Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-23
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.


Russia figures up. officially. its loss in
ships in the japanese war at S113, ,o00O 900
This may be called a bottom estimate.
does not appear to cover the damage
vessels now interned in Chinese and Phi
ippine waters. 1t probably refers to Il
cost Of the vessels and their equipments
which have gone either into the hands of
the Japanese or to the bottom. 1t docs not
represent the reparable damage, but the
irreparable. This official figure. neverthe-
less, calls attention to and emphasizes not
only the terrific character Of the blow that
has been administered to the Russian em-
pire by this war but to the enormous cost
and extreme fragility Of naval property at
this stage OF the worlds affairs. 1t re-
minds the nations that, in putting from
100000 to $7O00O00 into the construction
OF a battleship, they are practically putting
that amount into an eggshell. which may
be crushed and ruined at a touch.
The secret suspicion with which French
men regard each German movement is we'll
illustrated by a recent article in a Paris
newspaper. 1t describes Germany as being
busy in Morocco to secure objects of barter
in view of future bargains with France,
and warns Frenchmen TO be on their guard
against a possible renewal OF the attempt
to secure their adherence to the Baghdad
railway scheme. The real character OF that
project Is, 1t says. now better understood
in France, where there is no longer any
temptation to accept the offer made 10 the
Paris Bourse of 10 per cent OF the shares.
The terms OF the concession have strength
ened the conviction that the railway would
assure the preponderance Of German inter-
ests from the Bosporus to the Persian gulf.
In this matter the interests OF France and
Germany are Identical The article declares
that "it is reasonable to suppose that an
attempt on the part of Germany to come to
a separate understanding with France on
this subject would fail as completely as did
the attempt made to disturb the entente,
. In the words OF NJ. Cheradame. TO
afford Germany the possibility of eompet-
ing the railway under it's exclusive control
would be equivalent to giving It absolute
control over Asia Minor and rendering the
kaiser master of the great international
route, extending from Hamburg TO the Per-
sian gulf" In conclusion, the writer re-
marks that the German scheme does not
take Russian interests into account either,
a circumstance which France will not be
disposed to ignore.
Among the interesting experiments to be
carried out during the French army ma
MOWERS in the east will be the employment
as complete unit of the cyclist battalion
recently formed at Chalons. The idea is to
find out whether It is possible to attach
large bodies of cyclists as a highly mobile
reserve to an army in the field, and TO use
them In combination with cavalry and ar
tlllery to check or Illustrate an enveloping
movement. General Langlois pointed out
recently that at present only cavalry and
artillery are capable Of making such a
movement with the necessary rapidity. and
that their action, unsupported by bayonets,
could not be sufficiently sustained to attain
its object. He argues that the existence OF
good roads makes the use Of strong cyclist
corps in European warfare not only pos
sible, but effective. and suggests that each
field army should be provided with a mobile
reserve consisting Of 5000 cyclists. $500
cavalry and thirty guns.
The Prussian authorities have Just pro-
mulgated a new law enforcing regulations
for the improvement Of the condition OF the
living places Of the poor It modlhes GER
tain local taxes In favor Of workingmen' 5
dwellings provided by philnnthropic socie-
/ ties. II requires all communes and man
orial districts with more than 1000 inhahi-
tants 20 adopt and issue regulations re-
speeting the use OF buildings for dwelling
and sleeping purposes. Moreover. in cases
of divided authority, II provides that the
minister OF the interior shall determine
where responsibility shall lie. Various
/ minimum requirements" are fixed. as. for
/ example. that no rooms may be used for