The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

I \ the good old days Of long ago it used to be
customary to refer TO England as "merrie" and
Britain as "the tight little island" But England
is not very merry III these decadent days and
fright instead OF tight should be the adjective
of her description The pail Of semipanc is upon
her and you have only to mention the word Germany
10 obtain results
For to the British nation. whose power up to the
last few years has been unapproached upon the sea,
great rival is rising. Germany (cramped for space
and desrous OF epansion) is laying heavier and yet
heavier levies upon her people for the formation OF
great navy.
Great Britain fearful of the results should any
other nation possess sea equipment even remotely
approaching her own, which has been long COM
pletely dominant, builds her Dreadnoughts at
crushing cost Of money and, so far, has kept her
dominance.
But in the last year two another factor has
entered into the calculations of the world powers
which has added TO her apprehensions. A engine
OF destruction has come which WILL perhaps in few
years render almost useless the mighty fleets of
ships 10 which she now looks for her defense.
The flying ship has appeared, doubtless to be-
come subject to a wonderful development within the
next few years. which has even now rendered Great
Britain practically part Of the mainland of Europe
And in regard to airships Great Britain IS in
backward stage than her great rival, whose expert
1nents in the field Of the air have been upon a far
more extensive scale
It is for this reason that for the last year so
Britain has been in state of CONSERVATION which is
greater than that which was active the time, 100
L.
invasion Of Napoleon Even conscription was dis
cussed for while but that was something which
administration would dare to press, much against
the spirit Of the British nation has it always been
considered
There has, however been a general campaign in
the direction of tanning the English military ardor
Field Marshal Lord Roberts is going about England
preaching the formation of shooting clubs, Kipng
is firing people by his verses the leaders in English
politics are pointing out the deenseess state OF the
island should landing be effected by foe such as
Germany, and the general result has been develop
England into something approaching the character
istics of military camp. Lieutenant General Sir
Robert s. s Baden-Powell has founded the boy
scouts with the principal idea Of inaamng the youth
full military ardor Of the rising generation and to
teach them also something OF the craft of war.
WOMEN TAKE UP ARMS
But this is not all Engands scare has
gone further than that It has spread to the
universal feminine Women that little island wish,
it appears not only for votes, but for the smoke Of
battle They have struck the camp and hit the
tented field and like veterans, sleep under
vas and engage in many of the exercises Of of
those things which trench upon To be specific,
there has been formed what is termed the First Air
nursing yeomanry corps, which at the distance would
seem far step toward that condition when English
women may take the field veritable Amazons of
modern days, with sword and rife
For the First Aid nursing yeomanry corps, which.
of course as It's name implies Is pgrey nursing or