New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-22
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.

SPECIAL to The Ne~-Eorh Tribune BIZ French cAhis1

-af A
.,tst has probably been enlarged into a victory,
"a rfe japanese STAFF, whose third army is not
ct clearly accounted for, is massing its forces
~ as 10 profit by It's superior strength. Severe
s~bt,nr may occur any day. when the enyelop-
- movement by which the Russians may be
100 ont of their intrenched position at Lao
Yang is IN progress.
The loss Of one OF the best japanese battleships
.-- the explosion OF a Russian mine enfOrces
new he moral that the leviathans are at the
mercy Of the torpedo wasps OF modern naval
-srfare. Captain Mahan's closely reasoned ar
-,rnsnt that battleships with modified arma-
-nsr+s are Indispensable and that mosquito fleets
-.-ro- control the seas has been answered by
Admiral Togo's official accounts of the japanese
7,sas+er. Big ships have not done anything in
mic var for sea power. while torpedo mechan-
sen, has wrought all the damage. Togo's battle
s,,ins have not been as effective against Russian
.,-+ffoations as the wooden ships Of Nelson Rod
nav and Benbow were against the land batteries
:, tbeir day. The japanese adrniraIs chief anx-
ie+v has been 70 keep them out Of danger, since
.bere was no chance OF their fighting vessels OF
,heir own class. He has failed as completely 20
rrotect the Hatsuse against mines as Maka-
-or. who went down with the Petropavlovsk.
Naval experts here are impressed with the
startling insignidcance OF the means by which
costly floating fortresses and machine shops are
sent 10 the bottom by the chance impact or
regulated movement OF torpedoes, and they ac-
knowledge that the vulnerability Of the battle
ships IN the Far East would be increased II
submarines were scientifically operated against
them They admit that the resources OF coast
defence with torpedo fotilIas have been i'm
rneasurabIy enlarged. and that bartleships cost
ing 100000 can get little fighting on equal
terms on the open sea, and must play hope
less game Of hide and seek against moving or
stationary rorpedOes.
The publication Of the full text of Sir Robert
Harris memorandum favoring imposing a tax on
Chinese land. and obtaining about t60000O00
for the reorganization of the army and navy.
attracts much attention here, where the truth
IS discerne6 by thoughtful public men that Eng
land stands 10 lose whether Russia or Japan
wins. Sir Robert Harris idea is 10 provide ways
and means for enabling the Chinese TO defend
their own empire, and not 10 accept conditions
OF dependence on either St Petersburg or Toxic.
The Ttbetan affair offers fresh Illustration Of
the feebIeness Of the Chinese government and
the Inconvenience and risks 10 which England
Is exposed The British expedition is surround
ed with superior mobile force, and Is compelled
to remain defensive until It can be strongly re-
3nforced- Chinese influence is paralyzed, and
apparently the British must choose between q
hazardous advance 10 Lhassa and an ignominious
retreat 70 the Indian frontier. The moral effect
OF a retreat Is naturally dreaded n these days
Of Oriental revival when the Imagination OF
Asiatics is inAamed by victories over Western
civilization Lord Curzon. luckily, IS at hand,
70 give the British government advice on this
most difficult question.
Professor Ernest Rutherford has startled the
Royal Institution by a new theory Of the
esrths heat Instead Of accepting the scientific
tradition that the earth IS a molten mass which
has been cooling on for millions Of years, he
suggested that radiurn was the source Of heat.
and was not only IN the atmosphere. but n all
matter He considered that radiuul had been
found n sufficient quantities already to be ac-
counted as the source OF heat, and that It was
unnecessary TO allow a hundred million years
for the cooling process before life was possible.
as eminent biologists and biologists had con-
tended The lecture was attended by the great
est men OF science IN England, and the con-
illusions Of Professor Thomson's distinguished
pupil were regarded as revolutionary.
The new departure OF The Times" in reducing
the price 10 = for an annual subscription. with
a saving OF IS shiIings Is a sequel 70 the re-
ma-kable success Of the encyclopedias sales.
L is he-alded by page advertisements IN news
papers, and the threepenny casual purchaser
VII be hgeniously eoerced and coaxed into be-
coming a regular subscriber and saving some
thing over q halfpenny daily.
The political salons have been suspended for
the Whitsunride holidays after the failure OF
the Free Trade intrigue against the govern
ment. Devonshire House and Wimborne House
are IN hot haste 10 bring IN a new coalition
ministry, headed by the Duke Of Devonshire,
but there is no practical method OF getting rid
Of the present government. There was an in
against the government but Nj BalfouF and
Mr.. Chamberlain put their heads together and
ln|arted IT, The Free Trade ministerialists.
instead OF standing together, broke up in three
groups. one tn each lobby and stragglers walk
ing out Mr.. Balfour. by adopting an English
variant Of the French procedure Of passing TO
me order OF the Gay, again displayed consuul-
mate skill a tactician and increased his pres
use as leader. The political hostesses are
disappointed. for they have arranged a new
coalition ministry. distributed the minor offices
ana provided seats for secessionists from the
government ranks. but the opinion among the
Aeenest Observers has been confirmed that there
'@n be no general election before the autumn Of
next year. Mr.. Chamberlain's success in secur-
's control OF the Liberal Unionist organization
complete. he has also raised large cam
1Nsn fund and IS making arrangements for
-lh1ing the agitation OF tariff reform on a
&c scale from August to February Many
&C Traders frankly admit that while the coun-
~ now with them there is serious danger
maj ar. Chamberlain may carry the tariff
.sloFin issue II the end. owing 20 his personal
"'Aoence over the working people.
1he Whitsuntide holidays make another break
- me season and carry all the smart people
"'o The country II is not strange that town
muses. are selling badly and that tradesmen
-e complaining that the season is failure.