New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Syr7 pathy 5cith Russia-Chamber-
lain'S RetRrn-Tke NezC Elements.


Copyright: 1904 By The Tribune AssociatsonD
london April l6-The Anglo-Fr agree
rue7ts which Lord I.ansdcwne has been
planning with admirable lscidlty have one con-
spicuouE effect Partisanship IN favor Of Eng
lands ally in the Far East has disappeared. and
sympathy for Frances ally has taken the place
OF blind, unreasoning zeal for Japan. The Eng
Msh press has united I'm sincere expressions OF
regret for the Russian naval disaster and the
death Of Admiral Makaroff and it has reflected
without doubt the magnanimity OF public opin-
ion. The nation having the strongest modern
navy finds il onry prudent admit with candor
that the most costly and scientific marine mech
anism is Enthusiastically and may break down
at any moment Whether the Petropavlovsk
WIS blown up by a japanese submarine, is
most probable or by a Russian mine. by the
explosion Of its own boilers magazine, the
moral is the same. that a levathan battleship is
81 the mercy Of the wasps. and is most formi-
dable in its energies Of seIf-destruction. The
British Admiralty may continue TO build heavily
armored battleships and cruisers. in accordance
with the preposterous and wasteful two
tion" standard but the experts know in their
hearts that the monsters for which the nation is
heavily taxed vulnerable TO attack from
submarine 7otiIla; that the blockading Of coasts
and the defence Of harbors have become i'm
practicable against the resources Of torpedo
warfare. and that the science Of naval arna-
y7ents has been revolutionized. the only
tsinty now being the substitution of smaller
floating carriages for big guns ir place Of
enormous fighting ships.
The lands operations in Corea and Manchuria
gre still closely veiled but. IN spite Of the conf
dent n1usters reported at St. Petersburg and
Paris Of the enormous strength Of General Kuro-
patkin's army. there is no proof that he intends
10 rak Ike a urotracted defence on the line Of the
Yalu The mobility Of the japanese forces has
not been remarkable. and It may be several
weeks before they are prepared TO reveal the
objective point Of the campaign. whether the
investment Of Port Arthur an advance tow
ard Moukden. It is highly probable that the full
extent Of the Russian naval losses is not yet
known and that Admiral Makarof's successor
win find himself SO helpless in continuing the
battle for sea power that Kuropatkin VIII order
= general retreat from the seaboard toward Arao
Yang. where a great battle is expected by the
military experts here.
The government has been temporarily
strengthened by Lord Lansdowne's diplomacy.
which has helped 10 ease the tight money mar
ket and sent I'd securities Of all classes. even
Kafirs The reduction Of the bank rate and the
unexpected success Of the London County Coun-
ell loans have made the early issue OF the Trans
vaal 3s probable. and this may be followed by
colonial loan and general rush Of borrowing
municipalities into the market The revival Of
the stock ri77Tlzsss frla he transtory, but IL is
fairly certain that investors have come forward.
and that buying Of mining shares and home rails
Is rel purely specalataVe. Operators on the
street cannot box the compass and find out
where they are until the Budget speech is de-
nvered, can the ministers steer straight
course until the member from West Birmingham
has disclosed the trend Of his own political plans
Mr.. Balfour has finally dropped Mr.. Brodrick's
absurd army corps scheme. and allowed Arnold
Forster free hand in carrying out Lord Esher's
reorganization plans for the army: but he is
playing a dangerous game in introducing a IL
censing bin which restricts the discretion. of
magistrates and establishes precedent for the
compensation OF publicans. and his compromise
Education bin is also a highly hazardous ma
nGuvre.
Mr Chamberlain. returning to London rein
vigorated in health and with renewed zest for
politics. is master of the situation. He may
heavily reinforce Mr.. Balfour by a display Of
Fabian tactics or by encouraging the Chancellor
Of the Exchequer 10 make a new sortie against
free trade on strictly revenue grounds He
may break up the Cabinet and upset the govern
aren't. All forecasts are worthless until he dis
closes what is in his mind respecting the future
q the government and his own fiscal policy
The purchase Of the Duke de Dino's unrivaIled
collection Of arms and armor for the Metropoli-
tan Museum sn New-Yorl and the postpone
Y1ent Of the auction sale in London at the height
Of the season, are announced here authoritative
ly There is disappointment among private col
lectors who had hoped to obtain the Henry
neUx helmet and other treasures. but there is
general expression Of pleasure IN Bond Street
and academic circles that the collection viii not
be broken W. since the Wallace collection Of
srmor is fairly complete and the most artistic
IN quality. There is no regret over the Ameri-
can capture Of these splendid spoils The price
paid by the trustees. fS0OOO is considered a
fair valuation by the dealers. 1t is not likely
that the aggregate figures Of the auction sale
would have exceeded ii.
Dr Baskerville's discovery Of new elements
has attracted much interest among men Of sci
ence His reputation Is already established here
ss an investigator OF methodical habits and gen
uineness. His researches are not questioned by
men like Sir William Crookes. Lord Rayieigh
and Sir William Ramsay They are not pre-
pared 70 discuss the subject until Sir William
crookes receives samples Of the two elements
snc experiments with them. He knows Dr.
baskerville and regards him as one OF the r,,ost
thorough investigators engaged in research
work, ana expects that the verifcatio- OF the
American experiments VIII speedily follow the
tests Instituted here. lie is not disposed 10 com
nit himself premsturely 10 any opinion Of the
new elements. since SIR William Ramsay himself
recently detected q mysterious substance while
experimenting 1or rsdium with crystals from
Oeyio2. and there is a possibility that this new
element discovered here may he identical with
Dr. Bsskervile's carolin.um or berzeIium Sir
v ihiain Ramsay and Sir William Crookes agree