the daily files; the special cor
| RESPONDENTS with three or four exceptions. have
retired from service, and the closing incidents
of the campaign are passing almost without
observation. 1t is not clear what is meant by
khaki campaign in politics when the story OF
the war. with its marches. sl1irmishes, battles
and records of heroic fOrtitude and gallantry,
has ceased to interest bored and Hstless pub
lie Hunters campaign south Of Bethlehem has
not been followed with Intelligence. even by the
veterans Of the military clubs. and Broad
woods hunt after De Wet has been the subject
OF private wagers. with the heaviest betting on
the fox. Pail Mall clubs are rot London and
the West End is not England, but when allow
ance is made for the Hstlessness and lack Of
earnestness Of the ainless smart sets II still
mains anomaly that the war which inter
ested classes and masses OF the entire nation
ten months ago should now be regarded as a
dull matter which inJeTfsres with the ordinary
pleasures of society and country house life and
with the enjoyment OF cricket matches and
horse racing. The reason for the apathy Is the
public conviction that the prestige OF the Brit
ish army has suffered from the unexpected pro
traction of the and that little should be
said about the unequal conflict between the
Imperial army OF 100000 men and the remnant
OF the Boer commanders 10000 strong. The
situation has been partly cleared by Rob
erts's advance toward AiGdlebuTs and Hunters
occupation OF FOuriesburg There may be fresh
mishaps and reverses for the British but II is
probable that Botha Will be forced back into
the Lydenburg district and cut OF from supplies
at Komatipoort and that the guerilla warfare
will be gradually brought 10 an end among
mountain Businesses there. as il has been sup
pressed at Fouriesburg- Harrisrnith is the only
town now open to the Beers IN the Free state.
and De Vets raid northward has not only been
IL effective since the sole result has been the
capture of two hundred prisoners. but IL has
exposed the remnant or his force among the
hills TO defeat. with only one road open for re-
treat and only 4 single place OF refuge. Roberts
is not moving rapidly the iaded English
public desires, but he is suppresslng the guerilla
warfare in the only practical way. The Beers
are probably the best guerilla fighters in the
world for they are natural hunters at hons
among their mountains. and the processes OF
Roberts's campaign are necessarily slow and
laborious. with transport bitches blocking him
at every turn and British officers not well
trained for their work
The politicians are stiu talking about the dis.
solution OF Parliament in October and the re.
tirenent Of Lord Salisbury either from the For.
eign ONCE from public life. but those IN
closest touch with the Ministry assert thai
nothing has been settled Unionist whips ard
acting upon the theory that the elections may
be brought or suddenly IN the autumn. and tia
lists OF candidates are under revision and
money for the canvass is under subscription
but the dates OF the dissolution and election are
purely hypothetical Lord Salisbury's personal
n he urho