The Washington times., 1901-09-23
FOREIGN TOPICS.

| the British navy. In speaking of these
new boats. an English naval expert is
| quoted as follows:
| Even If it be admitted that the sub
! marine boat is only suitable for defense
| and that our tactics must always be Of
| fehsive, It Will be conceded that for coal
| ing stations and bases as well as for
! colonial ports. if not also for some British
| ports. the submarine boat may prove
| useful acquisition to our imperial de-
| fense''
| These boats, which are on the i'm
proved HOLLAND type are 63 feet inches
| IN length oven all, II feet inches beam.
and Ro tons displacement submerged.
They will be provided with means of ex-
pelling terpeddes either with the boat sta
tionary, during run on the surface, or
steaining at any speed submerged. The
| armament consists of one torpedo expul-
| sion tube. situated at the extreme for
ward end of the vessel. the muZZle-cov
ering opening outward two feet below the
! light water line. The plating and frames
are to be of steel of sufficient size and
thickness to withstand the pressure of
| depths not over 100 feet The bulkheads are
located not only to ensure safety IN the
event of collision, but to stiffen the hull
| as whole. Decks are to be provided
| throughout the entire length of the IN
| terror of the vessel combined with beams
and floors to carry the weight Of machin-
| cry. The tanks are to be of steel, braced
| and stlifened according to the require
ments. and riyeted and calked absolute
| ly tight. Manholes will be located to al
low access to the interiors of all tanks
The stiperstructure is to be located to al
| low OF an above-water deck when the ves-
sci is light for surface running. A deck
| 81 feet long will be provided for use on
such occasions These vessels will not
SINK on an even keel, but are being so
blllt that they will dive like porpoises
While at fun surface speed or at rest The
uiVe VIII De made at a small angle until
the proper depth is reached. when, by
automatic means. the boat will be brought
to horizontal position.
The British War Office contemplates
instituting on an extensive plan through
out the army, especially wnen troops are
In garrison or on maneuvreS the regf-
mental canteen system organized by Col
onel Morgan, as director of supplies to
the Natal force. Heretofore the English
army, except when on active service, has
relied upon system not unlike the old
sutler system of the United States Army
to furnish the men with little Iuxuries
and delicacies not obtainable at the quar-
| termastcrs. Recent investigation has
proved that although In some cases a
sort of cooperation has been maintained
between the suffers and the men, the lat
ter have been swiudled right and left,
the only ones making a profit being the
suffers and their agents among the men
who received commission on all the
trade they brought in The present pro-
posal. as already practically demon
strated by Colonel Morgan with the forces
of Sir Redvers Butler. is to take the can
teen entirely out of the hands of private
individuals and place it in charge of COM
mittees of officers and men who shall
carry 1t on for the sole benefit of the
soldiers as a co-opera tive institution that
IN md rrrt 70.
enterprise and at the same time present
monthly profits pro rata to the men who
patronize it.
The report of Colonel Morgan's expert
ence shows that out of the profits of the
canteen he established along these lines
In Natal substantial sum was handed
over to the widow of every man who died
on active service with the force there.
Colonel Morgan also adds that his can
teen soon made 1t so Improbable for the
numerous contractors and camp follow
ers which batten on the pay of the SOL
diers by selling them inferior stuff at ex-
orbitant prices" that they were obliged
to so out of business. which produced
an instant beneficial effect upon the moral
condition and discipline of the men,
One of the most interesting religious
| relics in England WILL on the completion
Of the Catholic cathedral at Westmins-
| ter, be removed from the little church of
| st. Peter, at Great NARROW. where II has
l
| Is the alleged hand of St James the Apos-
| tie which is preserved in crystal cas-
ket. The relic was brought from Ger
many to England in the year 1133 by the
| Empress Matilda. as present for her
father. Henry l, who greatly priced and
! valued 1t. The famous Benedictine Abb
| hey of Reading was founded in order that
| a hitting shrine might be provided for the
| hand: and the abbey, named after the
apostle St James, was consecrated in 1l63
| by St Thomas of Canterbury The relic
remained there until the Reformation, and
| 1t subsequently came Tito the possession
of DIR. Blenkinsop. whose death took place
| in 17S. Then the hand was placed in the
passed to Mr.. Scott-Murray. whose fami-
| ly have been associated With NARROW and
the neishborhood for many years
A couple of weeks ago the Prime Minis
! ter of Nepal. India, was deposed and his
| brother proclaimed in hi Is stead Though
| Nepal possesses a king. his highness is
accounted by his people far too holy to
I be directly concerned with the mundane
| business of government. The real ruler
of the country is the Prime Minister. and
| Gen Deva Shamshere Jung had only en-
| joyed the delights of that position some
| four months when his highness, the King
| of Nepal. had to take notice of his con-
| duct. Mismanagement of public business.
| growing unpopuIarityr and the expanding
volume of the peoples discomfort at the
| erratic conduct of the Minister might
| have led to n revolution. But at a school
prize distribution the Prime Minister was
/ taken prisoner and sent under guard OF
| soldiers to spend his days in retirement
| in outlying part of the kingdom. His
| successor was Immediately proclaimed in
! the person of his brother, Gen. Chandra
| Shamshere Jung, commander-in-chief of
| the Nepal forces. The troops were hasti-
| ly summoned and the ceremony of salut-
| ing the new Minister took place amid
| every sign OF popular approval. The pres
| ent Prime Minister is well-educated
man, speaking English fiuently. and
| known friend of the British Government.
| He Is described by Lord Roberts in For
| ty-one Years in India" as "a red-hot SOL
| der" and much is expected of him.
| In discussing the significance of the
| Cars visit to France some of the Paris
papers which are not in touch with the
Government have been specializing upon
the diplomatic steps which have brought
the visit about, as it has been semi-offi-
clally announced that the French Gov
ernment had no idea as late as the end of
JuIv of entertaining it's distinguished
| guest this autumn.
| II seems that in 1896. NJ. Loubet. when
| President of the Senate, had conversa-
tious ON two occasions at the Luxembourg
| with the CZarina, and that she plainly
| told him that her dearest desire was to
| return with the Car among the French
people, freed from the rigorous letters
Of the protocol, so that both could enjoy
| the charms of France In April last
! President Loubet received u visit from
| a high official parsonage of the Russian
Court. who is in the complete confidence
| Of the Car. NJ. Loubet. among other
| things asked this gentleman If the Gar
| after the CZarina had quite recovered. had