Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
.bUNGLED OVER NATAL
British Liberals Likely to Hear
More
ABOUT THE RECENT CRISIS
Plans for Two More Big Ships Like
Dreadnought.
RECEPTION OF KING ALFONSO
Growth Of the Popular Observance of
Anniversaries-Va of Sem
timent- Over Notables.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

| The liberal government Is likely to hear
more of the Natal affair, which was turned
| from critical point only by surrender on
| the nome governments part. Neither colo
| mails nor English are satisfied at the out
| come. No one actually contests the point
| that the imperial government has the power
| OF vetoing colonial measures, especially In
| matters referring to defense and military
| affairs, since the colonies are dependent on
| Great Britain for their defense; but the
| manner in which the Natal affair was con-
| Quoted has aroused deep anger and resent
| ment abroad and at home. After leisurely
| waiting fifteen days to do something the
| government suddenly took drastic action,
and twenty-four hours later backed down
and allowed matters, as decided by the
colony, to take their course. There is
much anger among the liberals at the sorry
figure the government has cut. The older
and the advanced sections each blame the
other, the plain man is blaming both. and
the handful of conservatives is looking
almost pleased with itself and the world.
Big as the ministerial majority is, it can
not fail to be affected by a continuation of
hUmiliations of the sort to which 1t has
just been subjected.
The government. recognizing the gravity
Of the crisis, has already. l am Informed,
telegraphed to South Africa full reports of
the essential part of the speeches delivered
on the Natal crisis and a complete report
OF Winston Churchills speech on the
ton to adjourn, which tended to vindicate
the ministry from all blame in the matter,
was sent as corrective to the earlier and
condensed versions of the same speech sent
by the ordinary news agencies. While this
action of the government won the unapl-
nous approval of its supporters in the lob
bies. 1t is not likely that it will pass UNI
challenged by the opposition.
Those who have the most difficult ques-
ton before them for settlement just now
In the political world are the unionist lead
ers in the house OF lords. The trade dis
putes BILL with the immunity clause pro-
tecting the funds Of the unions against
damages in conspiracy" cases. will soon
be sent to the upper chamber, and Lord
Lansdowne and his colleagues have already
grasped the fact that in their reception of
| 1t there will be the chance of a crisis of
| the first Importance. If they reject the
vital clause they will invite a pitched bat
| tie with the liberal party, and the question
| to be decided is whether that struggle prom
| ises brilliant justification for the exist
| ence of the upper house or defect which
| must permanently cripple, and perhaps
| frally destroy, its authority under the con-
stitution.
| There is great deal to be urged In favor
of both Views. If the lords take their cour-
| age in their hands they will not want for
| strong and serviceable arguments. They
| have only to meet the prime minister, for
| instance, with a few telling quotations from
| the speech of his own attorney general.
| And those who are inclined to bold meas
| ures so so far as to predict that the claim
| of the trade unions will awaken lively re-
| sentiment among the general public IN the
| course of the ensuing debates-that the fear
| of a trade union tyranny will be wildly
| aroused, and that the peers will be justified
in posturing as the true opponents of popu-
| lar opinion against its elected representa-
| tives, and to gain credit second only to
| that with which the rejection of the house
rule bill condemned them.
On the other hand, it is realized that If no
real movement of feeling sets in against the
measure a half-hearted resistance will be
! undignified. and a stubborn opposition
| would be practically fatal. II a majority
| numbering more than two-thirds of the
! house of commons really has the country
behind it the less tall talk there is about
the intentions of the house of lords the
| better Time will show whether the pledges
| extracted from liberal candidates represent
the real wishes of the country or not. So
the shrewd heads In the house of lords may
be expected to keep their counsel for time
but watching eagerly for every sign of re-
| Spouse to the energetic onsaughts which
are already being made on the bill.
|
Arrangements are being made by the ad-
miralty for the early laying down of two
more vessels of the Dreadnought class, and
two vessels of even larger tonnage and
greater gun power One of the latter will
be built at Portsmouth and the other in a
private yard. The designs are completed
and the general specifications are expected
to be finished by the end of April. Mean
while great official interest is being taken
In the progress of the Nelson, the sister
ship to the Dreadnought, which is being
built by Palmers' at Jarrow. If the hope
that she may be launched in June is real
lied the time occupied in her building will
be record for a private yard. as that in
the case Of the Dreadnought was for Ports
mouth.
Few realize the great size of the newer
submarine boats and that the later British
craft are to be of as great displacement as
the torpedo boat destroyers. SO that they
viii have much greater radius OF action
and greater fighting power. Admiral Four
nier. one of the foremost of French naval
officers, has made report to his govern
ment on this subject, and advocates that
some of the new French boats should be
given radius of action Of from $500 to
5000 miles-equal to transatlantic voy-
age. These he advocates because of their
suitability of protecting the Indo-China
coast and the gulf of Siam. This not only
necessitates considerable supply of oil
fuel for the engines, but more comfortable
quarters for the officers and crew, 1t is
contended that the arrangement should be
such will enable the vessels to remain at
sea for twelve days.
It is therefore intended that some of the
new vessels to be built this year will be
of much larger size than their predecessors
| In order to make a big step toward the real
ization of Admiral Fourniers wishes, which
are generally approved. The design of these
larger boats will be subject for consdera-
tor by specially appointed committee of
| experts. Germany has voted over quarter
of million sterling for submarines, and
every other country is moving quickly in
| the same direction, SO that In a few years
each navy will have fleets including vessels
| of considerable size. 1t is for this rea-
| son that so much attention Is being given
| to the subject in this country, and as the
| earlier boats are certain to be obsolete in
year or two. 1t has not been considered
| worth while adopting in them the later inn
| proyements. The absence of these account
for all the breakdowns. indeed, the acci-
dents have afforded many suggestions now
| embodied in the later vessels, which are
giving most satisfactory results.
King Alfonso is expected to arrive In the
Holent in less than three weeks. and prep
arations are already being made for his
reception. Princess Henry of Battenberg. as
the governor of the Isle of Wight, Is d.
/ rectly responsible for maintaining those In
| ternational courtesies which are observed
| when the island is visited by foreign royal
ties While, therefore, the royal wooer
| will observe strict ncognito during their
4 rrocspca n, English waterS he will recog-