Evening star., 1901-10-22
CRITICISM OF WAR
IS z'T
British Public Getting Restive Over
its ProIoagation.
MINISTRY !; SEEMS INDIFFERENT
Ia
Time May Soon Come When
Change WillffsBe Demanded.
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
LONDON, October 9, 1901.
Each succeeding day brings fresh evil
dence of the growing storm of dissatisfac-
tion which is sweeping over the country in
connection with the condition of affairs in
South Africa. Almost every hour tends to
increase the discomfort, and public feeling
is becoming very strong on the subject.
Mr. Gibson Bowles' letter to the Times
on the government and the war is the chief
subject Of discussion in political circles.
The Times makes it the topic of its first
leader, and declares that Mr.. Bowles ex-
presses the feelings of great portion of
the ministerial party, probably in the
house Of commons. and certainly in the
constituencies. If so then the constituent
cles must be thoroughly convinced of the
incompetence of ministers and their indif-
ference to national dangers.
Nero fiddled while Rome was burning and
Lord Salisbury and his colleagues are Jun
ket1ng while the flames of war are threat
ening the destruction of the British South
African empire. They have gone as Mr.
Bowles says, calmly away to Beaulieu. 10
Scotland to Newmarket, taking their leis-
ure, their golf their motor cars and their
racing horses, as though wholly Indifferent
to perilous national emergency.
When Mr. Chamberlain told us a year
ago that the war was over, he added: Our
people nave scarcely realized how difficult
war 1t was No other nation on the face
of the earth, however great its military
force, could have done what we have DONE
1t Is only too true, says Mr.. BowIes that
no other nation could have done what we
nave done or would so long or SO patiently
have endured the guidance which has
caused 1t to be done to no purpose"
Tory Papers Cry Bravo.
Some Of ba
ing "Bravo!' to this letter, and the Pail
Mall Gazette notes that the odd thing is
that the murmurs of the press and the
public do not seem to reach the heights Of
the cabinets "Olympian aloofness.'
An intimate friend of Mr. Brodrick, who
Is at present in touch with the war secre-
tary, tells me that the reason for the 81
lence of the ministry is that they do not
see what else is to be done. Hence it is
that Mr.. Gibson Bowles' demand for fire.
quent cabinet councils is not gratified. Mr.
Brodrick is sending out as many relief
drafts as he thinks can be wisely spared.
and he hesitates to-press for more colonial
volunteers, though. feelers have been
thrown out in that direction. The miscal-
cuiations of the length Of the war, how
ever, have now Become the subject of
humor In the music halls. AT one of the
West End variety houses an imperial yeo-
man appears on the scene and says he has
Just returned from South Africa. "How is
that. dlOlueT@peTIDTnGr asks. on re-
plies the man in khaki, "the war is prac-
tcally over" and then there is u big Shout
of laughter by the audience. So does
Comedy dog Tragedy
1t is we'll known in court circles that
King Edward IS worrying with undisguised
impatience over both the situation in South
Africa and the storm gathering about his
ministry at home The losses sustained in
lished with a cynical precision at the most
unpretentious moment by the war Office
are i'll calculated to allay the storm. But
the kings positionais Is exciting the utmost
curiosity, and the air is full of reports Of
angry and argent royal demands for ex-
plantations by the three ministers directly
responsible for the military stagnation.
Rumors Regarding the Kings Health.
Disquieting rumors about the kings health
increase rather than diminish, notwth-
standing the intimation that the slight in
disposition from which his majesty suffered
last week has disappeared. The stock ex-
change was sensibly affected yesterday af.
ternoon by these rumors.
Shortly after his accession I had occa-
sion to refer IN the columns Of The Even
ing Star to the condition of the kings
health. My informant then stated that
the king was suffering from the same NAL
ady that caused the death of his brother-in-
law, Emperor Frederick Of Germany and
of his sister, the Empress Frederick-that
is, cancer. l have learned recently that
King Edward has not this dreaded disease
In by any means the same form as his
relatives had. He has now what Is known
as the smokers throat" which leads to
cancer, and that his condition, while Sc
rious, need not have an Immediately fatal
effect.
search for cure for cancer, and his sud-
den and hearty expression during his re-
ception Of the members of the late medical
congress may be recalled. He said that
OIL fr ha a q OF, ro{C IN,
city in the world to the man who could dis
cover a cure for the fatal malady
Preparations for the coronation next year
dispel the assumption that any immediate
disaster to the king is considered likely
Moreover, it has been arranged that the
Duke Of York shall be created Prince of
Wales after the coronation, not by the
mere issue of a patent, but at a solemn
state function. That the disquieting ru-
mors are exciting so much attention may
be taken as evidence of how very precious
the kings health is deemed. It would be
for the public good If some reassuring Of
fetal statement could be made.
Coronation Causes Uneasfness.
The Forthcoming coronation Is causing
much searching of hearts and creating
much speculation, especially with regard
to what will happen in certain cases af-
fected by divorce. Some of these are pro-
vided for by orders already issued. La
dies who have been divorced, Of course
will not attend, Dut there are peereSseS
who have divorced their husbands, which
Is quite another matter. The case of Earl
Russell will, for, instance require some
consideration. Countess Russell, although
divorced, Is, by the decision in the CowIey
case, authorized to retain the title.
The earl himself has announced that he
will marry legally in England the lady
whom he thought he had legally married
in the United States That will be as soon
as the decree is made absolute, which will
be very shortly. There would then be two
Countess Russells claiming to attend