New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-24


British statesmen and parliamentary leaders
seem unable to this plain fact clearly Or
seeing II, should act contrary TO what this fact
implies
Germany's foreign policy is largely built up on
the belief that lasting peace between England
and Russia is impossible; or if maintained, can
only be maintained at the expense of one or the
other This is one OF the main paragraphs in
the creed of the governing circles here Fur
thermore, It has always been held that Eng
lands foreign policy is made. not by her sover-
eign. but by her leading statesman and the
body OF advisers chosen by him from the pre-
dominant political party. This theory held good
throughout the sixty years reign of the late
Queen Victoria. And now in the year 1904.
with English Parliamentary government appar-
emily in its very zenith II would seem as If per
sonal government"-that is monarchic govern
ment-were once more to prevail in England.
King Edward VII appears to be demonstrating
this. and. strange to say, to the satisfaction OF
the great body of Englishmen themselves At
least he has been credited. both by the French
and English press with bringing about. FIRST,
closer and distinctly friendly relations with
France, and with present efforts to effect a sim
liar reconciliation with Russia. How much-or
rather how little-of this is true. must be mat
ter OF conjecture for all those who are not in
the secret And OF those who may be really in
Ngle secret. not one so Tar has spoken out. Ger
tainly. much of the recent philosophizlng and
point blank statements in the leading Journals
OF Paris and London on this topic seems to an
outsider nothing better than guessing. But
this much appears to be beyond question, that
attempts are being made 10 effect a sort of un-
Outstanding on disputed points between Eng
land and Russia
The London and the Paris press, therefore set
up a gleeful chorus. The burden of their lay is:
The growing isolation OF Germany" AS 10
that it is not thought here that either the Kaiser
or the imperial Chancellor. Count Won Bulow is
losing any sleep over such an assumption Re
cent events have shown that the Dreihund is
stronger to-day than it ever was. Again. Spain
has been admitted into ii. or virtually so. That
point settled at a personal interview be-
tween the Kaiser. the young King Of Spain and
his leading statesmen, on board the Kaiser's
Hohenzollern. within u Spanish harbor. WILL
lam IFS Mediterranean trip accomplished this
much. Then. as to Russia. Germany continues
to believe that while she may be willing at this
present juncture in her political affairs TO listen
to the siren voice OF England. inasmuch as TO
do so relieves her OF some unquiet moments,
she WILL after the war is over. resume her well
tried tactics IN Asia. tactics which are always,
directly or indirectly. directed against Englands
interests there.
cerned with the war in Far Asia than with a
war OF her own. small though It be. This re-
fers, OF course. 20 the rebellion Of the native
tribes in German Southwest Africa. the back
bone OF the rising being that OF the Hereros It
is the first colonial war OF serious dimensions
she has had on her hands. and hence the novelty
OF the situation and inexperience in this line
have invested events IN that large colony with
something OF the same interest which the
United States. The theatre OF war is unsavor-
able for German troops and for regular warfare.
There are only two small railroads. altogether
with an extent of a few hundred miles, and this
within country more than twice large S
Germany. with immense arid steppes. an alb
sence Of navigable rivers a sparse population.
and few towns other places Of supply. Be
sides all that the home government. we'll as
the army authorities. committed the blunder OF
undertaking both the enemy and these diff
culties. The military reinforcements sent out
from here to conquer or destroy the rebellious
natives instead OF being six thousand, had
been advised by the Governor OF German South
west Africa, Colonel Leutwein. were only
thousand strong, and additional reinforcements
though promptly demanded and granted, are
only on the way. The chief beIigerents there.
the Hereros have proved to be men Of much
more mettle than had been suspected to be the
them under the most unfavorable conditions.
and the Hereros have usually stood their ground
we'll though the fighting their part has al
most always been from ambush. They
armed, too. with weapons OF the latest model,
supplied them largely by British dealers across
the border OF Cape Colony. In this way the
losses have so far been disproportionately large.
altogether something like 90 per cent, since the
opening Of hostilities and several Of the expedi-
tionary corps have at this writing not been
heard from. II Will take months longer and
probably a good deal OF blood and money to def
initely subdue the Hereros. while their allies.
the Namaqua and Ovambos will not cost so
much trouble.
This particular German colony, located along
the southwest coast Of Africa and extending in
land several hundreds Of miles. was hitherto
looked upon as the most promising of all by
colonial enthusiasts. In fact. hopes had been
built for years past that considerable stream
OF German emigration could be diverted into
that channel. Those hopes must probably now
be abandoned, although the climatic conditions
In German Southwest Africa are favorable. and
although men with small capital. from $1,000
upward. II hardy and abstemious. have good
chance OF attaining moderate prosperity In that
country by cattle farming. mining and cereal
culture.
A singular fatality seems to rest on German
colonial enterprises. With the sole exception of
Kiao-Chau. If one can take the word OF Eugene
Richter one of the leading Liberals. for 1t. they
are not worth straw" Count Won Bdlow
joyed a short lived triumph when he had pur-
chased from Spain the Carolines and the La
drones But these islands seem 10 be as worth
less as the rest and German capital continues
TO be wary OF investing in colonies. The Reichs-
ha