Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-08
Comment in London Over His
Reception at Home.
FERRY ACROSS CHANNEL
SKETCH OF YOUNGEST MEMBER
OF HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Noticeable Decrease in Tea Shop Re-
eeipts-Antarctic Crew Attracts At
tention-New Coliseum.
LONDON. November os. 1901.

LONDON, November &c. 1904.
1t is difficult to account for the extraordi-
narily confidential mood in which the world
finds Admiral Alexieff on his recall to St.
Petersburg. Accounts of his reception by
the car and people differed so substan-
TALLY that one cannot say whether the ex-
commander-in-chief of the Russian forces
on land and sea and the inspired director of
the Russian forward diplomacy In the
far east was recalled for disgrace or pro-
motion. Judged by western methods, his
sudden loquacity In the form of press in
terViews may be read as meaning retire
ment, and this theory is strengthened by
the OBVIOUS attempt the admiral has made
10 JUSTIFY the share he took In the far east
ern bungling. He Is trying now to prove
that ne was not in any way to blame for
the series of disasters which have befaIlen
the Russian arms, and endeavors to shelter
mmself behind the stalwart frame of Gen
kuropatkin. He never interfered in the di-
rection OF the campaign, not he, did ne
ever nave an angry word with Admiral
Skrydlon Nay. more, he takes the credit
of saving Stoessel by informing him of the
designs which some Japanese spies had
upon his life.
This self-justification reads very much
as though AleXieff has been recalled to be
disgraced, or, to put it in a more compli-
mentary form, has at last been Judged
thoroughly incompetent. Yet he judges
himself to be man of some account In the
science. of strategy, and is sereneIy content
to crfticise the Japanese and tell them
where they have failed to make the most of
their opportunities. If they had forced the
assault upon Port Arthur, he tells them
earlier in the war, they could have had the
formidable fortress almost for the asking
and have employed the investing army to
nave won decided victories on the Yalu or
Liaoyang. Upon the ultimate success of
the japanese he is silent tiol no
throws out hint that If Japan should win
thoughts of any partition of China among
western powers or questions of the open
door will at once be thrown to the winds
1t is thought of this nature which is n dis
turbing factor in German far eastern diplo-
macy-at least gossip has it so at the clubs.
What will be the value of Kiao-chau as a
German asset when China has been ia
panned. particularly in view of the present
benevolent bias of German neutrality?
Japan, am told, Is simply waiting her
time to pay of old scores. and by no means
ignores the use to which German Golfers
have been put in assisting the advance OF
the Baltic fleet to far eastern waters. The
presence of four German Golfers off Cape
Verde no doubt will be duly marked down
in the japanese book of reckoning. And
when she has finished with Russia, and set
tied this little scuffie,'' as Russian resi-
dent in London has termed it, will turn her
attention to other matters of moment in
which other European powers are directly
concerned. Small wonder that Germany
should entertain fears of a yellow peril,
which Japan will probably see that she is
the first to feel.
Steam Ferry Across English Channel.
A bill will be introduced in France this
month to obtain sanction for steam ferry
to carry trains across the English channel
The subject has been under discussion for
many years. Dupuy de LONE, as long ago
as 1870, was prevented by war from carry
ing out his scheme, and the late Sir John
Fowlers scheme fell through some thirty
years ago. although the opposition was
slight. The success of the ferries In Amer
lea on the Hudson and East rivers, and
across Chesapeake bay, is instanced in
favor of the plan. The last named, running
from Cape Charles to Old Point Comfort.
is a far greater distance than the proposed
line from Dover to Calais. Since the ad-
vent of steam ferry boats trade between
Denmark and Sweden-Copenhagen to Nal
mo, about twenty-three miles by ferry boat
and from Germany to Denmark-Warne-
munde to GjedSer-has increased by leaps
and bounds. Heavy machinery and glass
ware come from Germany into Norway,
Sweden and Denmark, instead of from Eng
land as formerly, the facilities OF transport
are so great nowadays owing to the ferries,
and goods are not damaged and shaken, as
they would be in course or transshipment
and detraining.
Plans of twin-screw steamers have been
submitted by Armstrong, Whitworth IL Co.
and several continental firms. The average
tonnage would be about $500, the length
$50 feet by 80 feet. In order to allow the
trains to run on board at low water special
hydraulic elevators have been designed at
Lille to lower the trains to the required
water level and run them on board the
ferry steamers in two sections. The trains
would be secured to rails on the steamers,
to insure greater stability at sea, by SIM
pie attachment. Cold-storage vans will be
used Interchangeable on the Anglo-t'rench
railroad systems. An agreement has been
entered into with the Wagon-Lits Compag-
ME, and the management of the whole Will
necessarily be shared equally between Eng
land and France. Statistics of the Danish
steam ferry boats and of the American
have proved the success and economical
value of this method of transport. The
capital of the company will not be more
than 100000, and perhaps rather less
Youngest Member of Commons.
Viscount Turnour, the chosen of the
Horsham division, is not only the youngest
member of the house of commons. having
lived but twenty-one years. but also pos
sesses the distinction of claiming as grand
mother the oldest peerest including in the
definition of the word "peeress' the wife of
a peer This is the dowager Duchess of
Abercorn, who was born ninety-two years
ago. and married the present Duke of Aber-
cOrn's father in 1882, the same year in
which her half brother, Lord John Russell,
carried the reform bill. The dowager
Duchess of Abercorn-the grand duchess she
might be called-traveled from London to
her Sussex seat last week to be present at
the return of her grandson to parliament
for the county. The duchess life story has
few parallels in the annals of the peerage
She has lived to nurse her grandchildren's
grandchildren, one of these great-great-
grandchildren being the grandchild of the
Hon. F. w. Lambton, M. P. She cele-
brated her nnety-first birthday in the pres
ence of 146 out of 2G5 direct descendants.
Her memory goes back to Waterloo She |
was married when Queen Victoria was in
the school room, and lived to enjoy fifty |
three years of almost unclouded married |
bliss She has one son in the house of |
lords another in the commons Uord |
George Hamilton), and three grandsons in ]
the house of commons. Lord Turnour |
making the fourth. Lord Turnour's pa
ternal grandmother died only few months |
since She was born in the same year as |
the dowager Duchess of Abercorn. and was |
also married in the same year; but, though |
she had nine children, her descendants are |
not very numerous.
Falling OF in Tea Shop Business.
The manager of a very popular company |
with many tea shops scattered over the me- |
tropolis explains the fall in its profits this |
year by the fact that men now go home 10 |