New-York tribune., 1902-08-17


naval defence This has been done not onis On
paper where the naval estimates anu coAs.i u'
tson accounts of Great Britain far exceed those
OF France and Russia combined, but also on 'he
water. where without any unusual strain or
r,-eparation a home guard feet had been as
sernbled which could not be rivalled by any two
Fz,ronean powers Like all naval spectacles'
this review was bright in color ana Tnoho'ohous
and dull in movement. The mighty combination
Of tunnels. machine shops, engine houses anu
ordnance factories could not be seen as "hoie
but only in sections AS the excursion steamers
moved up and down the lanes the proper per-
spectiye was lacking for genuine plctorlal Ell
fec, and the resources Of rainbow decorations
with continuous circuits Of gay bunting from
stunted masts and spars. were inadequate for
converting the rnarvels Of marine engineering
t,+o halliday fleet with picturesque quality.
The sailors and marines, when massed TO the
best advantage made poor show. in COM
rarison with the frigates and ships OF line OF
Nelson's time for the full complement or the
largest hattleshir Ike the Magnificent, did not
exceed seven hundred men. What was impress
stve was the ma gnitude and workmanlike cnar-
acter OF the mechanical resources for naval war
fare available at moments notice for the oe-
fence Of the Channel ports.
One naval review closely resembles another
with elinpses of steel sheathed leviathans and
torpedo wasps. frightened with bunting and
bristling with guns. There are muffied thun-
ders from the land batteries and fleet when the
Kings yacht, with small ffotilia OF SIX YES
sels starts from the anchorage at Cowes ana
the salutes become continuous. one armoreo
monster grinly replying TO another with ironical
Hear" Hear" AS the procession passes
through the lines there are snatches OF music
zt.sra Ttaac IL
ors and marines. massed on the decks, unite In
hoarse cheers. The booming guns are hushed
when the Kings yacht anchors near the Royal
Sovereign and there is prolonged cheering from
the feet The admirals and captains are re-
ceived the yacht from launches, and the ex-
cursion steamers lift their anchors and head for
Portsmouth or Southampton without waiting
for the illumination of the fleet.
The closing coronation function. held in per-
feet weather by day, but with a dash OF RAIN
night, was witnessed by Generals Kitchener
and Roberts but rot by the Boer generals
whose negotiations last May promoted by
the Kings ardent desire for the restoration OF
peace The arrival Of Botha, De Wet and De-
larey was happily timed for the naval parade.
from a British point Of view. but Mr. Fischer.
Emily Hobhouse and other Dutch sympathizeTs
were disposed to be critical ond distrust the
Greeks when bearing gifts and paying comph-
ments. There was friendly competition among
the court. military and colonial officials in well
coming the three generals who had defed for
nearly three years the best British generals
and kept al bay an army Of two hundred thou
sand men, and MI Chamberlain. Lord Roberts
and Lord Kitchener were empowered to make
every arrangement for their luxurious enter
tainrnent by the Kings command. Mr.. Fischer
shook his head ominously. and expressed MI
Krjiser's own suspicion that there was plot
for capturing with kindness and hospitality the
generals who had never been caught in am
buscade. One of Lord Kitcheners officers and
Mr.. Fischer himself boarded the Saxon off Net
lev and the Boer generals were cordially in
yited TO attend the review. and all warned
against placing themselves in a false position
Dutch caution prevailed in contrast with British
hospitality. The generals paid a brief visit 70
Mr Chamberlain. Lord Roberts and LORD Kftch-
ener on the Nigeria. and took train for Lon
dcn without waiting to witness the naval re-
view While their overconfdent hosts were dis
concerted by this unexpected display Of Boer
obstinacy and dignity, the crowd assembled
around Empress Dock welcomed the generals
as though they were British heroes. cheering
than with fervid enthusiasm and something like
personal affection. The Boer leaders might with
reason have distrusted Mr Chamberlain, but
not the unaffected ma gnaninity of the English
nation. l. N Z.