Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-28
GERMANY AND, RUSSIA
Students Of Politics Agitated
IutJpQs
By Rumofs.
-. IL,
~ 81
MILITARY SCHEMES
LORD woLsELEY's MEMOIRS ARE
FULL OF INTEREsT.
Another New Theatsr'f for London
Americans After Whistler Etch-
ings-English Gossip.
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

LONDON, November Is, 1908.
Students Of foreign politics are greatly
agitated by the rumors, which are every
where accepted as we'll founded of some
sort of treaty having been entered into be-
tween Germany and Russia
Additional probability: is given to these
stories by the further rumors today that
Count Lamsdorff. the Russian foreign min
lister, is shortly to be retired in favor OF
NJ. D'Isvolsky, the present minister of the
car at thecourt Of Denmark, for this gen.
tleman who mas been minister at Tokyo,
is great personal friend of Count Won
Buelow, the German chancellor, the two or
them having been Ambassadors at Rome TO-
gether.
DIsvolsky is popular in Germany but dis
liked in Japan and his appointment would
not improve the situation in the far east,
for he altogether misunderstood the mika-
dos people, and when the Anglo-Japanese
alliance was concluded he was recalled to
ST. Petersburg.
Count Lamsdorff, 1t is believed, does not
see eye to eye with Admiral AleXieff, the
czar's viceroy in the far east. and the for
eign minister's fall would indicate that the
admiral's very forward policy meets with
the full approval of his monarch.
But the Russo-German treaty is the seri-
Gus concern of the moment. and it is diff
cult to believe that it would mean anything
else but an alliance between the kaiser and
the car in the event of England assisting
Japan.
Russia is evidently securing the help Of
Germany and the chancellories of Europe
are naturally anxious to know what the
kaiser Is to receive in return. Nothing may
happen until the death Of the Austrian en-
peror: but when that event does take place
the Russo-German agreement may have the
effect of altering the map of eastern Eu-
rope.
The breakup of the Acknowledgements
empire has long been regarded as a likely
result of the present reign, for the emper-
or's nephew, who is his heir, is unpopular
and weak. and Hungary is known to be
eager for independence. whilst Bohemia,
Galicia and Croatia are also anxious for
autonomy.
Military Schemes in Existence.
Military schemes to these ends are be-
neved to be in. existence and known to
Russia, to whose intrigues they are no
doubt in part due, and 1t is thought prob
able that the kaiser has been drawn into
the matter with the promise Of Austria and
the Tyrol for his share oftthe spoil.
Germany's ambition lies that way. for the
sake of the splendid natural military from
tier to be obtained by it, ard there is a very
strong party in Austria. which is largely
German in race and language. in favor of
the country becoming part of the German
empire. The Russo-German agreement may
provoke an alliance. between England.
France. Italy and Spain. 81
A new factor in the far eastern situa-
ton. which is being closely, watched. Is the
evidence of the awakening of China The
unmiStakabie and no longer concealed In
tenttons Of Russia with regard to Man
churia seem to have Z foused the latent
courage of the Chinese and to have driven
them to make preparations for armed fe-
sistance.
should this movement prove to be serious
there need be no doubt that the Chinese
would join with their enemies of few,
years ago, the japanese. against common
foe and Russia would think twice before
facing such a combination. China has the
numbers and Japan the skill to lead direct
and organize. Nor would pluck be lacking
Lord Wolseley's Memoirs.
Lord Wolseley's Memoirs. which have just
been published, do not carry the story OF his
life further than the close Of the Ashantee
war, which, by the way. he characterizes
as the most horrible war he was ever in.
Lord Wolseley, who seems to have touch
OF cynicism in his composition, says that
il the story Of his early military career
should interest the general reader he VIII
continue 1t to the date when he gladly
bid goodbye to the war office and ceased
to be the nominal commandments of
her majesty's land forces" Should he do
SO we may expect some spungent CRITICISMS.
In the last chapter in the book, In which
the ex-commander-in-chie comments on
has something to say to the civilian would
be reformers.
Keep your hands off the regiment" he
cries I've iconoclastic civilian officials who
NEEDLE and muddle in army matters. Leave
the management Of our fighting men to
soldiers of experience in our British army
of old renown.
Whatever criticisms may be passed on
Lord Wolseley's book, 1t Is certain not
dull.
In military circles the book is eagerly
discussed, and one officer in speaking of 1t
said Lord Wolseley has trod on nobody's
corns in writing his book, unless 1t be on
the toes of Lord Lansdowne and Mr.. Brod-
rick"
Lord Stair. whose name is very well
known to Americans and who Is lying Sc
riously Ill, came into the title in middle
life. He is now in his eighty-fifth year.
and was a harrow boy when George Nv
was king, and his commission In the Scots
Guards was one of the first that Queen
Victoria signed. He has distinguished
line of ancestors.
Another New Theater.
Yet another new theater Is to be built in
the West End. this time in the Haymarket,
on the same side of the street as His Majes-
tvs Like another new playhouse projected,
it will have no pit. and may be called the
Globe, two theaters bearing which name
have already existed in London. Excluding
there are already forty-six playhouses In
Greater London" and five new ones are
projected in the West End Most people
agree with Sir Henry Irving's recent COM
plant in America that the number is IN
creasing out Of all reason
But the owners evidently think otherwise,
and not without caused They are not losers,
but gamers by the theIfsands of pounds an
nually lost in theatrieaas speculation and
the competition for th6feases of theaters is
so keen that, althoughethe foundation stone
OF one OF the new hohses,L the Waldorf in
Aldwych. has not yet been laid. 1t has al
ready been let to Messrss Frohman and
Curzon. the former of whom is also acquir-
ing Terry's. nns g.
These two gentlemsh oand Mr.. George
Edwardes look like hatiEgfevery theater in
London before long, but the public will have
no objection as long asfhey are given good
shows 10 3
After Whistler Seedlings.
I learn that coilectoEss have come all the
way from America cine1ysif not solely. to
procure some of the rare Whistler etchings
and dry-points in the eoHsefon of Mr.. Nor
timer Meupes, which IS now being dispersed.
Rarity counts for vepy much of course,
from the standpoint OF the collector; hence
what is said to be the only known impress
sion of the portrait of the artists mother