The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Queen Nictoria's Visit to ireland tn,
Topic of the Day.

measure win every thing she saw and did
in Dublin. No single incident arose to
mar the complete success of the realiza-
ton Of her spontaneous wish to meet her
Irish subjects in manifestation OF her
appreciation Of the devotion OF Irishmen
to the British flag in South Africa.
Lord Cadogan used his personal influence
to deter the Unionists from attempting 10
turn the visit to political uses, and Mr..
Redmond's pledge in the same direction
was well observed among the Natiolalsts.
1t is no exaggeration to say. as one writer
does say today. that the Queen managed
the affair for herself down to the smallest
detail. 1t was her Inspiration 1t was
carried out with consummate Judgment.
not the judgment of the subtle tactician
seeking a great political effect, bu. the
judgment which comes of Astounding wis
dom and the kindliest and most gracious
I sympathy. No one is so ridiculous as to
| suppose that the baronetcy conferred on
the Lord Mayor of Dublin or the knight
hood on the Mayor of Cork will make them
| less stanch NationaIists or turn their
/ cities into centres OF Unionism.
Your Honor" said a Dublin carman to
| Mr.. Carson, the Queens counsel and mem
Der of Parliament last week, isn't the
| Queen a great example to all our ladies,
| driving about everywhere with her nate.
smart little bonnet and white feather
| There you get near the significance Of this
royal visit, the Queen as an example in
moderation and sympathy. That example
/ will not be lost upon either Irish or Eng
| lish politicians.
! Politics apart from the war there are
none just now. The House Of Commons
| resumed work on Thursday, but Westmin-
/ ster is the home OF dulness, except when
/ the War Office is put under inquisition as
| to Lord Roberts movements or the laches
of minor generals. The Spion Kop de-
| spatches are the chief theme this week,
and the daily questionings of Under Sec
rotary Wyndham have pretty well COM
pleted the disclosure of that failure Of the
British arms. In Lord Roberts they have
complete confidence. General Butler Will
be kept in command in Natal, and will,
they believe, do good work there. Sir
, Charles Warren is removed to a semi
civil post in Griqualand West. and Lord
Methuen has small command In place
of his former large command. All hangs
now on Lord Roberts and the tussle for
which he has been so assiduously prepar-
ing for weeks past.
Once again England is subject to an at
tempt to raise a navy scarce although she
is spending more than twice much
money on the marine defences OF her En-
pire as she did ten years ago. That curious
but powerful body Of amateur naval eX-
perts calling itself. the Navy League. has
started a new campaign for a heavy in
crease in expenditure. They are holding
public meetings. addressing alarmist cir
culars to the newspapers, and generally /
beating the loud drum, especially in view
Of the general election campaign now about {
to begin They desire the elimination from I
the navy list of all ships either old or az
they think inadequately armed that the .
public may realize the inadequacy Of the .
fleet. They would thus reject thirty-four
battleships and cruisers. and make that /
rejection the starting point for new naval
programme.
As against this attitude OF the Navy
League. unpreiudiced authorities declare
that the Navy never was stronger or mere
efficient than it is today, though there is
a general belief that there can be no Ic-
duction in future years in Englands CO.
lossal naval bill. which this year is about
$3.50. OOO 900 Meanwhile English manufac-
turers are taking to heart the fact that
part Of last years naval vote could E5t
be spent because Of their inability to cope
with the Admiralty requirements. A rum-
Der of wealthy nCrth-cOuntTy manufactur-
ers have formed a new syndicate for the
manufacture of armor plate. and large
sums are being spent in perfecting plant
for the production of Krupp armor. Amer
lean machinery is being closely studied
by representatives, OF various English
firms now in the United States with ;he
view Of securing the most modern appli-
ances. The Admiralty has been pressed %
give contracts spread over many years 10
compensate manufacturers for these ley5i-
opments, but the Admiralty is pretty waIy.
All it will do is to say, Perfect your
equipment and orders will 'oiiow as a
matter of course
The hospital ship Maine. now lying in
dock here having discharged her last
patient leaves again soon for South Africa.
TO bring home another batch of sick and
wounded from Lord Roberts command.
The original intention was, of course, hat
the Maine should serve as a base hospital
at Cape Town or Durham, not trans
port hospital ship. and much curiosity has
been aroused as to the reasons Of this
change Of plan. The medical authorities
who have inspected the ship say that the
change was necessary. because her fittings
and equipment render the ship more eff
Cient in her new role. There is also much
discussion in medical circles of the deci-
sion to replace women nurses on the Maine
by men. OF course there is no such sug-
gestiOn Of personal Untitness against the I
Maine nurses as is freely made against I
some OF the amateur lady nurses who have /
hocked out to the base hospitals I'm South /
Africa The change is due entirely to
reasons. Women take up more 7
room than men nurses. and are found
unable to carry patients up and [
down from the deck. as is most desirable !
in passing through the tropics
Moreover. in hospital ship more or less
.ramped there is a lack Of privacy for /
patient and nurse. which is the cause Of
mutual embarrassment and inconvenience /
This 10 particularly noticeable in a hastily !
itted-out hospital ship in which the at d
enddnts on the sick are the only women
oil board On the general question of men /
Or women nurses. Mr. Frederick Treves.
he well-knowu surgeon just back from
South Africa. says that women are better
itted than men to act as nurses whether ,
he sick requiring attention be at base
hospital attached TO some army or in the q
seclusion of some institution at home. but {
lot in the rough and tumble and crowded {
ife OF a hospital ship. c
Cowper is the literary theme Of the week i
There has been a pretty though not very {
celebration OF the centenary e
If his death at his sleepy little village / a
ZONE Oluey in Buckinghdmshire Papers
we're read combating among other things
my attempt to put slur upon Cowper's
writings because of his occasional insan- I Z
ty.
Yesterday the Court of Appeals con
irmed the decision that Nudes circulat
ug library must pay $500 damages for cir "
.ulating a book containing a libel This l.
lecisiOn is taken very seriously by large a
number Of circulating libraries as laying b
hem open to heavy monetary risks As O.