The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-08-17
Not Mere BuncOmbe.

At first 1T was simply thought, how
ever, that these assertions were of the
usual kind, made simply to create po-
litical capital for the opposition. but the
unbiased comments made by French and
German naval experts left no doubt
that the maneuvers had really conveyed
the impression that this country is far
from being invulnerable, and that an
attack by q sufficiently strong and dar
ing fleet would have quite chance OF
being successful,
These foreign articles have created
a strong impression in England, and it
is expected that Mr.. Churchill will be
ment to allay the general feelings of
uneasiness.
At time when the faith Of the peo-
pie of England in the efficiency Of it's
navy to protect the country has been
shaken, it is source of some consola-
tion to know that Germany also is
counting on the possibility of a defeat
at the hands of the British navy.
The proof that such q possibility is
in the fact that there has just been
formed, with headquarters at Regen-
burg in Bavaria, q steamship company,
the object of which is to establish n
means of communication by water be-
tween Germany and the Black sea. to
enable Germany to tap. the Russian
and Rumanian grain and oil fields IN
case of war when the Mediterranean
traffic will be under British control.
Situation Is Complex.
Since the cession in 1911 Of the
South German company to the Austrian
government, Germany has lost all in
terest in the development Of the traffic
on the Danube, and in view of the
great Importance Germany attaches to
the importation Of foodstufPs from the
Balkan states and southern Russia, the
establishment Of the new company has
caused general satisfaction.
The company has capital OF $780,
600 Of which large portion has been
taken by a leading German petroleum
group.
The question Of how to meet the
clamor Of a people made nervous by
political agitators' dreadful pictures of
war and inevitable defeat, for in
creased armaments, may prove to be
rock on which the present Liberal gov
ernment may be wrecked.
prominent Liberal politician who
is a friend and warm admirer of Mr..
Asouith, wrote the other day:
"The future, of course, is doubtful.
Armaments and the dislocation of our
finances which they involve may still
wreck English Liberalism, but in for
eign policy there has been a change for
the better which has been reached not
one moment too soon. -
Liberals Awakening.
AS regards other political questions,
he says: ftThe Liberal party shrinks
with instructive and sound distaste
from the reform OF the house of lords
and it Is beginning to be aware of the
immense Importance of the problem of
revolution and Of its bearing on Irish
home rule and on the question of the
house Of lords. But it is content TO
have at the head of affairs a man of
cool Judgment, just as the cabinet has
gained greatly by the LOYALTY, good
temper. easy and shrewd tolerance, and
ready grasp of the immense conplica
tion of modern political business, which
are Mr.. Asquith S distinctive and
most useful qualities. Toryism makes
tremendous splash and its efforts to
get back to power on any terms, and
with any or no policy. are not want
ing in vigor. In direction thev are a
good deal too weak, and the intellectual
quality of the leadership in the com
mons has hardly improved since Mr..
Balfour rolinQuished it, and withdrew
from it's councils Thus far the party
remains united, and inside the house
at least the coalition seems to tighten
its bonds, when as many observers pre-
Judged loosening. or even dissolu-
tiOn nf them ~