The Washington times., 1915-12-30

LONDON, Dec. Golf John Bull could
see himself as others see him he might
mend his ways. But being constitution
ally unable TO. apply the reverse English
TO HIS eyesight he gives his friends,
neighbors, and enemies an erroneous no
ton Of his disposition.
Americans recently arrived in England
have been astonished to find that this
country is not in a state Of utter despon-
dency and decentralization. The visitor
soon becomes convinced that the stories
he has heard and read of internal tur-
mol. d;ssension. and lack OF interest In
the successful prosecution of the war
have been chiefly made in Germany.
lie quickly learns that although there
has been much grumbling about the
management of the war I'm the last year,
Il certain amount of industrial unrest.
and negligible pro-peace sentiment
the great mass of Britishers Is more de-
termined today than when the war
started, to defeat Germany thoroughly
John has himself to blame for the
uhfavorable opinion of him that appar.
entity has been growing in the neutral
world in the last few months. What
the matter with England. anyhow
constantly comes the query from his
friends in America. Kipling says IT'S q
certain God-given lack of imagination
cerned at the effect of our appearances
en- others" Others call il modeSty
others, stupidity.
Loss of Bulgaria.
The worst failure of the year-the loss
Of Bulgaria to the allied cause-might
have been prevented by a proper amount
of judicious self-advertising applied at
the right time where it would have done
the most good. But Johns dignity
couldn't abide the press-agent methods
as skillfu!Iy employed by Kaiser VIII
, helm. Bulgaria frankly put herselt up
ror the highest bidder and the safest
guarantee. Germany having field In
| the advertising line with no effective
iccunter-mcasurcs on the part of the
allies, the Bulgars naturally concluded
! that the central powers were the mos,
| Likely to be able to deliver the goods
1t pays to advertise, not only FOR re-
, cruits but for possible allies.
The Englishman' fondness for grumo'
! ling, which he simply can't curb ever
! in war time, is another token or ms
! indifference to outside opinion. 1t i
the inalienable privilege of the Britss
| soldier to carry Crouch against ms
| officers, as II is the right OF the Brlt'
ish civilian to denounce the govern,
| ment But this characteristic doesn''
| detract one whit from the bravery oI
the one or the loyalty of the other: il
! would he n great mistake TO regard ti''
recent hot debates in parliament, tht
| outspoken and at times bitter criticisms
of military miscalculations and dip'o
matte blunders. as evidences of mutirS
or even weariness Of the struggle.
True, the, Engiishman has tount
: plenty in the last year to which u
apply his traditional prerogattve. From
! the grumblers' point of view 1t has bee'
! a dismal chapter. The Dardanelles dis
astcr. the Gallipoli fiasco. the faiiur'
| of the Big push on the western IRON
in the spring and fall. the German occu
patton Of Poland the obliterauon o
Serbia and the British retreat In Meso
| potamia, against which the accession
, Of Italy to the allied cause and he
recent brilliant operations on th'
| Isonzo front. the British conquest o
German Southwest Africa, the puttini
| out of business of some sixty GermH'
| submarines In the North Sea and ad
| iacent waters. and the successful inTa
sion Of the Baltic by British subms
| rinCs. make comparatively heaS'
| offset in the grumblers opinion.
Owes Much to Them.
After all, Great Britain really owes
good deal to the whimperers. as TT"
micr AsqlIith in a moment or petuianc
recently labeled them. II it hadn't beel
for these whimperers the country AM
tho war would still be managed by IN
old one-party cabinet. 1t was IN
| crumblers who exposed the lack OF hiEl
explosives and by persistent denuncla
ton of those responsible brought abou
| the creation of the ministry OF inuf'i
tions 1t IL these pestiferous naseeT
| who are to be credited with the scotch
ing of the German spy system IN Eng
land through the wholesale interhhf''