The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-12-17
ENGLAND DID NOT
 OPPOSE GERMANY Hoped English-Ger Re
 latiOns Will Improve MANY DREADNOUGHTS' Authorities Approve New Style of Torpedoes-Bishop of London
 Getting PoOr-Sporting Men
 Are Promoting Club
MANY DREADNOUGHTS'
By PHILLIP EvERETr

l London, Dec. 16.-(SpeeiaL)-In spite of the rather unfavorable comments of a large part of the German press on the now famous speech of Sir Edward Grey in the House of Commons three weeks ago there is a general feeling here that the speech has served to convince the large majority of the German people that many of the opinions they have formerly cherished In regard to this country have no foundation in fact. It is hoped here that when the speech is no longer dis torted for election purposes by the Ger man iingoes and conservatives, and when the German people, after the end of the election campaign, calmly survey the his tory of last summer, they will realize how mistaken was the idea that Eng land ever desired to prevent an agree ment or hamper German aims in a spirit of jealousy and hostility.
 Lord Lansdowne, with whom I had a talk the other night, in the Constitutional club, said that he for one did not now see the slightest reason why the rela- tions between England and Germany should not undergo very marked im- provement. It is useless, however, he said. to expect any relief of the tensions in the international atmosphere if the German papers, after election, should de- eide to continue to stir up the passions | and prejudices of their readers against | England, and to impute to this country anti-Agerman designs, of which neither her Government nor her people have any cognizance.
 The most notable feature of the year 1911, from a strictly naval standpoint, will be the fact that the number of ships of the dreadnought type launched will be equal, save one, to the combined total for the three preceding years. A total of tWenty-eight battle ships and cruis- CTS, armed on the single caliber gun principle, have been put into the water this year, eight of these including the two colonial ships, being British. This proportion to the worlds dreadnought is not so good as it was in 1910, when, out Of total of nine launched, Britains share was four, but, on the other hand, the number of naval powers possessing ships of this type afloat has been added to this year by France, Russia, Turkey, Austria, Spain and the Argentine RepuD- lie, so that a proportion of slightly over to 1 can not be regarded as otherwise than satisfactory.
 Great Britains position in Dread noughts exemplifies the business adage, We lead, others follow as out of GA afloat she owns 24. Germany follows with
 
 eight, Italy and Russia each has a. quartette,' France, Japan,' Spain, Brazil and the Argentine two each, and Austria and Turkey one each. The proportionate figures will necessarily fuctuate from time to time, bat a substantial lead by Great Britain is assured if the new first lord acts up to his profession of faith that we must have a navy so strong as to make it beyond reach og chal- | lenge."
 Designs of new torpedo, which will have wider range of action and a much greater speed than any hitherto em- ployed have been approved by the au- thorities here. During the past F or Is months the naval departments of several of the powers have been experimenting in this direction, but the greatest diff faculties have been encountered in con- nection with the motive power. In the weapon referred to5 this will be com pressed air, the same by which it will be discharged, and the torpedo will be of much smaller dimensions, thus affecting considerable economy in the cost, as well as giving much higher efficency.l
 It is believed that several of the new weapons will be ready for trial early in February.
 Dr. Ingram says he is $10,0O0 poorer than when he was made bishop of Lon don. Yet he is economical.
 Having taken cab one evening from the House of Lords to Putnam Palace, he rendered the fare, 2s, Sd. The cabman gazed upon the coin and said:
 If St. Peter had been bishop of London do you think he would have given me only half a crown?' And the bishop replied;
 If St. Peter had been here he would have been Archbishop of Canterbury, and the fare to Lambeth palace is one shilling"
 In recent interview MT. Israel Fang will told a curious story of his child hood.
 When I was seven weeks old and resident in the goodly city of Bris- tol" he says, my mother (who is, of course, the authority for the story) was induced to entrust me for day to the care of a Christian nurse maid an uneducated girl of Is, but becom- ing uneasy she returned unexpectedly to inquire after me.
 "She found the girl playing In the street and was assured l was asleep, but insisting on entering the house she found me screaming in my cradle, my head covered with a pillow, my face black and my mouth full of blood. The girl confessed finally, that in revenge for the death of Christ she had, with pins pricked bloody sign of the cross