The Washington times., 1915-12-30


LONDON. Dec 9O.--If 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 Generalization. The visitor
soon becomes convinced that the stories
he has heard and read Of internal tur-
moil. djssension. 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 In the last year.
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-
emily has been growing in the neutral
world In the last few months. whats,
the matter with England, anyhow?
constantly comes the query from his
friends in America. Kipling says It's q
certain God-glven lack of imagination
which saves US from being over-con-
cerned at the effect of our appearances
en- others Others call IL modesty;
others, stupidity.
Loss of Bulgaria.
The worst failure of the yeaT-the loss
Of Bulgaria to the allied cause-might
have been prevented by proper amount
of judicious self-advertising applied at
the right time where It would have done
Al, MT nkv,g
couldn't abide the press-agent methods
as skillfully employed by Kaiser VIII
helm. Bulgaria frankly put herself up
for the highest bidder and the safest
guarantee. Germany having field In
the advertising line with no effective
ccunter-measures on the part OF the
allies, the Bulgars naturally concluded
that the central powers we're the most
| likely to be able to deliver the goods.
1t pays to advertise, not only for re-
, cruits but for possible allies.
The Englishman's fondness for grumb-
! ling, which he simply can't curb ever
] in war time, is another token OF MS
4 indifference to outside opinion. IL Is
the inalienable privilege of the British
soldier to carry a crouch against his
Officers, as 1t is the right OF the BRIT
ish civilian to denounce the govern
ment. But this characteristic doesn't
detract one whit from the bravery OF
| the one or the loyalty of the other, IT
| would be a great mistake to regard the
recent hot debates in parliament, the
outspoken and at times bitter criticisms
of military miscalculations and diplo-
matte blunders. as evidences OF mutiny
or even WEAKNESS Of the struggle.
True, the Englishman has found
plenty in the last year to which TO
| apply his traditional prerogative. From
| the grumblers point of view IL has been
| a dismal chapter. The Dardanelles dls-
aster. the Gallipoli fiasco. the failure
| of the Big Push on the western front
/ 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 ana her
I;recent brilliant operations on the
| Isonzo front the British conquest OF
! German Southwest Africa, the puttine
| out OF business of some sixty German
submarines in the North Sea and ad'
| iacent waters. and the successful inNa-
| sion Of the Baltic by British supne
rines. make compaTauyeiy meas'e
| offset in the grumblers' opinion.
Owes Much to Them.
After all, Great Britain really owes a
good deal to the whimperers, as Pre-
nnier Asquith in a moment of petulance
recently labeled them. If It hadn't beer
for these whinperers the couptrys and
the war would still be managed by the
| old one-party cabinet. II was ple
| Rrrmblers who exposed the lack OF hlgn
| exnlosives and by persistent denuncia.
| tfon OF those responsible brought aDou'
| the creation of the ministry or mun'
| tinns II is these pestiferous naBeeTs
| who are to be credited with the scotch'
| ing of the German spy system In bhE
| land through the wholesale interhme"'