The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-20
LORD ROBERTS Is GETTING SUPPORT High German Official Talks of
 War Possibilities NOT Al ALL IMPOSSIBLE Baron Wrange Attacks Aged Art Col Iector In St. Petersburg Exhibit In
 the Presence of an Ariste-
 cratic Audience.
NOT AT ALL IMPOSSIBLE
By MALCOLM CLARKE.

Berlin, December 19.-"Neither an inva- sion of England nor, indeed, war is in any way impossible" says a high Ger man staff officer, who has come to Lord Roberts assistance after nearly all mili- tary experts have riddled his speech in the House of Lords and declared that he is seeing phartoms in bright daylight. "The mobilization of an army of 100000 men for an invasion of England" he writes. would be accompanied by enor- nous difficulties. but it is not impossible. The fortunes of war are always uncer- tain. Heavy surprise blows can be de- livered. If our fleet opposes the English at the proportion of one to three, who knows what will be the result if the pro- portion is reversed with regard to liabl- ity and discipline under fire? Who can guarantee the faultless behavior of the new all-big- gun ships at the right, per haps the most decisive, moment7
 Invasion is, indeed, within .he realm of possibilities and of feasibility viewed from my knowledge of the internal worth of our army and navy. But especially is 1t possible in the event of England being at the time elsewhere occupied. Once landing has been carried out, then. be- ileve, invasion can be carriedi out. Noth- ing would then seriously hinder us from making a clean sweep in the island and making ourselves quite at home
 Should the bulk of the English fleet re- appear and attempt to compel us to re- treat to Germany we would dictate terms of peace, for England's head, London, would be in our power"
 From St. Petersburg comes the report of scandalous incident which occurred in the presence of an aristocratic com pany assembled at the opening of an exhi- bition of old Russian pictures, which is taking place under the patronage of the Grand Duchess Constantine.
 Following a dispute over some trivial matter, Baron Wrangel the organizer of the exhibition, brutally attacked the aged and highly honored academician, M Bot kin. The latter is the possessor of one of the most valuable collections of pie lures in Russia, said to be worth $5,0OOO00.
 It is feared that as a result of the af- fray M. Botllin will suffer the loss of an eye. M. Botkln's son has challenged the Baron to Q duei and the Czar is said to have banisnod him from court.
 Maintaining that Russas only safe at- titude during the impending struggle over the Balkan question is rigirously to re- frain from attacking Austria or Germany, the influential Russian political writer, Menskikoff has written an article in the Novoe Vremya which, though 1t has wounded the pride of the Russian people, is nevertheless greatly praised for it's fearlessness and common sense We do not possess" the writer says, fin an ade- quate measure a navy nor an entirely trustworthy army, nor that source or strength which is termed patriotism. should consider myself traitor to the Fatherland if I counselled the govern ment to pursue an aggressive policy.
 "Defense is q different matter. Every nation, strong or weak, should be ready to defend itself, and I insist on defense to the very end to the last breath"
 Crown Prince George of Servia, who, since his trip to St. Petersburg, where he was decorated and mentally spanked by the Czar, has become imbued with ideas of his own importance, gave his ideas of the Balkan situation to an interviewer the other day.
 '"The war that Europe fears" he said, may come at any time, but l and Servia Go not wish war. We only demand what is absolutely necessary to guarantee Ser via's economic existence. We will never barter away our rights and we must have Bosnia for you can no more imagine Ser via without Bosnia than Russia without Moscow.
 .'When speak of the people of Servia do not think of the 9000,o00 living inside the frontiers of the present kingdom. but of the 100000 Serbs inhabiting the coun- try from Triest. to Macedonia, from the Adriatc sea to Bulgaria. These l0,0O,O00 have only one aim-a pan-Servian King dom.
 "Servia is destined to play prominent part in Europe and the Servian nation is the most formidable, determined and pa trioric people between the frontier of Germany and Asia Minor.
 "Nothing can sway us from our path; we must have Bosnia, which Austria can rever civlize. We are prepared for any, thing, and we have perfect right to mo- bilize, for il is our holiest duty to defend our national existence and ideals. We will steer our course, peace or war, until all Serbs are united under one king We will not passively await our fate-it is far bet tel to die fighting than to be the play thing of a great nation. Servia's fate may he delayed never changed. We may die,