New-York tribune., 1904-09-18
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
For Iron and Steel Combinations
Var Operations in Winter Unlikely.


'specIal to The New-York Tribune by French cablel
Copyright: 1904: By The Tribune Assoolation)
London. Sept. 1.-THE premature attempts to
form a British iron and steel combination two
years ago failed because it was impractcabIe to
hnd a basis of valuation for the goodwill and
plant Of so enormous an industry. There
series Of important consultations of rival firms.
and these followed by the fusion of
the largest steel interests in Scotland. This
combination has been exposed 10 the under
cutting Of prices by English producers and has
been forced TO retaliate In self-defence. The
leaders OF the steel industry in Scotland and
the north Of England have been convinced that
watfare is fatal when trade is menacted with
destructive competition IN Germany and Amer
lea, and have arranged a conference next
week. They expect to reach an agreement
respecting the prices OF steel plates and other
branches OF production. and practical meth
ods for combining the interests Of the two Sec
tions This important fusion OF producing firms
In the north OF England and the Clyde will open
the way for a complete combination OF the iron
and steel manufacturers OF the United Kingdom.
The CobdenItes assert that trusts impossible
under free trade but self representation involves
combination here as in protection countries.
The military attaches with the Russian ana
opinions OF the strong and weak points of the
two armies. The lack Of initiative seems the
main defect OF the Russian officers. who hang
back and wait for orders when the soldiers under
them are being slaughtered The Russian artillery
practice IS good and the guns are equal in range
and mobility TO the japanese batteries. The
japanese scouting IS superior to the Russian,
especially when the batteries are moved The
terrible losses on both sides are due mainly to
armies depend for attack or defence. While one
force is as brave as the other. the Japanese
army IS more thoroughly trained IN German
infantry and artillery tactics. While a winter
campag gn Is threatened from St Petersburg il
IS probable that operations will be suspended
after the capture of Port Arthur and the occu-
patton of Moukden by the japanese. and not
resumed until both armies have been heavily
reinforced. The experts agree that Russia IS
In the superior position for raising recruits and
Japan for meeting heavy war expenses. The
opinion prevails among military here that
the Japanese VIII go into winter quarters at
Moukdeu and not assume the offensive until
next spring. except possibly at VIadivostok
where a fleet can be brought into action. The
optlmists unable to suggest a more practical
method OF bringing the wax to close than an
offensive and defensive alliance between the
bell igerents for the future command Of the
North Pacific and the control Of China. French
journalists and Russian conservatives play with
this idea but there is no proof that any Foreign
ONCE is seriously impressed by 1t.
The solemnity with which the leader writer's
discuss the Judgments OF the Vladivostok prize
court amuses men in the British diplomatic SER
vice. The decision of the case OF the Cachas
was n foregone conclusion when the law had
been defined In the Cars ukase respecting the
classification of foodstuffs as cortraband OF
war. and the prize court was under obligation
to administer it. One of the best informed off,
cias tells me that prize courts and naval officers
have work cut out for them. and that the only
method OF settling the Calchas Arabia and
Knight Commander cases is the diplomatic one
since England and the United States cannot
accept the principle that foodstuffS are contra
band of war; and Russia must ultimately pay
heavily for the confscatOn of cargoes OF that
sort. The same informant predicts that the
operations of Russian cruisers In searching and
seizing ships the Red Sea and the Mediter-
ranean win never be repeated in future war
fare. since the United States Government is
likely to summon international conference at
Washington for the purpose Of defining CONTRA
band of war and regulating naval operations
against neutral commerce
The naval expansionists here are alarmed
by the political rumOr that Mr.. Bafour fn-
tends to take three or four pence from the
income tax before ordering a general election.
They leap to the conclusion that there viii
be a shrinkage in naval armaments. and
give warning that there must be re-
duction IN Admiralty estimates while Ger
many continues to increase her fleets and
menace the supremacy OF British power.
The revival of the discussion of a secret under
standing between Russia and Germany is due
to the activity of the Blue Sea patriots in the
Admiralty, rather than the animOslty of Mr.
Maxse and the other Cerman-hating writer's
Sensible men smile at the absurd attempts to
prove that the naval expenses Of the country
must be enormously increased when the Rus
sian fleet has been half destroyed and England's
Continued fourth page.