The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-15

10 now the British people. confident in
their own superiority. have lived in the |
assumption that their three little islands
would always be stronger than the great
aggregate OF German kingdoms and prin- /
cipaIities. Now they have begun TO ques- /
ton themselves and to wonder whether
or no they are not being outdistanced and /
cutpaced by the German empire.
This great welding Of states is a mighty /
business unit and is under the leadership /
Of a man who, were he In America would |
be captain Of industry Of the first rank. |
And as the British people have become |
frightened they have grown pessimistlc. !
50 pessimistic that they have begun to
doubt their own fancied superiority.
A great feet of battle ships. $50 IN all. !
has just been anchored IN the Thames. |
and thus the British taxpayers have been !
able 10 view the defenses Of the empire |
at close range and 10 speculate inteli- /
gently upon the ACCESSIBILITY of adding
eight DreadnOughts 10 the fleet OF not
This feet has simply been brought into
the Thames for political reasons one
prominent Englishman has told me, "for
the people who are not IN sympathy with
the Liberal government are crying for
more ships. The government has said to
them: We want more money, but we viii
not assure you that II VIII be put into the
navy Therefore. In order 10 show those
who are not I'm favor Of the liberal poll
cies that the feet Is al present sufficient
for every need of the nation II has been
gathered IN the Thames" There is no
doubt that this move was good one. for
since the dispersal Of the vessels one
Ha1
immediate completion Of sufficient Dread
noughts 70 make the British navy irwin
cible-on paper
What the Fleet Looked Like.
visited Southend while the forty miles
or war ships lay in and about the mouth
Of the Thames and saw with my own
eyes the greatest navy extant Southend
looks Ike Brighton Beach or a very small
Atlantic City, minus the big hotels. There
was only one hostelry OF considerable !
proportions, and that was better than
what one finds at Coney Island. A large
iron pier iutted out into the water and il I
was strung with bunting An electrical
display had in large letters. Welcome 10
admiral May and his tars.'
The narrow street opposite the beach
was strung with red poles 20 which small
flags were attached on long ropes. The
quaint little houses which faced the lane
were covered with signs 10 the effect that
England expects every man TO Go his
duty Remember Trafalgar" &c. while /
IN the street itself thousands OF men.
women, Jack tars warrant officers. and
children paraded by with good-humored
slcwness. Beyond them. on tae gray
waters OF the river. thirty-six grim. gray
war ships were strung along In ominous
silence. They were lean. formidable. (
gaunt A lire Of cruisers faced the land.
while beyond We're the hUlls OF the SAVAGE
Dreadnoughts. flying the British flag from
many spars and poles, and looking every
inch OF what they we're. "the bulldogs Of I
the sea"
There they lay IN one long. silent coll
uInn. with the torpedo desJroyers FAY up
stream and the heaviest vessels toward
the shimmering waters OF the blue At
lantc. while the crowd capped at the bull
Wark OF the nation IN wonder and delight
proud Of the might Of their country and
nlled with weil-merited patriotism.
British or American Tars SuperiorF
The crowd was good-humored and Jack
Tar was not slylar1Ing. Instead. clad in
neat blue and sunburned from exposure.
the men on "shore leave" walked by IN
groups Of threes and tours. Sometimes
five or more would go by arm in arm.
chatting the relocated soldiers good-na-
turedly and humming some song Of the
sea One look al them was sufficient TO
show that they were all in good health.
What particularly impressed one was
that they We're all wei shod in a stout.
black shoe. thicker than those worn ny
our men and more serviceable. They were
also shorter In stature than the men OF
the United States. A careful scrutiny of
the hundreds upon the narrow lane
showed them 90 be about five feet seven
in height on an average, with well-knIt
figures, open faces, and cheerful carriage.
They looked more bOyish than the Ameri-
cans. less. lean. and stockier. They also
looked less tough"
Not until late IN the afternoon did I see
single one who appeared TO be ut all
rowdyish, and, as several grog shops We're
open near the beach. it was surprising 70
ind that they were not crowded with the
Jackies.
Instead, as a Salvation Army band came
braying down the lane many sailors
dropped in line behind it and took an ac-
tive part In the parade. Two. indeed. car
ried the banner in front Of the marching
column and also led in prayer as the pro
cession came to a standstiu 1t spoke well
Tor the men behind the guns, upon whom
would rest the fate Of the British nation
should hnstilities commence with any for
eign power.
Jack Tnrs Make Good Impression.
Two days later 200 of these British
tars were given a spread In the guildhall
by the mayor OF London.
Dragging several light guns. and with
some Of the officers ashore. the long line |
Of tars paraded through certain sections |
of this gloomy town beneath flags, bunt- |
ing, and insignia. With that character |
istic roll Of the sailor lad they lurched up /
the street in good marching order. faint |
" cheered by the crowd, and apparently /
not enjoying themselves. They looked /
serious and determined.
As I watched them from the curb a /
red-cheeked "Bobbie" policeman said: |
well. what dye think o. our boys2''
They're great" I replied, but they're /
smaller than ours-shOrter, you know"
oh" said the Bobbie, I didn't think |
there were men In the world could beat /
'om on looks" And he turned on his heel /
in apparent dissatisfaction with me and /
my remarks.
But in spite Of these, there was admira-
ton in my thoughts for these men of the 4
l50 ships which are the most powerful in /
the world to-day and which, If the British /
people can keep up the pace will remain 4
the most powerful for many years TO 1
come, until, Ike the Roman empire, the |
British empire will totter and fall.
Can British Keep Their Supremacy /
But this is the supreme question in /
England to-day: Can the British public /
keep up the pace2 A deficit Of tremen-
dous proportions stares the nation In the I
face and like the new tariff bill in the
United States. the budget "a measure for