The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-01-10
GIimpses of
the Old World

BERLIN, Dec. "a" Neither an in
vasion of England nor, indeed, war is
in any way impossible says a high
German staff officer, who has come to
Lord Roberts assistance after nearly
all military experts have riddled his
sneeeh in the house of lords and de-
clared that he is seeing phantoms in
bright daylight.
s.The mobilization of an army of
100000 men for an invasion of Eng
land" he writes, "would be accompa-
MED by enormous difficulties, but it is
not impossible. The fortunes of war
are always uncertain. Heavy surprise
blows can be delivered. If our feet OPP
poses the English at the proportion of
one to three, who knows what will
be the result if the proportion is re-
versed with regard to liability and dis
cipline under fre9 Who can guarantee
the faultless behavior of the new all
big-gun ships at the right, perhaps the
most decisive, moment?
HFTnvasion is, indeed, within the
realm of possibilities and of feasibility
viewed from my knowledge of the in
ternal worth of our army and navy,
But especially is it possible in the
where occupied. Once landing has
been carried out, nothing would then
seriously hinder us from making a
Il
ourselves quite at home.
"Should the bulk of the English fleet
reappear and attempt to compel US to
retreat to Germany, we would dictate
terms of peace. for England IS 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
exhibition of old Russian pictures,
which is taking place under the patron
age 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 academieian,
M. Botkin. The latter is the possessor
of one of the most valuable collections
of pictures in Russia, said to be worth
$5,00O,0 900.
It is feared that as result of the
ARRAY NJ. Botkin will suffer the loss
of an eve. NJ. Botkin' s son has chal-
lenged the baron to a duel and the
czar is said to have banished him from
court.
Maintaining that Russia s only safe
attitude during the impending struggle
over the Balkan question is vigorously
to refrain from attacking Austria OF
Germany, the influential Russian poll
ticsl writer. Menskikoff, has written an
article in the Novoe Vremya which
though it has wounded the pride of
the Russian people, is nevertheless
greatly praised for its fearlessness and
common sense. GIVE do not possess,
the writer says, Gin an adequate meas
ure a navy nor an entirely trustworthy
army. nor that source of strength which
is termed patriotism. / should con
slider myself a traitor to the fatherlanc
if I counseled the government to pur
sue an aggressive policy.
eeDefense is a different matter. Every
nation. strong or weak, should be ready
to defend itself, and l insist on defense
to the very end, to the last breath. /"
Emperor William and every member
of the imperial family must practice
most rigid economy from now on ant
indefinitely. This, although his annua
income is estimated conservatlvely a.
$10.00O,000.
This CALLING lack of money may ac
count in part for the present almost mel
ancholic state of ruler who thinks thai
wealth is as much his by divine right
as is sovereignty.
This fact may explain rightly why
the crown princess. mercifully wishing
to help those widowed and orphaned BY
the recent mining disaster at Hamm
had to sell below its cost a diamond
tiara worth $4,000.
Again and again socialist members O.
the reichstag have deplored the emper
or's extravagances as frightful. Blu
he recognizes extravaganza only il
others.
Recently the king of Greece, who re
ceives "pittance of 100000 year
demanded more money from the state
Emperor William, commenting on tina
very broadly. limited that if Kins
George could not live on that larg'
amount he had better let the emperor
put one of his sons on the throne o.
Greece. as he could get along very nice
ly on 100000.
The emperor has been literally pour
ing out money on works of art, IN re
storing old German castles. in rebuild
ing Achilleon, the beautiful marble
palace in the Island of Corfu, which h
bought from the empress of Austria
estate. The empress found the castl'
high up on the hills, not fitted for he
cultured taste. Emperor William spen
100000 in changing and improving
the castle and in laying out parks which
he himself designed. On his last visi
to the castle several servants accom-
panied him.
FROM LONDON.