Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-08
MORE GUNS ON WARSHIPS
Great Britain May Have to Follow
Other Nations.
STRANGE PLAGUE OF MOLEs
Little Animals Causing Immense
Damage to Farms-Program
Against the House of Lords.

on the SUBJECT OIL ndNal cOllStl uStioh al
less on account of the number of armored
ships to be laid down than on the amount
Of money to be spent on the vessels IN the
new financial year. The point Is sun
undecided, and the decision is likely TO
he deferred. Among we'll informed naval
architects there is natural curiosity TO
know how far the new designs have been
affected by foreign naval developments.
Some of England's rivals are working
rapidly away from the Dreadnought idea,
and greatly increasing the cost OF units.
Since 1898, in fact, the United States
naval authorities have gone from the 49,
500 tons of the Maine to the $4,000 tons
of the two projected ships. The next
lot of French ships are to displace more
than 81 900 tons, while SO far England
has decided on nothing bigger than 30,
900 tons.
In other words, England S rivals seem to
he intent on outdoinG her in kun power.
AT any rate it is not TO be ignored that
after the Delaware, of 10000 tons, with
ten 12-inch guns in turretS, all on
the center line of the ship, the Americans
are contemplating a vessel of $4,000 tons.
On that displacement, with two decks, an
enterprisinS naval architect might get
sixteen big guns. At present not much
is thought of three guns in one turret,
but the Russians like the idea. Moreover,
in the earliest Japanese Dreadnoughts and
in the French ships of the current de-
sign, there are sixteen big gunS-four
12-inch and twelve 9.4-inch, of fifty cal
ibers The fact seems to be that sooner
or later England will be forced into fol-
lowing this lead at a considerable increase
of naval expenditure. How far Sir Philip
Watts has been allowed to go in his new
designs is, therefore, an interesting spec
ulation at this moment.
Extent of British Empire.
There was issued recently the fifth
number of the Statistical Abstract for
the British empire In each year from 1893
to 1907. Commencing with area and pop
ulation. and dealing with the United King
dom, it appears that with 121 ,090 square
miles the estimated population in 1907
4,53S.11S, giving 342.4 persons per
square mile. The total population of
the British empire is given as 3So 3o7 900,
and the area, II 600 square miles.
equal to $40 per square mile The eSti-
mated population of London (adnlinistra
tive county, in 1905. appears at 4,795.757.
as compared with ,297 for the census
of 1881. Ii would appear from these sta
tiStics that London has only about half
million more population than New York
city.
a good many singular claims have been
made under the workmen's compensation
the one brought last week in the Cardiff
county court. \ carpenter who had been
engaged III putting IN d shop front at
Canton was savagely bitten by a flea,
and a result claimed that he was I'M
able Ia follow his occupation. The plain
tifs solicitor explained that his client
was bitten by the insect in the course
Of his work, and was unfortunately too
i'll to appear The defendant. in his evil
dencc, admitted that the plaintiff had told
him of the fea-bite. and showed him
his leg, and, he went on, lit was more
like the bite of bulldog OF course,
an insect which can bite like a bulldog
lis not to be trified with.
W. Robson, sanitary inspector to the
urban district council of Leadgate,
small mining and iron manufacturing
town in Northwest Durham, advances. In
a report which he has just made to the
council, original remedy for the high
rate of infantile mortality which prevails
In many parts Of the country. Mr.. Rob
son suggests that an act should be passed
compelling the curfew bell to be rung
in every town and city at 8 pm, warn
ing people, under penalty. to have all
children under twelve months old in bed
at that hour. That would undoubtedly
tend toward lowering the death rate, he
mortality is due to the custom Of keeping
young children out of doors at hours when
they ought to be in bed and asleep.
The French Steel Tariff
The president Of the Sheffield Chamber
of Commerce at the annual meeting
ferred in vigorous terms to the new
French tariff, which. if passed, would he
said. almost annihlate the steel trade be-
tween Sheffield and France. 1t was not
protection, but prohibition, and was in
tended as such. Not only were the du-
ties heavy, but the ingenious arrange
ments made as to the technical constit
uentS of steel would necessttate the send
ing of the French cost before goous could
be admitted. These restrictions were pur-
posely suggested by French manufactur-
ers in order to seal up the French steel
trade into water-tight compartments and
thus obtain monopoly. The London
Chamber of Commerce later decided to
cooperate with the Sheffield and other
chambers of commerce in making repre-
senta tons to the leading chambers of
commerce of France.
In every county and in almost every
country parish of the south and mid
lands, moles have appeared this winter in
numbers quite unprecedented. Even from
he railway train one can see field after
field ploWed up by them, in some cases
the freshly turned heaps being not more
than foot apart. Many grass fields in
the neighborhood of Peterborough look
| from distance like rough plowlands. In
some of the light Surrey lands to the
north of Guldford one can al any mo-
ment see the process of the throwing up
| of these mountains OF Sc. and terriers
have been taught the difficult art of kill
| ing the moles as they tunnel near the
surface THE earth almost tumbles over
your boots you walk, said Surrey
keeper.
In parts OF Leicestershire il has been
proposed to levy a rate for reducing the
plague HuntingdOnshire is Overrun. The
appearance of IA North HertfOrdshire park
has been ruined, and the same appearance
| of innumerable sited heaps is to be OBJ
served in fields north of Bournemouth
| and others near Reading. The increase of
moles is due to the scarcity OF hunters
and trapDers in recent years. On the
other hand, foxes are becoming scarce
| in England that many of the hunt clubs
| have nothing to DO
Abolishing House of Lords Power.
]. A. Pease. chief liberal whip. speak
ing at Plymouth, said that while Mr..
| Asuuith and his colleagues would not be
dictated to by an irresponsible body as
to the time when the appeal to the coun-
try should be made the issue was quite
clear II would be an appeal to abolish
the veto power of the house of lords
The appeal to the country would come
before many months were over and he
urged west country constituencies to re-
turn liberals determined to end the veto
mower of the house of lords. He held
that the commons. when they came Into
power of appealing al once TO the people
dunn,