Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-16
IMPETUS TO THE NAVY
Appointment of Sir John
Fisher is Commended,
HIS ADMIRALTY w DIRK
LoNDoN's SORRY EXPERIENCE
IN STREET LIGHTING.
Breach of Promise Case Interests the
Flite-Railway Refreshments
Whistler Exhibition Opened.
HIS ADMIRALTY w DIRK
srec.nl c.rresrendence Of I'VE Evenlpg Scar

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
LONDON, February p, 1905.
The best thing the present government
has done probably during its whole term of
Office was the appointment of Sir John
Fisher as first sea lord of the admiralty.
He is the right man in the right place, and
IT is owing to MIN that the British navy is
bcirE slowly but surely brought up to the
highest state Of efficiency. The bold move
of getting rid of old ships and thus clearing
the decks for fresh action and looping OIL
useless expense has given the best possible
impct,s to tie navy, and best of all Tor the
country the expenses of the navy are less
under the new regime.
| understand that there has now been
virtually completed at the admiralty the
preparation of the navy estimates for the
coming financial year. which will show
SAVING of from six 10 seven millions, as
consequence of the reorganization under
Admiral Fishers scheme. An early draft
of the estimates, am told, placed the pos
shit saving at from three and a half to
four millions: but now that all the details
have ieen worked out. it is seen that it Will
he yer, much greater. 1t is not to be as
stunned. however. that Admiral Fisher in
tends that the navy estimates be reduced
by the amount named, it is highly prob
bile that a considerable portion of the
to strengthening the fleet.
The British army too, is coming in for lit
tie reform beginning at the roots. The nu-
mer0is criticisms that have been made OF
the cducat ional requirements of British Of
fees since the South African war have
apparently had effect and at the staff col
lcse the old era of idleness and ignorance
has gone forever. Sir Henry Rawlinson,
the recently appointed commandant at the
college, has infused a new spirit into It's
curriculum. The young gentlemen who find
their way into the army thinking it to be a
comfortable career are finding the inces-
SAINT round of work and duties at the col
lege so irksome that they are retiring IN
high disgust.
Indeed those who do not show sufficient
ability and aptitude for real not toy,
soldiers career are either advised to take
their talents to some other profession, or
find their progress effectually barred by the
There are few people, other than the
''curled darlings'' themselves. who will re-
gret that the army is at last becoming the
profession that must be taken seriously by
those who enter it.
The result of this stringency in the eX-
aminatOns and the general feeling of dis
trust as to what may happen in the army
has reduced the supply of officers SO as to
alarm the authorities. The Grenad!er
Guards have nine second lieutenants dong
duty n place of twenty-four, and the Cold
streams have seventeen out of the same es-
Establishment. The Irish and SCOTS Guards
are similarly shorthanded The army is
annual wastage is about $50 officers, and
nothing like this number is now being
made up. The same dismal tale is told in
the militia and volunteers, and altogether
the state Of the army is just now giving
rise to- much pessimism.