Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-13
NEWS FROM LONDON
Why Emperor William Clamors for
a Larger Navy.
EFFECT OF THE WAR IN AFRICA
England Awaiting News From the
Scene of Hostilities.
OTHER TIMELY SUBJ ECTS
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

| ~ IL L L - y Ip'I IN L
| Special Cor, spondence Of The Evening Star
| LONDON. January 2, 1900.
EMPEROR William has signalized the turn
OF the century by prCclaiming to the Ger
n'an nation and to the world at large his
sole mn determination to raise the German
ravy to standGrd of equality with the
German army.
The emphasis with which he reiterat ed
| his naval ambitiors and his hopes for the
creation of a greater Germany derives an
almost sensational significance in face of
| the International situation.
1t is impossible to doubt that the German
public and the German press re-echo with
a sympathetic voice the eloquent words
addressed to them by their emperor through
the medium of the army.
Same Arguments Apply.
| The persistency with which, during the
past few months, they have dwell on the
Nemesis that has overtaken Great Britain
in consequence of her neglect to observe a
proper sense of proportion i'll the develop
ment of her naval and military services
C:.rnot but render them amenable to SINH
lar arguments applied t. their own country.
The emperor's review Of the death and
Prussia bears, indeed. the appearance of
having been inspired in large measure by
the course of the Transvaal war. He is
known to hold very definite views with re-
gard to TIL necessity of the reformation
and the augmentation Of the British army.
1t is natural, therefore. that his thoughts
SHOULD be occupied in Il special degree by
tn. lessons for Germany that are contained
in the temporary failure of Great Britain's
weak arm.
Anticipates the Century.
Stripped of the glowing language in which
his majesty clothed his meaning, and drop
ping the references TO the memory of his
royal predecessors, the emperor stated in so
many words that he intended to celebrate
the new century as he has decided TO
call it, by raising his navy to the level of
his army. Nothing less than new century
could give point 10 so momentous de-
ciSion and it is perhaps, unnecessary to
Il ok deeper for the true eXplanat ton of En-
psror Williams experiments with the cal
endar. 1t is possible that the secret lies in
some details of German legislation which
expire or commence at that period of time.
and which it would suit the government to
anticipate: but 1t is consonant with the en-
perorS character as a young man in
hurry, as he vas dubbed by the Pail Mall
Gazette some years ago. What William l
did for the army the present emperor Will
do for the fleet.
Will Garry 1t Through.
Despite all opposition he will carry on and
carry through the task of reorganizing the
navy lin order that t. may take its place
on a footing of equality by the side of my
land forces, and that l may be in a posi-
ton by means of it to wrest for the Ger
man empire the position abroad that 1t has
not yet achieved" The question is, what
position, or whose position? In the view of
a great many people in Great Britain 1t
will be chiefly this countryS various occu-
pations of the earth's surface which are
bound sooner or later to come within the
scope of Germany's ambition. Just now
there is friendship between this country
and Germany and everything is smooth and
pleasant, but probably in no other country
in Europe does there exist such deep-rooted
Anglophobia as in Germany. In France
there IS enough Ang,ophoba in all con-
science, but it is of the rabid, unthinking
sort. The German variety is intelligent and
seeks to profit by Engiands mistakes. This
has been done in a ccrr meIc ial way already,
and far-seeng people anticipate the day
when the opposition will take on a political
anG imperial aspect
May Disclose Secrets.
l hear that if Lord Wolseley is assaied
in any public fashion he will take decided
step and deliberately reveal the actual po-
sition he has taken in connection with the
military ornaments. He asserts that he
has been overruled from the first. and what
is more that his advice has been absolute
ly neglected. As d fact, Lord Wolseley is
more in harmony with the position adopted
by Sir William Butler than any man at the
war Office. 1t was he, indeed. who insisted
on Sir William receiving his present posi-
ton at Davenport. l learn that Sir Will
lam has, contrary to the desire of his
friends resolved not to publish any justiti-
cation of his conduct to give to the
world the incidents that led to his return
from South Africa. The attitude Of the
war OtfiCe-a friendly one-has made It less
necessary to take action.
Awaiting Development.
There Is a feeling in London that more
important news may shortly be expected
from the front, from what quarter does not
appear. The fact that the Tugela is re-
ported TO be in flood, and that the Beers
have not, as was reported, evacuated their
positions on the south side of the river. has
given rise to the hope that Sir Redvers
Butler may be able to attack the Boer posi-
ton his right, while the commands to
the south of the river are Isolated from the
main body to the north. 1t is. of course,
possible that some such action is In con-
temptation. but We are not likely to have
news Of 1t until 1t has been carried out,
considering the strictness of the censorship
which exists and the certainty that all
news telegraphed to this country Is im'ne-
diately known in Pretoria, and, of course,
al once transmitted to the Boer commandoS
in Natal. The rivers in South Africa rise
with extraordinary rapidly, but after
heavy rains they fall with equal rapidly
Twenty-fOur hours may see a shallow
stream converted into a raging torrent and
reconverted into shallow stream. All
that can be said is that the conditions re-
ported to exist create the possibility that
Sir Ret!vers Butler may be able to strike a
shrewd blow at the enemy, but our knowl-
edge Of the local conditions is much too
meager to make 1t possible for any one in
this country to say whether it would
would not be wise to take advantage of the
apparent opportunity.
The most brilliant and satisfying
counts of the situation in South Africa
have come from Winston Churchill. who
Is the only Briton who has been to Preto-
ria and back before Christmas. despite
boasts of many officers. Now that he has
returned to + HERS force. we are receiving
excellent dispatches from him. and the
Mornin" Post. which was condoled with be-
cause It's principal war correspondent was
gobbled up by the Beers, is now scoring
daily
on for the War.
The city became somewhat excited yes