New-York tribune., 1900-01-14
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
PREDICTIONS THAT A NEW COMPROMISE
CABINET WILL BE FORMED.
BITTER UNIoNIsT CRITICISM OF BALFoUR-
ANGLo-ANERICAN RELATIONS UN-
CHANGED-ART AND THE DRAMA.
TBT CABLE. TO THE TR1BUNE.I

A
TBT CABLE THE TR1BUNEI
London, Jan. 13.-There is a momentary Iun
in the storm Of criticism, while the nation
is awaiting with feverfsh interest full results OF
General Buffers turning movement on the Tu-
gela; but when the suspense is over IL viii
break with undimnshed force upon the heads
OF Her Majesty's ministers. Mr.. Balfour. the
most amiable and popular member OF the Cabi-
net, has been lampoOned. abused and carica-
tUred for week because he accepted the mis-
haps and disappointments OF war with dreamy
fatalsm. The UniOnist press has condemned
the gentest and most lovable leader the House
Of Commons has ever known a feeble apollo
gtst. conspicuous for his ineptitude IN defending
a Cabinet OF old men and medocrities Ordi-
narily it is the Opposition press that subjects
the Government Of the day to destructive critI-
cism. but in the hurly-burly Of unsuccessful
war it is the candid friend whose stiIetto Is
aimed at the fifth rib Of the Ministry
Liberal journals like The Daily News The
Daily Chronicle and The Manchester Guard
Ian" are more generous and just in their judg-
ments Of the Ministry the War Office and the
Headquarters staff than 'SThe Times The
Morning Post" and The Daily Mail" which are
apparently infatuated with the idea that history
will repeat itself and the coalition Ministry win
go down during the winter Of discomfort as the
dreary winter of SebastopoI. The parallel has
some force, since the Ministry censured for its
misconduct Of the Crimean War was recon-
structed by Lord PalmerstOn, and that is the
only possible outcome Of the present Unionist
agitation against the Government
The Liberals are neither able nor anxious to
assume the responsibility OF bringing the war
to a close and settling South African ques-
tions. There are ingenious Cabinet makers who
Llraa
Chamberlain combination. but that is a joke re-
quiring nothing less than Sydney Smiths surgi-
cal operation for it's adequate comprehension
The Government viii be under cover when Par
lament is once more in session; political ameni-
ties will be restored when the best club in
London is opened again. and the country will
/ be safe when the Ministers can be baited every
day at the question hour. The newspapers VIII
b. relieved Of the serious responsibility Of con-
Quoting the war by a daily bombardment OF the
public offices. and the columns now filed with
letters from croakers and grumblers will be
weighted with Parliamentary dulness-
If the Government will not only turn on Par
Uamentary eloquence. but also relax the mill
tary censorship, the newspapers will make less
trouble No great war has ever been so made
gus tely described by correspondents in the Held
| from day to day Every British camp has
swarmed with spies. who wers treacherous
OI
tary secret; yet the special correspondents OF
the English press have been gagged by the
censor in their dispatches and kept under re-
straint in their mail letters so that the truth
about great battles like that Of Magersfontein
is held back until Tommy Atkins tells 1t in ais
blunt way When a powerful Governmeoc
chooses to conduct a great war in the dark and
deprives the press of its usual functions. i
ought not to be surprised when there is CO.
and
it's incompetence is demonstrated daily. When
legitimate war correspondence is suspended,
military expert like Mr.. Spenser Wilkinson be-
comes master Of the revels OF the carnival OF
grumblng and backbiting.
There is no evidence that the country Is as
querulous and dispirited as the black press; the
burdens Of the borne with fortitude
and patience at time when illusions respecting
the lighting resources of the Beers have been
dispelled. National pride and vanity humiliated.
and when the masses and the classes are
mourning for their heroic dead. More than two
thousand regulars are sailing for the Cape to-
day and they are cheered while marching TO
the trains with the same enthusiasm as were the
earliest battaIions in October. The first detach-
ment of citizen soldiers is going out also from
London with every sign Of public appreciation
OF their patriotic conduct. The Imperial Volun-
teers during their last day in London received
armed with Lee-Enfelds at the Tower. mar
shalled for an impressive service in St. PauIs
Cathedral entertained in the Inner Temple. and
petted and feted at the fancy dress ball In
Covent Garden The streets are ringing with
cheers as they are marching TO the station to-
day. Every civic and business interest is reprs-
sented in the Lord Mayors Own; even the bulls
and bears of the Stock and Mining exchanges
are we'll in front The Ancient and HOnOurable
Artillery Company is sending out with the vol
unteers a detachment which carries four ex-
perirnentaI Maxim Vickars guns Of unparalleled
range for field artillery service. Those guns win
be watched by the artillery experts Of every
European army. other picked bodies OF volun-
teers are forming in other cities. and Imperial
Yeomanry regiments and gentlemen's corps have
been rapidly recruited. with every indication Of
patriotic ardof. 1t is singular that the Govern
ment does not take full advantage OF all the
loyalty and zeal displayed and ask for a
much larger volunteer force than has been
ordered
The War Office knows the value OF it's own
work in carrying out the mobilization scheme
and is content with drawing upon the regular
lines of reserves The Daily Chronicle pub
fishes to-day detailed statement showing that
104.3T3 men. with 2S9 guns. are now in thu
field and that. with the troops now at sea OF
preparing to sail, there will be an aggregats
strength of 100000 men. $1,000 horses and AS
guns in the course OF a few weeks. This viii
be done without stripping India. England and
ireland OF their battalOns. stiTened by militia,
and without calling for more than 10000 out
&C, 600 citizen soldiers. Meanwhile the croakers
are complaining that the second and third army
corps have been pigeOnhOled in the War Office,
and that Lord Lansdowne has mislaid them