The Topeka state journal., 1900-01-06
CATCH AT
A STRAW.
British Public and Press Mag
nifty French's Deeds
In an Effort to Get Relief From
Dependency.
AFTER WAR OFFICE.
Abuse ShOwered on 1t From
Same Sources.
British Taxpayer Is Yet to Be
Heard From.
AFTER WAR OFFICE.

copyright, 1900, by Associated Press. ]
London, Jan.6.-The winter of discon-
tent to which Great Britain has settled
down has been somewhat modified by
the isolated success which marked N1sse
past week, though the seizure of foreisg
ships and unfounded rumors regarding
Delagoa Bay threatened to bring out a
crop of rumors of European interfer-
ence.
The doings of General French andf
Col. Pitcher have been made the moa+
OF by the correspondents and are rs.5h er
magnifed editorially by the ytls1l
press. But anything is acceptab
these days.
The appointment of the Duke of Con-
naught to command the British forces
IN Ireland has led to a lot of speculation
as to whether he will succeed Lord
Wolseley, whose term expires in No
vember as commander in chief Lord
Roberts is his logical successor, but
until he was chosen to command in
south Africa the general impression
was that he would be too old to be Sc
lected for the office when it became
vacant Gen. Butler was a hot faVorite
put his defeat near COIenSo seems to
nave irrevOcably ruined his chances. It
IS more than probable that Roberts, if
successful in South Africa, will fill the
office of commander in chief for a short
period and that he will then be sue
ceeded by the Duke of Connaught,
whose popularity and military knowl-
edge are strong enough to overcome the
prejudice against a member of the roy
al FAMILY holding that office.
The abuse of the war Office and Lord
LansdoWne, the secretary of state for
war and Lord WolSeley continues una
bated in the press and among the pub
lie BY the time parliament reassem-
bles it promises to have gathered such
force that it is more than likely that
most stormy scenes will mark the de-
bates, while many people declare that
unless Lord LansdoWne resigns or ex-
culpates himself the conservative party
Will be seriously menaced. So far the
criticism enanateS chiehyfrom the patri-
otic Britisher whose pride is hurt at the
reVerses and from those whose heart
strings have been touched by death
But, when the solid British taxpayer
begins to be drained to support the war
then, truly, the criticism of the militia
ry officials will begin to reach its true
volume
The Times, which with the rest of the
British press, has been under the i'm
| preston that America was unanimous
| ly supporting Great Britain today
| prints letter from Toronto saying the
ant-English press in the United States
IS enjoying itself over the reVerses the
empire is at present enduring and adds:
1T screams it's delight and it speaks
| sneer1ngly and tauntingly of Great
| Britain'S decadence and the uselessness
| of her colonial sons''
The action of the English insurance
companies in charging an extra < nor
cent for war risks, already referred TO
| in these dispatches, has created no little
| unfavorable comment and uncompli-
mentary comparison of their action
/ with that of the American concerns
/ Today says.
In answer to the protests the com
pan1es say sentiment can not enter in
to business transactions. The best an
| sWer to the English companies is that
| the American officers are making no
/ such demand, and if the Americans see
| their way to dispense with an extra
] premium it might be thought that the
| enormous wealthy English officers could
| easily do the same. Their refusal is
| shortsighted from business point of
| view as 1t is unpatriOtic. Unfortunate
/ ", 1t is in keeping with the general
| trend of English insurance manage
| ment."
Much interest is exhibited in the new
| Duke of Westminster, who has decided
| to remain at the cape during the war
| 1t appears that he has a keen taste for
/ racing horses and his grand
| fathers splendid stable is not
likely to be broken up. Ben
d Or as the young duke is nick
| named after the famous horse though
| not yet 21, is said to have selected a
wife, which disappoints society for he is
the most eligible parti in the matrimon-
| ial market.
The decision of Mr.. Edward Corrigan
| to bring over a great string of Ameri-
can horses is hailed here with interest
| and pleasure.
One sporting authority writes that
| Mr.. Corrigan never does things by
| halves adding that sit is safe betting
| that such a collection of racers as he
! will send has seldom, if ever, been gath
| cred together by an American owner -
! Some confusion has been caused bv
the various reports of the relief of
| Lieut.. Commander ColWell, the U. s.
naval attache and the name of his sue
| cesSOr. The press statements announc-
/ ing Commander r. C1over's appoint
| ment, considerably antedated an issue
| of orders from Washington and in some
| unexplained way the admiralty went
| aStray and Commander CloverS name
| was substituted for Lieut.. Commander
/ ColwelIs on the list of attaches. The
/ mail began arriving addressed to Com
| mander Clover and it took no little trou-
| BILE and explanation to extricate the
| fences. 1t is understood that Command
| er Glover will arrive here several
/ months before he assumes his duties
From Melbourne comes the news that
| Lord Brassey on the eve of retiring from
| office as governor of Victoria, mounted
| an Episcopal pulpit and preached a
| sermon to the congregation. Lord Bras
sey is coming home on the famous old
| yacht Sunbeam.
| Both the theatrical and book worlds
| are in a bad way on account of war.
| Not more than three theaters in Lon
don are making money and the publish
| ers are alarmed at the absolute stag
| nation of their business.
Beerbohm Tree Wednesday replaces
king John" with IA Midsummer
Nights Dream which will be treated
as a fairy play and beautifully staged.