The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-10

the hourly danger, the unrelieved misery
of a soldiers life in camp or on the
march. Yet to-day the easerness to rally
round the colors is not less pressing than
it vas in the autumn of 1889.
The spirit is reflected in the mind of the
staider citizens, who stops at home and
earns money to pay the cost OF the war
They are all sick of it, and irritated with
the ministerial trick played in the matter
OF the general election and groWl ornia-
ously in contemplation Of tht maladmIn-
istration that has marked the course OF
the campaign. But there is no fiinchlnS
from the resolve that the thing shall DC
fought out to the end, however bitter ana
there shall be made a settlement that "iil
render impossible recurrence OF what mas
come to pass in South a1IlCa outing INC
last five years.
THE ROYAL YACHT a FAltU12E
The story of the latest royal yacht is
the elimination of Il melancholy record OF
lavish expenditure and Inadequate result
The new yacht was to be the perfec-
to,i of luxury. combined with seaworth'-
ness The sum first voted was colossal
1t has since grown in actual expenditure
until it equals the cost OF hrst-ciass
ironclad Sir William White, chief con-
structor of the navy. at the time the keel
of the yacht was laid down, devoted the
personal labors of himself and his staff
to the service of his sovereign. AS the
nation had lavished money on the enter
prise he bestowed time and skill. The re-
suit was a little alarming. When the
vessel, built in the royal dock-yard OF
Pembroke, was launched. she. to the con-
sternation of the brilliant company as
semhled to grace the ceremony. shortly
but firmly heaved over on the starkoard
side. Only the contracted space OF ehe
dock prevented her going down with great
loss of life. Since then she has, at enor-s
nous expense, been tinkered and mended
till at length confession of the absolute
hopelessness of the case is reluctantly
made.
Had it been a private yacht built in an
ordinary business dock-yard, the original
blunder in design of construction would
probably never have been made. Having
been stumbled upon the error would forth
with have been admitted and the best
made of a bad job That, however. is not
the way they have at the Admiralty. Like
the sovereign, a government department
can do no wrong. If failure We're adj
nlitted what is to become of the heads.
titled or otherwise? Thus it has come to
pass that with the national purse to dip
into the Admiralty have gone on bund-
ering round the original blunder till they
have expended upwards of a. million upon
a vessel that cannot be trusted TO cross
the Solent.
ENGLAND'S NAVY IN. DANGER.
In the House of Commons, Mr.. Allen.
the member for Gateshead has made this
question his own. A working engineer,
who saw service in Il blockade runner in
the American Civil War has since set up
in business as d marine engineer build
er, he speaks as one having authority.
Long before the instability of the royal
yacht was demonstrated he, in committee
on the navy estimates and at the question
hour. criticised her design and was snuh-
bed by the first lord Of the Admiralty.
After one of these experiences. Mr.. Allen
confided to me a conviction that left an
uncomfortable impression on my mind.
He believes, at least strongly suspects,
that the British navy. our hope in time
Of trouble. is in degree tainted with the
fatal imperfection of the royal yacht In
the building of battleships in the last
dozen years stability has. in the opinion
of this expert, been sacrificed to speed
The lines of the hulls are too fine for the
top weights With tanks and bunkers
filed they get on pretty well. When as
must sometimes happen, they are par
TALLY empty Mr.. Allen scents danger