New-York tribune., 1901-02-10
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
THE NEW KING SHOWS RESOURCE. TACT
AND INTEREST IN HIS WORK.
THE DUKE OF CORNWALL. TO VISIT AUS
TRALIA AND CANADA-wAR Dis
PATCHES PUBLIsHED-A NEW
SERIES OF AMERICAN
NOVELS.


NOVELS
Cecyrisht: 1901 Ry The Nev-York Tricune)
IBY THE TRIBUNEI
London. Feb. 9-There is an impression that
the opening acts Of the reign are colored
by the Kings popularity. but II is evident that
no mistakes have been made. and that he Is
taking a hearty interest in his work and en-
ploying large reserves Of tact in doing the
right thing in the right way. largely at
tended meeting of the Privy Council was held
at Marlborough House to-day for clearing of
the arrears OF State business and making ar
rangements for the opening OF Parliament next
week with unwonted pomp and spIendor. II the
King shares the feeling of apprehension enter
tanned by other sOvereigns respecting the risks
incurred In the public appearances of royalty
he conceals 1t braveIy, and does not neglect the
duties which imposed by tradition. His
march to Westminster will be conducted IN
great state and the ceremonies there will be at
tended mainly by ne privileged class Peeresses
and peers sons already booked for the best
places at Westminster. and there will be a
muster of smart society in the galleries OF both
houses.
II is rumOred that the King will pay visit
TO Germany to the Empress Frederick as
soon as Parliament has been opened. and Queen
Alexandra may accompany him. The King will
probably be entertained by the German Enn-
peror before his return 70 England
While the plans Of the King for a foreign
journey uncertain, the intelligence that the
Duke of Cornwall and York will go to Australia
and Canada and carry out the original pro-
gramme for opening the first Parliament of the
new Commonwealth has caused general salts
faction. The announcement is satisfactory proof
that the alarming reports about the Dukes
declining health and Increasing feebIeness had
been unfOunded. His visit TO Australia is
garded as state event of great Importance in
stimulating enthusiasm for the imperial fedora
ton The Dukes title will probably be changed
10 Prince of Wales about the time of his arrival
in the South Seas.
The allowances and financial arrangements
made for Edward VII heir to the throne will
continue until six months after his accession
but Parliament will be required the present
session to order fresh settlement respecting
the Crown lands and hereditary revenues and
the civil list must be sanctioned in return for
this large income The annuities granted to the
heir 70 the throne and the members of his family
will also be determined. This is not included
in the schedule OF important business for which
the leaders of the Government and Of the Op-
position are summoning their followers. but il
will be more complex and delicate than any
legislation respecting army reform or the in
creased burden of domestic taxation Lawyers
still quibbIing the technical points in
voIved in the bad drafting of the law Of 1861.
dispensing with the necessity for the election Of
English and Welsh members Of Parliament after
the death Of the sovereign. but leaving the
Scotch. Irish and University members in a
state of suspense. Close constructionists aver
that fresh amendment TO the act will be
quired within six months. for the purpose OF
clearing the titles of all but the English men,
bers from cloud.
The official history of the war in South Af-
rica has been brought down TO August by the
publication of the dispatches of Lord Roberts.
General Butler General Hunter and General
Baden-P Powell 1t is a vOIuminous budget.
stocked with morals and structures which will
provide experts with employment for many
months. Lord Roberts's comments upon the
Sannas Post reverse are ambiguous. but Colo
mel BrOadwoOd is exOnerated from responsibility.
while Sir Henry ColvfIe is mildly censured for
indecision. This is the main controversial point
covered by these dispatches. Otherwise Lord
Robertss criticism is mainly directed against
the business side of the military management.
He has adopted Lord Kitchener's view. that
there was organized transport service for
South Africa when he took command OF the
forces and that that greatly vaunted Army Ser
vice Corps had gone to pieces. Members OF
that branch of the service have been reproach-
ing Lord Kitchener since January of last year
for interference with a well ordered system. but
they will now have Lord Roberts unequivocaIly
against them. General conclusions fairly based
upon these official reports are first, that the
power of the fighting line of the British army
is as great as ever. and. second that the busi-
ness management of the various supply SER
vices is as faulty at the time of the war in
the Crfmea. Lack of mobility has been the chief
hindrance TO the progress of the British arms IN
South Africa and the business services are held
accountable for it in their neglect to supply
horses and food systematically and in good
time Veterans in those services sarcastically
comment upon Lord Kitchener's own failure in
the course of twelve months to provide better
substitute for the Army Service Corps.
The campaign is apparently dragging because
nearly two hundred thousand soldiers are needed
for the protection of the lines of communication.
and barely more than twenty thousand mounted
men are available for active operations against
BOer commanders, and they are held up every
fortnight because their horses have given out
and cannot be replaced The weeks excursions
and alarms have not been exciting. but it is
singular that at the close experts should be re-
peating the same old moral which heard
after the occupation of Bloemfontein and Pre-
toria. that nothing but the lack of $4,000 fresh
soldiers prevents speedy close of the guerilla
warfare. While the War Office is actively en-
ployed in sending 10000 fresh troops mainly
mounted to the theatre of war. in addition TO
the colonial Ievies already mustered. there seems
to be no guarantee that there win be horses In
sufficient number TO enable the cavalry to huEt
down the Beers. One of the most interesting