New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-04

the aleged slackneSs or discipline In the navy.
But the tone of the French press is distinctly
friendly. and attributes the disturbance to
schOolboy exuberance of animal and of other
spirits too often evinced by seafaring men Of
all nations
on the other hand, the methods stated to have
been adopted by our troops in the Philippines,
details of which are republished here from
American papers, have provoked far more Sc
rious criticism, the tone of which Is indicated
by a leading article in to-day's Temps" so
long as the accusations against the United
States army in the Philippines were based on
private information upon the statements of
newspapers they might be relegated to well bred
silence because too grave to be credible. But
the question is now brought by the Americans
themselves before the tribunal Of public opinion.
Documentary evidence Of acts of cruelty, even
of torture, has been submitted to the Senate
Senator Lodge has communicated to the proper
authority dispositions of witnesses containing
what appears to be crushing evidence and an
investigation has been begun in the Philippines
by the order of President Roosevelt himself"
The Temps" then publishes the substance of
Major Gardeners report Of December 16. 1901
and concludes as follows: "All comment is need
less. but it is certain that President Roosevelt
is the man to defend the United States army
from any unjust accusations, and he is also the
man of all others to take measures to satisfy
his own conscience, the conscience Of his coun-
try and the conscience of the universe"
"PelIeas ct Melisande" a lyric drama in five
acts by Maurice Maeterlinck the music by
Claude Debussy, produced on Wednesday with
exquisite stage scenery and luxury OF costume
at the Opera Comique, may be briefly described
a a modern version of Francesca da Rimini."
Pelleas. the guilty brother-in-law, is slain by
Goland and Melisande after her lovers death
dies broken hearted. The music is at times sug-
gestive of the sentimentality of Massenet put
def1es the analysts for it flows on like snug
gish river a cloudy day. The part or Mel
isande was sung by Miss Garden with great
expression. The American prina donna gave
full meaning TO the passages wherever the COM
pass of the scene permitted the display of power
If Miss Garden continues she has begun she
has brilliant future before her. Debussy has
already set to music several poems by Swim
burne and Malparme, but this, his first venture
for the stage, is certainly Disappointing
NJ Brieux has put all his energetic personality
and combative nature into the realistic senti-
mental drama, La Petite Annie" produced last
night with marked success at the Theatre Fran
Gals in which the author Of Banchette' and
Evasion" in four vigorous acts makes a fierce
onslaught on the laws and social conventionali-
ties regulating French marriages. 1t is play
such as one expects to see at the Theatre An
tome rather than at the COmeQle tEanSalSe'
where its production is due to the courage of
Jules Claretie, the administrator general, who.
in throwing overheard the routine that has
hitherto fettered the house of Moliere has
opened the most conservative theatre in Europe
10 the realism demanded by the French public.
This is also the first play at the Theatre Fran
Gals where NJ. Guitry has had full swing as the
stage manager. The fashionable modiste's shop
in the Rue de la Paix. where most OF the action
passes, is a stirring picture of the daily life sur
rounding the Partisan working girl. Mile. Su-
zanne Despres, who a reputation at the
Theatre Antoine made her debut at the The
atre Francais Marguerite in La Petite
Annie" Her warm. vibrating voice and power
full emotional acting bring qualities the Come
die Francaise has long been waiting for, and
her rendering of the tragic scene of the last act
was veritable triumph
NJ. Lachambre. the balloon maker. received
by cable from NJ Santos Dumont before the
latter's departure from New-York. order for
a new airship, which will be No. S. 1t Will be
practically identical with No. 6. which the
Deutsch prize. NJ Santos Dumonts No. I is
now completed so that by May %. the date
when No. s will be ready, the aeronaut will have
a lotilla of three navigable balloons. No 6,
wrecked at Monaco having been rebuilt. From
May l until October 81 the Santos-Dumont
prize Of $3.50 for the first aerial navigator who
rounds the Eiffel Tower from st. Cloud with
no time limit, is open to competition.