Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

track along the Lohit valley empha-
sizes the fact that so far as engineer
ing obstacles are concerned the run
ming OF railway up the Lohlt To-
ward Sechuan would be a distinctly
feasible project.
Difficult Places in Country
As far as Rima on the TiDetan side
of the frontier, there would be no
very serious difficulty in building the
line. Beyond that the country Is diff
flcult. To reach Sechuan various high
passes. would have to be crossed, as
well as the Salween, Lekong, ana
Yangtze rivers. This is undoubtedly
formidable array of obstacles in
the way of railway communication be-
tween India and China are great by
any route. The altitude of the passes
do not represent their heights above
the surrounding country, nor are the
rivers the giant waterways into which
they develop farther south. What
ever the cost of the undertaking, Mr..
Williamson believes that compensa-
tion would be found in the facilities
afforded for quick communication be-
tween India and western China.
Such facilities should lead to an en-
ormous expansion of trade between
the two countries. At present, exports
from India to Sechuan have to be
carried by sea to the mouth of the
Yangtze and there comm noes an
other long and difficult voyage up the
river. If Sachuan were placed in di-
rect railway communication with In
dia an immense impetus would be Civ
en- to the development OF the natural
resources of the province, one Of the
richest In China.
Changes in Naval Forces
Early next year changes Of great
Importance will be made i'm the distri
button of the British naval forces in
the North sea. The second division Of
the home fleet, consisting Of the eight
battleships of the King Edward class,
and the second cruiser squadron con
sistng of the armored crui ers shan
non, Natal, Achilles. Warrior and
Cochrane, will he permanently based
on the Orkneys. These twelve larg
ships will be supported by twenty-four
destroyers
The first division of the home he t,
consisting Of four DreadnOughts, the
two Lord Nelson's and two other battle
ships, with the first cruiser squa drO7,
composed of the three Invncibles and
two other armored cruisers, viii, 1t is
understood, be based upon She rness
instead of Portland, as at present. The
Atlantic fleet will also retain its pres
ent base, Dover.
There Is reason to believe that the
Channel feet will be resuscitated under
a new name-as the flying squadron
and that ii will be composed of two
battleships of the Formidable type
with four OF the Albion class AM,
probably, some armored cruisers. It's
cruising ground will be the At antic,
hptWRRn ()IJaangtnMn
Six More BattleshIps
These changes will raise the fully
commissioned strength of the fleet II
home waters from twenty-five to
twenty eight battleships, and viii COM
pensatc for the reductions carried out
three years ago. Early next year the
China fleet will be remodeled. the ar
mored cruisers King Alfred, Kent.
Monmouth and Suffolk being replaced
by the more modern and powerful
Mnotaur. Shannon and Defense.
England, apparently within meas
urdble distance of some very important
changes in her shipping laws, as n re-
suit of the recent international dipio-
matte conference at Brussels As
things stand. the British rule is that
where ships are both found to blamo
for collision they shall pay a moiety
OF each others damage. The practice
often works out harshly. Thus, a Yes-
sci whose navigation may have con-
tributcd I'm but n minor and even tech
nical degree to the catastrophe, and
which escapes with comparatively
slight injury. may be called upon to
pay, on balance, large amount II the
other vessel and her cargo are seri-
ously damaged. The continental pTac-
tice is more discriminating. The court
takes upon itself TO assess the gravity
of the fault Of the one ship and of the
other, and appoTtions the liability ac-
cordingly. The proposal now is that
England should abolish her rule in
favor of that which finds more general
acceptance.
| a painful incident occurred the 9TH
er night I'm the Newcastle city council,
| resulting in the leaving of the sheriff 5
chair by w. r. Armstrong who was
appointed to the office on November
/ 9th. The sheriff, who is a total alb
stainer, had sad "the sheriff's room In
/ the past had been a drinking saloon
| and a disgrace to the men who had
managed it. Men had been wrecked
morally and physically. and sent to an
early grave through the influence of
! the room and its contents"
Painful Scene in Council
This was brought up as a matter of
! privilege and IL was moved that the
/ sheriff be asked to withdraw his state
ment Members declared that in the
| event of a refusal they would no long
er sit in the chamber in the company
of the sheriff. The sheriff refused to
| withdraw and amid a painful scene
! divested himself of his robe, the chair
| of office and took his place in the seat
| he had occupied before his appoint
ment.
Within less than a month King Ed
ward has lost two of his closest
! friends. The death of Montagu Guest
and Consuelo Duchess of Manchester,
following so quickly one upon the 9TH
er, have greatly distressed his ma
iesty, and the royal set can never be
the same now that they are missing.
For years Consuelo Duchess of Man