The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Government Refuses TO Adopt
Compulsory Army Service.


LONDON, Feb. Ito no one was yes
terday's news from Kimberley greater re-
lief than to the Government, for this has
been bad week for them. Their army
proposals have been severely handled by
the critics. Their out and-out Tory sup
porters wanted CONSUMPTION in some form
or other. or. as the Times euphemisti-
cally puts 1t today, "a more stringent en-
forcement OF constitutional obligation to
defend our own shores" Instead Of that,
the ministry fatty refuse to adopt the
smallest semblance Of compulsion, content
ing itself with initiating experiments
for attracting more militia and volunteers
by slightly increased allowances. better
guns, and suggestions-mere suggestions
for longer periods of training.
They have. in fact, rejected all proposals
based on continental militarism, and look,
instead. TO the voluntary system, WORKING
toward tha erection of home defence
force somewhat after the character oil the
Beers In addition they increase the reg
uIar army by $4,000 men, representing
twelve batteries of infantry, forty-tnree
batteries of artillery, with complement
of engineers and army service men, ana oy
temporary bounties. They hope TO temp.
back into the army some OF the i'v'oVV
men between the ages of twenty-five ana
forty-ive who have passed through the
ranks. Moreover they refrain from giving
Europe a piece of EDgland's mind py
theatrical mobilization OF the feet. Inc
fleet. they say, is ready Tor business d.
it is.
All this appears to many ministeriaiists
az a very pottering way CT meeting cris $,
and Lord Rosebery's second outburst N
the House of Lords on Thursday suggefts
that we're he to appeal to the nation upon
the inadeuuacy OF the Government pro-
pcsals and the necessity of complete ana
drastic reform of the whole fighting ma
chine. he might gather from all the politi-
cal camps Il party sufficiently powerful 10
make the Governments position untenaoie.
But victory in the field covers multitude
of defects end it may almost be said tnat
Lord Roberts has in his hands. not alone
the fate Of his army. but the fate OF the
Government. He inspires unboundec con-
fdence. but the failure of his campaign
would turn the country almost inevitably
to Lord Rosebery as the sternest critic OF
the ministry.
Whether LORD Rosebery would rise to
national expectations is quite anotner
question. Sir William Harcourt las Tor
the moment slipped into the background.
Next week comes the Chancellor OF TIE
Exchenuer's war budget The unofficial
ministerial expectations seem to be tnat
the Government will fall back upon the
suspension of the sinking fund for the cur
rent year, and on per cent war loan tor
a short term of years, but the conservatism
OF the treasury may lead to the choice of
an issue Of consols. Public opinion here
certainly looks for a large part OF the cost
OF. the war to fall upon the Transvaal In
the shape of a war indemnity.
Cambridge University has this week
been the scene OF an exciting contest, and
as the result the senior wranglership is
preserved The voting was, however,
pretty close, 1872 for and 129 against. To
put 1t quite bluntly, the senior wrangier-
ship is one of Cambridge's best adver-
tisements and though IL is an anomaly in
that the senior wrangler is no longer the
absolute head Of the mathematical schol-
ars of his year, Cambridge is conserva-
tive and clings to it.
f. F. Benson started well at the Ly-
ceum Theatre. On Thursday, his Shake
sperean season, as BELTS these martial
days, opened with Henry W which has
not been seen In London since 1879. The
critics speak well Of this spirited, artistic
effort snd II draws good houses.
The Daily Mall makes the portentous
announcement today that 1t has the best
reasons to believe that Sir Henry Irving
has been caused serious annoyance by
what 1. calls curious movement in
certain section of the New York press 10
decry the work of Beerbohm Tree in Lon
don. and especially the suggestion that
Tree conveyed" Irvings ideas In staging
Ttrlxt nraa %
suggestion would certainly seem to most
playgoers ridiculous, for Mr.. Trees per-
Torrance is nothing il not original. Mr..
Benson, by the way, also will present A
Midsummer Nights Dream" at the Ly-
ceum next week.
Charles wyndham will present "Cyrano
de Bert erac'' at his new theatre in the
middle Of April.
The public, loving as 1t does to contem-
plate its millionaires, received something
OF a shock this morning. when it learned
that the whole estate OF the late Duke OF
Westminster had been entered at only haif
a million sterling. Five years ago the late
duke declared that his estate probably
would be assessed at G14.000,0 600. but 1t
now appears he had only e1,200.O0O at his
I own disposal. The duke, like most rich
| Englishmen nowadays, made most OF his
requests in his lifetime to avoid Sir Will
lam Harcourt's heavy tax.
| A series of photographs taken at Dover
| during a thunderstorm have increased the
public timidity about electricity. II is
! found that when a lightning fash occurs
| ,here are simultaneous discharges OF beau
| or dotted lightning from electric arc lamps
| in the town Prof. Stokes says TINS is ma
lures wireless telegraphy. The flash OF
lightning influences the lamps by electric
waves. He urges people 10 keep a~as
| from lampposts in thunderstorms. WIRE
| less telegraphy is proving oil great use IN
| the South African campaign. SIX oil Mar
| copi's instruments are now in active use
| nj the front. namely. at De Aar, Modder
river Enslin. Belmont, and Orange River.
| the longest interval being seventy miles,
between De Aar and Orange River. across
which messages are sent with ease:
The long standing reproach against the
! English Jews, that they never STOOD Dy
| their country in time OF danger. must De
| nnodtfied. MS 900 of them are now serving
~ Natal Sir Samuel Montsgu has under
taken to provide the unleavened CAKES re-
! oujred to enable his coreligionists to keep
! the approaching Passover. in accordance
| with the Mosaic law. the distribution De-
ing arranged by the chief rabbi.
| An authorized biography OF John Rus
| hin is being arranged for. Mr.. Wedder-
burn. Ruskin's pupil. probably VIII un-
| dertake the task. long series OF letters
from Mr.. Ruskin TO his parents mas not
| vet been drawn upon.
Mr.. John Morley expects to publish ms
life OF Mr.. Gladstone by the end OF this
| wear. Though offered large sums. he re-
| fuses to permit serial publication.
Sentimental Interference.
| (Frorn the Chicago News)
Various city councils over the United s,stes