The Washington times., 1901-11-03
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
British Defeat snddcns the Duke of
]orI<'s Homecoming.


British Defeat snddcns the Duke of
1orI's Homecoming.
LONDON, Nov 2.-Once again the
Beers have proved their power of coinci-
dence. Today is a London holiday. to
welcome the heir to the throne on his re-
turn from the greatest and most triumph
al royal tour on reC>-d. and as the patri-
otic Englishman, his heaNt gladdened by
the unacCustomcd November surs zine.
opened his morning paper today, prepared
to enjoy the homely sensations of yes
terdays reunions of the royal family, his
eye is affronted by the news of another
British reverse in South Africa, one Of
the worst of the whole war.
So for these two years past the Boer
war has managed to obtrude its horrors
upon every British rejoicing. Today's bad
news is especially unwelcome. because 1t
follows succession of small British cap
lures. which were accepted as proof that
the war was gradually being stamped out
by more alert British maneuvring- Now.
presumably, there will be fresh criticisms
of the War Office management. and IN
creased demands for more mobile col
umns though it is hardly likely that the
Government will accept the proposal Sc
riously placed before them OF sending to
the Cape the British cavalry regiments
from India and Egypt, and replacing
them with composite regiments OF picked
Imperial Yeomanry. 1t is urged that the
six regular regiments row in the Pun
jaub, Bengal, Madras. Bombay, and
Egypt would provide 1000 of the best
trained cavalry in the world; but what.
meanwhile. OF India and Egypt handed
over to half-trained British volunteers?
The Times today supplies the kind of
criticism of British tactics in South Af-
rica which is becoming increasingly COM
mon. one whom it calls a very com
petent civilian writes from the theatre
of war: If our men got rid of their
wagons and took to the hills like the
Boer they would come across them easy
enough. An old Boer said to me once:
If two men go after one another and
one never gets on the road and the other
never leaves it, they are not likely to
meet unless by chance in a fog they
knock against each other
The driblets OF news which do filter
through in private letters prove that
martial law Is most CALLING to loyalists
and Dutch alike in Cape Colony, while
the strict censorship keeps the public
here hopelessly ill-informed of the real
happenings in South Africa. To all grum-
blings, the Minister'S one reply Is
patience, patience; but unless by some
happy chance the war ends soon, they
Will find that that reply will not save
them.
Signs are continually arising to prove
that the British and German peoples re-
main as much aloof in sentiment as ever,
despite Anglo-German state compacts
and the whole trend of Lord Salisbury's
diplomacy. This weeks news of the
French naval demonstration against Eng
lands old ally the Sultan of Turkey,
would, in former years. have sent the
British press into an anti-Gallic frenzy.
and all manner of Interior motives would
have been ascribed to NJ. Delcasse. On
the contrary, nothing could be more SYM
pathetic than this weeks comments on
Admiral Caillard's bellicose mission. 1t
is admitted that the success of Frances
coercion will increase. or, rather, restore
French influence at the Porte. an intiu-
ence to which in the past England has
owed so many of her difficulties in the
near East, but eTen more potent is the
English desire 10 see Germanys prepon-
derant influence at COnstantinople weak
ened, for the AnglO-German compact in
China has proved to most Englishmen
that GermanyS cooperation with Eng
land. wherever found, is solely directed to
Germanys naval and commercial aggran-
dizement at EnGland's expense.
Hence the attention given by the leading
Journals to an article in the National Re
view" urging the abandonment of British
antagOnism to Russia and a friendly un-
derstanding with Russia all around. Why
not, it is urged let Russia obtain her
in return for her allowing Great Britain
a free hand in Egypt. and get Russia to
agree to Japan possessing Korea, Russia
having free hand in Mongolia and Man
churia. and England gaining exclusive in
fiuence in the Yangtse Valley. and per
haps. also in Tibet and Arabia? As to
all uf which. it Is scarcely necessary now
to say. Lord Salisbury's policy is quite
otherwise. and he is the last British
statesman to heed public opinion.
Great has been the talk this week upon
the General Butler incident, but 1t can
lead nowhere General Butler has friends
everywhere in the army and society, and
among typical Englishmen, and the War
Office was guilty Of its usual blundering
when it FUSED his wild speech as cover
behind which to undo his appointment to
the command of the First Army Corps.
record proves that his appointment should
never have been made
Commissioner Sharpe, reporting on the
preservation OF big game in British Cen
tral Africa, says that he has definite in
formation that the elephants are retiring
cordance with the stipuations of the H.
ternatiOnal convention, new and more
stringent game regulations are being
prepared for the Central Africa pro-
tectorate.
Society women have taken a new fad.
pictures. Some OF the greatest ladies in
London have set the fashion. For chill
dren, the process is more appropriate.
One of the most interesting pictures is
that of the children of the Duke and
Duchess of Cornwall, taken In the gar
diers. with flags, swords. and other i'm
plements of war.