The age-herald., 1900-12-23
A Most Acceptable Christmas
 Box to the British
ENGLISH PAPERS LAUD HIM
Military Authorities In Great Britain Admit the Superiority of the Train ing at West Point Academy.
 The Nicaragua Canal.

London, DecemDer Zz.-GeneTdl DeWel would be by far the most acceptable Christmas box to the average Englishman. Though there seems little likelihood of the wish being granted, the desire for the sup presslon of this wonderful Boer leader. however, is accompanied by generous ad- mration of his latest feat.
 "It would be worthy of the British name," says tle Times, ito refuse the credit that is due feat of arms so bril- liant as the unexpected dash backward of Dewet and his men through the British lines"
 Other papers take the same view, com pairing the ride to Springhaas Nek with the charge at Balakalava. In fact, admiration for the extraordinary daring displayed by the Boers on this occasion almost predom- mates over the chagrin at the failure of the British officers to cope with their op- ponents
 There is springing up a philosophic in- difference to the incapability of generals in South Africa. Reverses have become the expected. Last Christmas society al- most went crazy over plum buildings and chocolate hampers sent to the soldiers on the veldt. This year they are not mention ed. In fact, the public Is utterly weary of the long drawn out struggle, whose on- ly interesting features are the sensational | successes of Dewet This in no way af- fleets the government, whose determination to fight t out to the bitter end is evident from is decision to reinforce the already huge army in South Africa. Several mem- bers of the cabinet, however, would be heartily grateful were the Boer leaders to sue for peace.
 Nicaragua Canal.
 The Nicaragua canal still fails to arouse any really deep interest here, as it is thoroughly understood that Great Britain will take no action in the near future and the Chinese negotiations are regarded more in the light of a monotonous farce than a serious problem, thanks to the absurd mis- understandings which have arisen between the powers themselves The only quarter in London where the performance is thoroughly enjoyed is at the Chinese lega- tion in which Sir Chih Chen Lo Feng Luh, the minister of China, mourning secludedly for his brother, is reported 10 be in a state of perpetual chuckle over the attitude of Christendom.
 Moreover the question of the day is Americas commercial rivalry, which, throughout the week, has been forming the basis for long analytical articles in the Daily Express and the Daily Mail, written by engineering and other experts who de- tail the results of recent trips to the United States under the headlines wake up England;" ''why we are falling be- hind" etc., reiterating that the English manufacturers lack initiative and are ab- surd in their conservatism, which is summed up in the following paragraph in one of the articles:
 "A the foregoing facts are unpalatable f1,Nxr r-l,Nt he lytan hl a the nation should dream on in fools paradise until the next cycle of bad trade when we may find our markets in the possession of others"
 The announcement that The Netherlands does not consider itself bound by the Paris Venezuela Commissions decisions regard ing the Anglo-Dutch frontier, Is not regard ed by the Foreign Office as being of any importance or as likely to form the basis for international friction. The Dutch boundary is a comparatively minor matter of the Colonial Office has been engaged for some time. The Netherlands s minister's ac- ton is regarded as step toward a contingency which, however, Great Brit ain has not contemplated
 West Point Superior.
 At a conference of the head masters of the great public schools this week one of the speakers severally arraigned the 1rri- tating educational methods the schools
  boys as officers into the service. A mili- tary correspondent of the Pail Mall Ga- zette, criticsing the Sandhurst and Wool wich methods, declares the British author ities admit that West Point is in advance of anything in England. He describes the democratic and severely competitive sys- tenn in vogue there, saying:
 Education at West Point is serious thoroughnesS rather than an extension of attainments Its principle Is controlling education, together with the knowledge of how to make use of It. Like all exception ally good education, it is enormously cost ly = perhaps the most expensive in the world. But in many ways 1t is said to be by far the best. An exhaustive compari- son of West Point with our own military colleges as educational mediums is to the disadvantage of our own institutions. The principal industry in the United States is education. For years past the Americans have been earnestly engaged in the busi- ness of disseminating knowledge. If Great Britain is to hold her own We must follow in the footsteps of the great Republic or be content with second place."