Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-19
COMMENT PROVOKED
Over British Fleets Visit to
the Baltic
FOR ITS MANEUVERS
GREAT PREPARATIONS FOR EN-
TERTAINMENT OF FRENCH.
Noted Correspondent Succeeded to Title
and Estate of Earl Cowper-
London Notes.

! Special Correspondence of The Star.
| LONDON, August I, 1905.
| Parliamentary opinion, privately expressed,
| Is not unanimously favorable to the choice
| of the Baltic meneuvering ground for
| the channel fleet at this juncture in inter-
| national compiled tons. Some members con-
| tend that it will have the air of a deliberate
| 'tread-on -the-tail of-my coat sort of prov
ocation. Sir Charles Dixie, who is an au-
thority such subjects, declines to express
any public opinion the wisdom of the
maneuvers, but saw no need for retcence
on the rumor of Germany's intention to as
sert the non-international character of the
Baltic sea. He did not think that any gov
eminent would advance such a proposition
seriously, and thought the idea could only
have been born of the ambitions of the
agrarian party in Germany.
Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge has very def
mite ideas on the matter and disposes of the
question with the usual common sense of
sailor. las far as the Baltic is concerned
he said, the British fleet has often visited
it. 1t went up to Cronstadt for the corona
ton of Alexander II and was at Kfel for the
opening of the canal, while well remember
Sir Albert Markham-he then commo-
foregoing to Stockholm eleven or twelve
years ago. Our ships go frequently to the
Baltic coast of Norway. They do not go
every year, and 1 do not know that they
have been recently; but there is absolutely
no reason why they should not.
LAS for the closed-sea notion, we aban-
doned it formally regards the English
seas in 1905, the Russians gave 1t up as re-
CARDS the Behring sea in 1924, the Ameri-
cans in 1894. AS to the Baltic, it was the
subject of an international agreement in
1857. which expressly declared it to be an
open sea. All this outcry is absurd L
wonder anybody pays any attention to it in
this country. Why the Germans would be
the greatest losers themselves If the Baltic
were closed sea- Then 1t would be like
the Black sea, and warships would no more
be able to go out than go In. Such an ar
rangement would therefore scarcely suit the
Baltic powers. Besides, our capacity for re-
taliation is complete that we could re-
duce GermanyS mercantile marine move
mentS enormously.
French Will Be Welcomed.
There is no question to the represent
tatives of the French navy being accorded
a hearty welcome when they visit the city
this week. The streets will be decorated
or lavish scale, equal to, If not exceed
ing that shown on the occasion of any
recent royal visit. The most striking fea-
ture will be the profusion of French mot
toes To this end a diligent search ap-
pears to have been made for choice eX-
tracts from Beranger, probably as sulta-
BILE acknowledgment of the free use OF the
English fleet was at Brest. Some of the
main thoroughfares of central London VIII
be traversed by the French sailors. Ap-
preaching the Guildhall by way or the
mbankment, BlackfriarS Queen Victoria
street and King street, they will return
by way of Cannon street, Luggate hill ara
Fleet street Throughout the whole of this
route they will find the streets brilliantly
decorated.
Among several large arches the most nota-
bile will be that at Blackfriars; on which
will be subscribed:
Toutes les mers Won't lui sourire
Qu'on est heureux sur un navire.
At Ludgae circus there is to be huge
canopy, for the erection OF which the cir
cular space Is SO appropriate
One of the most interesting features of
the forthcoming dejeuner to be given in
Westminster Hall will be the presentation
of souvenirs of this historic function. The
souvenirs will consist of some ten photo
graphs of the chief points of interest IN the
palace of Westminster. which nave been
taken from time TO time by Sir Benjamin
stone. M. p. These are now being hand
somely bound In vellum, and will be lald
on the tables in front of each guest a
similar souvenir will be handed to the
French ladies, who will be present as spec
tators of the brilliant scene.
The Foot Guards will furnish a guard Of
honor for the Victoria tower doors where
the French guests will enter the palace
They will be conducted to the royal gal
V.
cellor and Mr.. Speaker shall receive them
Thence they will be taken through the
house of lords and the ST stephens or
Central hall to Westminster nan. me
entrance and will proceed directly TO
their appointed places. The list or SPEAK
ers Is under consideration, and the only
thing definitely decided is, as matter OF
fact that the list will be headed by the
lord chancellor and Mr.. Speaker,
If the visit of the French meet Is not d
success from every point OF view IL VIII no,
he the fault of the admiralty. MY lords
have tackled the function as they would
tackle a campaign with thorough system,
so that everything has been arranged 10
the last detail. Even the French journal
lists have not been forgotten. They are to
be housed and entertained by the admiralty,
and a commander has been placed at their
DISPOSAL to assist them in their work 1t
is recognized that the international value
of the visit will lie not merely In the en-
ioyment of the visitors, but in the pub
icity given In the French press.
Times Correspondents Rise.
BY the death of Earl Cowper, Mr.. Aubo-
ron Herbert. the well-known Times CORE
spondent and ornithologist succeeds to the
title and estate. There must be solid
certainty, q serene confidence about success
sion to a title, when you succeed also as
Mr. "Bron' Herbert does, to q house in
St James square. Signing a new name to
ones letters might hardly carry conviction
to ones inner consciousness, but to feel
that one has a town house in that noble
spot must be the ultimate, irrefutable proof
of a new life. st. James square remains
what 1t was when Disraeli wrote in "Lo-
THAR:
He lived in a red family mansion built
by his ancestors q century and half ago.
when they believed that from its central
position. its happy contiguity to the court,
| the senate and the seats OF government
| they at last in st. James square had dis
covered site which would defy the vicissi-
tudes of fashion and not share the fate Of
| their river palaces. which they had been
obliged in turn to relinquish." And In a
| considerable degree they were right in their
anticipation, for although they have some
what unwisely permitted the clubs to in
wade too successfully their territory, st.
James square may be looked upon as Lon
| don's Faubourg st. German. and the
great patrician residing there dweils In
/ the heart of that free and noble life "of
| which he ought to be part
| 1t is strange that all this grandeur should
j be founded uDou swami The massive