The Washington herald., 1908-04-19
FOREIGN NEWS NOTES
German Paper Urges Increase
in the Kaiser's Navy.
MUST FOLLOW BRITISH LEAD
Question of Removing ZoIa's Body
20 the Pantheon Continues 10 Be
AEitated in Paris-ImpeFiaI Decree
Points Out Evils of Opium-IceIand
and Denmark in a WrangIe.

London April 1s-The recent naval de-
bates in both houses of the British Par
lament confirm the German Hamburger
Nachrichten in its frequently expressed
opinion that the relative position Of the
German fleet must improve TO an extraor-
binary degree from the moment when
only really frst-class vessels are built.
In former years, it states. that is,
until 1906, the fact was fully appreciated
in England that the German feet would
never be dangerous OF even cause the
English much trouble in a fight as the
individual superiority OF the English
ships was too great The English even
doubted that the Germans could ever
built ships as large as theirs, but this
doubt. it adds, has now been removed,
and hence the increased anxiety. The
organ OF the traditional Bismarckian
policy then continues:
1T is true the English can at all times
lay down twice as many ships as We.
bat IL they did so their budget would be
swollen TO enormous proportions, and it
must not be forgotten that England also
requires a very great number of torpedo
boats, of submarines, and of small cruis-
ers. and that her ports and harbors must
be enlarged or increased. Above all,
however. it must not be forgotten that
in the case Of war with Germany, Eng
land would be compelled in future TO
stake very much more than she has hith-
erto calculated upon. The more ships
she builds, too. the more difficult il will
be, as experience has already shown, 10
increase the technical personnel TO a
corresponding degree without a deteTi-
Grafton of its quality. The oft-repeated
statement that we would not improve our
position in regard to England by build
ing good ships and by aceelerating their
construction Is thus proved 20 be super
fetal and false. Each new first-class ship
increases Germanys power, however
many ships the English may build.
The question Of removing Zola's body to
the Pantheon continues 10 cause heart
burnings In many quarters in Paris. The
latest demonstration comes from the Due
de Montebello, who, with the assen. Of all
his family. has written to the government
demanding authorization to remove the
remains of his illustrious grandfather.
Marshal Lannes, from the Pantheon to
the family vault in the Montmartre Gene
terry. Confronted with such an unprece-
dented demand, the government will prob
ably refuse to recognize any right on the
part of the Due de Montebello to with
draw his ancestors body from the na-
tiOnal sepulcher. The only two knoWH
precedents for disinterment from the
pantheon are those Of Mirabeau and
Marat, whose bodies were removed by
the order of the convention.
Another imperial decree has been issued
pointing out the evils of opium, and stat
ing that the British government has
agreed to decrease its importation for a
trial period of three years in order to
see whether the cultivation OF the poppy
and the number Of opium smokers Is
Iessened. Should such be the case, i'm
portation viii be further decreased grad
ually. The decree advises the people to
abandon the habit and orders the en-
foTcement Of the existing regulations and
the elaboration Of further measures 10
deal with the evil.
The Danish Icelandic committee which
was appointed TO revise the constitutional
relations between Denmark and Iceland
is at present occupied with the settle
ment Of the financial points. In this con-
nection. It Is learned. from well-in-
formed source, that the Danish members
presented statistics according TO which
Iceland owes Denmark $4,000 crowns
for subsidies from 100 to 1907. The Ice
landers. however. have arrived at an
other result. declaring that Denmark
owes Iceland 100000 crowns according
to statistics dating from the sixteenth
century until 1907.