Evening star., 1909-02-18
.HAS MANY UNIFORMS
King Edwards Honorary
Ranks in German Army.
DISPUTE. OVER NAVAL VOTE
Editorship of the Thunderer Topic
for Gossip.
DEATHS AFFECT SOVEREIGN
South Africans in London Aroused
Over Change in Transvaal Capt.
tal-Big Church Pageant.
DISPUTE. OVER NAVAL VOTE
DEATHS AFFECT SOVEREIGN
Special Correspondence Of The Star.


Special Correspondence Of The Star.
LONDON. February 6, 1909.
King Edward has large as
sortment OF military uniforms, holding
several honorary ranks in the German
army. He is to begin with field mar
shaL. In addition to this. he succeeded
Queen Victoria as colonel of the lst Prus-
sian Dragon Guards. and he has like
wise for many years been honorary colonei
of the 9Th Hussars, known as the "Bluch-
or Hussars,' a regiment with d1stin-
yuished war history from the date of its
raising in 175S. 1t was in the war against
Sweden that the regiment took as a
prisoner its future colonel in the person OF
a young cornet of the Yellow Swedish
IIussars. This was no other than the
afterwards famous Gen. Blucher, who
Joining the Prussion army, served in the
regiment and eventually commanded 1t.
The bestowal of these military titles are
interesting acts of international courtesy.
and King Edward holds MANY of them
Besides his German commissions he
holds the rank Of field marshal in the
Austro-Hungarian army as we'll as being
colonel Of the 18th Imperial and Royal
Hussars. He is also a field marshal OF
Norway, and should he. as is possible. pay
q visit to Spain. he will go there as pos
SCISSOR Of what is probably the oldest Of
all existing military titles. one reminis-
cent OF the days of the armada and the
conquest of America--that of captain
general in the army of Spain. He is also
honorary colonel of the famous Spanish
regiment Of foot. Zamora No. 8.
In Denmark the Hussars of the Guard
acknowledge him as their titular chief.
and in Russia he holds the honorary
Of ho France
and Italy are the only two powers which
have conferred none Of these titles upon
the king. Italy has rarely ever done
SO. and in France it is contrary to re-
the king. on occasions to wear the uni
form associated with the several titles
which he holds in the army of the coun-
try he may visit, the extent and variety
of his wardrobe, which, of course, includes
numerous British uniforms, may be imaG-
ined-
Contention Over Navy Program.
There is no longer any doubt that the
cabinet are at skies and sevens over the
program for the coming year. Indeed,
what one well Informed person describes
as "a sharp contention" is proceeding.
and the immediate point in dispute is the
amount of the naval vote for the coming
year. 1t is said that much temper is
is not impossible that crisis may be pre-
cipitated before many days are over. The
little navy men, are a small minority,
but they are important, and they are
threatening trouble, knowing that the
ministerial rank and file will be difficult
10 lead toward a+big increase. The con-
femplated increase for the coming year is
not SO big as is stated in many quarters,
but 1t preSuppOSeS a progreSSlonal IN
crease for some years to come. and 1t Is
this which the malcontents do not like.
The liberal party went into power to re-
duce expenditure on both the navy and
the army. Such a reduction was very
near to the heart of the late Sir Henry
Campbell- ell-Bannerman. But Sir Henry's
death changed the bias of the cabinet,
the accession Of Mr.. Asquith to the post
OF command meaning good deal more
than appe ared on the surface. Circum-s
stances. too. have made an increase In
the navy vote inevitable, but there is
some complaint in ultra-radical quarters
that a years experience at the admiralty
should have made 1.-The two Macs as
MacNamara. both of whom In their time
have girded against expenditure-lnto
''big navy" men.
Whether the existing differences will be
composed SO that the present cabinet
may meet parliament as an undivided
whole, Is still uncertain, but IL there are
to be designations they will be those of
the economists" The general feeling is,
however. that there will be no open rup-
ture. though it Is certain that relations
at the moment are very strained.
Gossip Over the Times.
Gossip has been busy lately with the
editorship Of the Times. 1 understand
the probabilities are that Mr.. Buckle.
who has edited the paper for some years
with great power. will retire. though the
date is not yet fixed. and that he will
be succeeded by Mr.. W. F. Moneypenny,
who has been more or less prominently
connected with Printing House Square
for the last fifteen years.
Mr.. Moneypenny was evidently born
under a lucky star. To write the Off
cial life OF Lord Beaconsfield and to OBJ
tain the blue ribbon Of the worlds jour
nalism before his forty-fifth year are a
combination Of opportunities not easily
matched. Mr.. Moneypenny left the
Times in 1899 for four years to edit the
correspondence with Printing House
Square.
He was closely identified at this pc
riod with Mr.. Cecil Rhodes and the re-
form party. He seeded from the Rand
lords on the question of Chinese labor
in 1902 and came home. During the war
he held a commission in the Imperial
Light Horse. Like Mr.. Buckle and Mr..
Valentine Chirol, he Is a director of the
company which now owns the Times.
penny to write the life of Lord Beacons-
field by process of exhaustion. at first
he had other and more obvious inten-
t!ons. His first nominee was Lord Rose
berry. but that elusive nobleman de-
clined the commission on the ground
that 1t would shut him out from active
politics for years.
A still happier choice. in some respects.
was Mr. George Wyndham, who was next
approached He also fought shy of the
task. Then Mr.. Moneypenny was called
in. When he left for South Africa in
1899 the Times had promised to find
him employment If he should be unable
TO remain in johannesburg. The Dis
raeli papers supplied the opportunity for
the fulhllment of this pledge, and the
forty-three packing cases containing
them were accordingly handed over to
him.
A few months later he was taken iii
and had to winter abroad In grea,
alarm, the Times sent for Mr.. Lucier
Wolf. who is also Disraeli expert, and
asked him to take up the work Mr.
Wolf was. however unable 10 accept the
conditions of the offer. To the great re-
lief Of the Times Mr.. Moneypenny re.
turned home completely restored tC
health and since then the writing of the
life has proceeded smoothly and unin.
terruptedly.
Kings Old Friends Passing.
The king has had ano her melanchol,
reminder of the fact that he has now
reached years in which the circle of ole
friends narrows not gently. but sharply
and fast. For the death of Lord Bur.