Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-01-04
DARK FOR ENGLAND
THIS THE VIEW GERMANY TAKES
REGARDING THE WAR.
DEFEAT WERE WHOLESOME
Liberal Leader Says British Reverse
Would be a Good Thing Not Only
for Rest Of World but For England
Chamberlain Comes in For Much
Caustic Notice.
fCopyrighted by Associated Press.

L
Berlin, Dec. 31.-The south African
war overshadows everything else here.
The liberal leader, DR.. Barth, who is
one of the most steadfast friends of
Great Britain and America but who
also condemns this war, says: AT
present It looks as if England might
los the whole of south Africa. | have
private information from Africa, via
Holland, according to which the re-
bellious movement among the cape
beers has assumed much more serious
proportions than English newspapers
admit. There never was greater
piece Of political stupidity than that
shown by Mr.. Chamberlain in proYok-
ing war without having made neces-
sary military preparations. If Eng
land had only waited few years she
could have had everything without
war. If England is totally defeated
this war will be the best thing for the
world, even for England. 1t will be a
lesson she will not soon forget. 1t
will have a wholesome influence
upon the jingoes of all countries,
which is almost sure of adoption, must
be understood to be in connection with
the war in south Africa, all fine
phrases offered in explanation notwith-
standing. The increase was decided
upon because Germany has lost con-
fidence in the men who are shaping
England's policy. The brutality of the
ich
many's position too insecure. What
| happens in the Transvaal today on
land may happen to Germany upon the
sea tomorrow The distrust of Eng
| land makes it necessary for Germany
| to be so strong at sea that English
| jingoes will think twice before attack
! ing Germany. If English statesmen Of
| today were of the type of Gladstone or
Morley we should have no concern;
but with such political jack-o'-lanterns
as Chamberlain at the helm we do not
| know what to expect and must arm for
any eventuality.'
| The German press, generally, during
the last few days, has expressed the
opinion that Great Britain will not
only lose in the war but also south Afri-
ca A military writer in the Duetsche
Mazes Zeitung, says is is no longer
a question of whether or not England
will subjugate the bOer republics but of
whether she will also lose Cape Colony.
1t is true England will retain harbors
for they lie under the guns of English
ships but the entire interior she will
lose and instead of the dreamed-of
enormous British south African empire,
England will only keep a number Of
ports. This will probably be the is
sue of the war if England does not
hurry up and conclude peace" From
an excellent authority it is learned that
Great Britain has instructed her min
lister at The Hague, Sir Henry Howard,
to sign a peace convention with the
reservation of article ten and that the
powers have consented to such reser-
walton.
The new German civil code goes into
effect January. |. German papers are
publishing annual and century reviews.
the general tone being one of satisfac-
ton with the turn German affairs have
taken. One Of the reforms to be car
rled out in 1900 will be in connection
with the Berlin criminal police, which
is grossly inefficient. The reform will
be thorough, comprising the training
promotion and distribution of the force.
Snow lies phenominally high in the
mountains. A perfect epidemic Of
weddings has broken out here, the
number of persons married being six
times the ordinary number. The
launching Of the Hamburg American
line steamer Deutschland, which was to
have occurred January 8, at Stettin,
has been postponed because of the
heavy ice in the Oder.