Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05
is REALLY MALIGNANT
Positive Character of Afec-
ton of Kaiser's Throat.
BEARING ON POLITICS
AN ENGLISH ARMY POSITION IS
ACTUALLY UNSoUGHT.
Delays in Shipbuilding Death of
Noted Writer Loss to English
Literature.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LONDON, February "a, 1904
have received from an authoritative
source, in which 1 can place entire reliance,
positive information that the character of
the affection Of the kaiser's throat is really
malignant. 1t is impossible to overrate the
significance of this information. The be-
nign nature of a growth which appeared in
the same spot as that which killed his
father was, however, unlikely. When 1t is
remembered that his mother also succumb-
ed to the same disease, less surprise will be
felt at the announcement than would other
wise be the case.
The political danger to the world involv-
ed in the fact that the kaiser is suffering
from mortal disease consists in the natural
impulse of an eager and rejecting mind to
realize before his death a portion, at all
events, of the scheme that he has set before
himself as essential for the peace and pros
perity of Germany.
1t would be idle to speculate on the par
ticular features Of that scheme which may
affect foreign interests, but 1t Is evident
that the understanding between Russia and
Germany is sufficiently complete to enable
the former to denude her western frontier
of those troops which in the event of war
with Germany would be first In the front
What consideration Germany receives
from Russia for moral and possible mater
ial assistance cannot be known. In any
case, the death of the Emperor Of Austria
would throw the whole question of pam
Germanic ambitions into the melting pot.
The kaiser's health may prematurely de-
velOp the pan-Germanic policy, and an at
tempt may be made to procure an outlet in
Adriatic waters which may suddenly trans
fer the anxious attention Of the world from
Port Arthur to Trieste. Perhaps, however,
pan-Germantsm will not survive the mon
arch who has inspired 1t.
Army Job Goes Begging.
II Is very curious to see the new post of
inspector general Of the British army prac-
tically going a-begging. 1t Is not nearly SO
lucrative or so important a post as was
that of communicative chief. Hence, I ain
assured that when 1t was offered. as mat
ter of course to Lord Kitchener he de-
clined with thanks, and the Duke Of Con-
naught was the next to recaive the offer
OF the pest.
The association of the name of Lord
Grcnfell with the post Is ridiculous. Had
the duke accepted the offer Lord Grenfell
would have had that Of the command of
the Third Army Corps But the duke made
1t condition of his accordance that GER
tain regulations respecting the Office should
undergo modification, and the fact of his
not being appointed would be an indica-
ton of the inability of the war council to
comply.
The duke had an audience of the king
the other morning and also called at the
war office. subsequently. Sir William But
Ter was wired for and left Davenport for
London on Thursday night. 1t is not too
much to say. adds my informant, that a
better Inspector general than Sir VILLA m
Butler could not be found. and his an
pointment would be but fitting compensa-
ton for the ISLANDERS and aspersions cast
On his character at the commencement OF
the South African war, which he suffered
by his evidence before the war commission.
Delay in Shipbuilding.
Very serious complaints are being made
at the admiralty regarding delay in the
progress of ships now building for the Brit
ish navy, owing to the absence at the
builders works of material ordered by the
admiralty from other firms. In this cate
CORY there Is not only armor and gun
mountings, but engines for dockyard YES
sells and auxiliary machinery.
1t is possible that some Of the battle
ships of the King Edward class will be in
this position, and several of the cruisers OF
the Devonshire class are in a like case
The explanation is said to be that the con-
tract for the hull is often given out under
strict agreement as to delivery while vel
the details of boilers or gun mountings have
not been settled, and that the armor q I'd
the guns and mountings have not even beer
ordered.
The ships of this years program afford
proof of this. Three battle ships were or
dered from the dockyardS fully two months
ago, and four cruisers of the Duke of Edin-
burgh class from Fairfield, Elswick. Bar.
row and Pembroke three or four mouths
ago.
Good progress has been made in VIVA,
may be termed the initial stages, so that the
builders will be able to take delivery OF
armor before long; but this armor has not
yet been ordered, so that 1t Is certain to be
behind time, although the armor-plats
makers have at great cost equipped thei,
works for rapid construction. Time, how.
ever, is an essential element in the harden
Ing of the plates, SO that they cannot bs
hurried.
Nor has anything been done in the way Of
ordering gun mountings. These are com
plicated masses of machinery, where ex
treme accuracy is necessary, and thus
ought to be ordered along with the ship
Here also the manufacturers have done
everything to expedite construction as wei
as precision, having formed In their erect
Ing shop great pits. SO that the whole struc
ture. from the bottom of the ship to the CUR
muzzle, can be fitted before dispatch.
The conditions would seem to sugges
that the best results could be got by givins
| the contract for a ship complete to one firm
as is done by foreign governments gettint
warships from British firms. This ID a tru,
| explanation why foreign ships are built II
Britain in so much less time than is re
| quired for British ships.
Loss to English Literature.
BY the death of Sir Leslie Stephen Eng
| lish literature loses the man who has beer
almost on all hands accepted as the on,
consummate artist In prose who had sur
| vtved from among the giants Of the nine
| teenth century.
| 1t is indeed, as a literary artist, first o.
| all, that he will be remembered; an artis
always conscientious. always writing hi
| best; lover. not so much OF words as the,
| sound, as of the beauty of words in thei
/ lucid expression of consecutive and nicely
| balanced thought; an artist. the seventies
/ of whose style were alleviated by the happ,
1 phrase rather than the ringing period; al