Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-01-07
LATEST LONDON LETTER
ARMY INCOMPETENCE IS
SHADOW Of CHRISTMAS
Increase Of Navy--Evidence Of Social
Barriers Breaking Dowu--Drunk-
enness in GlaSgow--Wash-
ingtOn Picture.

|
fog and dirt made Christmas week of
evil memory in England. Depressing
gloom, in thorough harmony with the
weather, settled over the country. The
coasts were strewn with wrecks,
commerce was out of Joint and the
puols was bitterly digesting the criti-
cism of the British army. The de-
mand for Major General Sir Henry
L. Colvil'c's resignation, thrown as
sop, only served to whet the ravenous
appetites Of those who are bowling
for the responsibility of the reverses
in South AZ i.c being brought home
to individual.
More heads are demanded. Where
so many must be blamable II is felt
that the selection of General Colville
is woefully inadequate, II not unfair.
Indeed, II Is already said that had not
the yeomanry force at Lindley, which
Colville failed to relieve, included
some of the nobility and other ini1u.
entail persons. Colville would never
have been recalled. The bitterness
felt by these yeomanry at being COM
PEELED to surrender because, as they
allege, Colville refused to render the
aid within his power, has never died
out and II will probably result in one
of the most interesting court martials
in the annals of the British army,
upon the result of which will depend
the fac of several other high officers
who have proven unequal to the &C.
CASTOR.
The liberal papers comment severe
ly on the acceptance by the war office
of a contingent of Maoris from New
Zealand The Star says:
THE effect of this stupid blunder
on the Dutch will be terrible. After
declining to employ Indian troops, we
are taking a paltrv hundred Maoris.
This will not only infuriate the Dutch.
but II will insult the Indian troops.
who will regard II as a declaration of
their inferioritv to an inferior colored
race. Go on. o government of mud
dlers! Even the gods could not save
you from your own invincible folly"
However, there are signs Of the
dawn Of that common sense, the lack
of which the English critics so de-
plore In the military system. for the
cavalry now going out to South Africa
lis discarding the lance and carbine and
substituting for these weapons rifles
and sabres. After over a years fight
ing the authorities have woke up to
the utter uselessness of lances and
carbines. considering that thousands
of British soldiers have never seen a
Boer during the many engagements.
While Great Britain Is tied hand
and foot in South Africa, the navy,
which Is not escaping the wave of
criticism, Is quietly increasing its
strength and morale. For months both
men and ships have been kept In an
unusual state of readiness. and there
are now building in British yards no
fewer than eleven battle ships. nine.
teen cruisers and fourteen smaller
vessels. totaling nearly 100000 tons.
These include vessels which have been
tried but are unfinished.
The gradual removal of the social
barriers which formerly restricted
English political and educational life
was never better instanced than by
the appointment this week of Mr.. 10.
seph Owen to a fellowship at Oxford
Six years ago Mr. owen was mill
hand at Oldham, helping to support
his poor parents. he attended at night
the University extension lectures, and
so much ability did he show that the
lecturers got up fund and sent him
to the great University. where, with
his wife, he settled down in an hum.
BILE cottage. He knew no Greek and
little Latin. His first success came
when he won the Brackenburg history
scholarship, to the surprise If many
learned, aristocratic competitors. Four
. years OF determined, uphill work
hn In . nn u
; drew near. On position in these de-
pended Mr.. Owens whole future.
/ A few weeks before the ordeal his
young wife died suddenly. Mr.. Owens
friends thought 1t impossible for him
to accomplish anything; but the mill
hands grit stood the strain and Mr..
owen gained the coveted first class
with the degree. his appointment as
extension lecturer quickly followed
and Mr.. owen lectured where, ak
years previous, he had learned. The
climax in his career came this week
when Pembroke College elected Mr.
owen out Of all the Oxonians to the
lucrative and honored post of fellow,
ship.
There are few original pictures OF
General Washington In England, and
hence the discovery Of another NINA
ture is interesting. II is by Samuel
Folwell and is dated 1891. Another by
the same artist is now In the posses
sion of the Historical Society of Phila
delphia. dated 1876. The new find Is
supposed to be an excellent likeness
II represents Washington wearing a
}pigtail.
Glasgow. which the Christmas and
New Year season has made notorious
for the drunkenness exhibited in It's
streets, has acquired possession Of an
old mansion house situated in a de
serted part Of AYRSHIRE, at a cost OF
$1,000, where habitual drunkards will
be sent for terms varying from three
months to two years. The authorities
+, hope to effect cures by making the
inmates do farm work.
!, PUSHING THE CANAL BILL.