April 12, 1902.]†
been of late enormously increased. Fur- thermore, Britain obtains no men for the squadrons from the Colonies, although the active list is about to be increased to 122,500 | officers and men. Imperial defence, naval and military, already costs the Empire about fifty-three millions sterling a year. From a pamphlet recently issued by the Imperial Federation (Defence) League, it appears that of this vast sumn the self- governing Colonies contribute only a little
than
million and a half. Thus, it is pointed out, the real burden of the war-tax falls upon some forty millions of persons in the United Kingdom, whilst te millions of colonists are hardly taxed at all. The English taxpayer pays about £1 5s. 10d. per annum, whilst the colonist pays but 3s. 1d. Moreover, the bulk of the sum contributed by the Colonies is devoted to purely local defences and the maintenance
more
of local troopз.
one
That such a state of affairs was doomed. to end there has been no doubt for some time now.
The question is what will be the imperial defence system which will arise out of the needs of the situation ani the well proved loyalty of the Colonies. Last month, refer.ing to the suggested con- ference during the Coronation season of Colonial Premiers, the Evening News of Portsmouth, a paper whose acquaintance with service matters is generally recognised, foreshadowed the drawing up of a great scheme of imperial defence. According to this, our Portsmouth contemporary claims, Great Britain and Ireland will produce and equip six army corps, three of which, repre- senting a force of 150,000, will be prepared to take the field in defence of the Colonies against any European Power. India is to provide an army corps from each of the three presidencies, and South Africa will raise two army corps, one of which will be available for service anywhere. Australia is expected to provide two, and New Zealand one, while Canada will have four Militia army corps, which could be wholly used if required. How far this scheme resembles that to which the Colonial Premiers, with the assistance of Mr. BRODRICK, will give their attention, it is not possible to say, but it reads like a shrewd forecast. The adop- tion of such a plan would not solve the question completely, of course. It is one thing to raise an army corps on paper, another to have it ready for service in the field. The promoters must rely on a con- tinuance of the enthusiasm which has inspired the Empire throughout the war and, also, on an increase of the attractive- ness of military service.
KRITZINER'S ACQUITTAL.
(Daily Press, 10th April.) The news will doubtless be received, on the whole, with feelings of satisfaction that the Boer commandant, KRITZINGER, who was on his trial for his life, has been acquitted, We have no exact details of the counts upon which the prisoner was arraigned in Jantiary last immediately after the execution of SCHEEPERS. It was originally stated that there were four charges of murder and indictments for t:ain-wrecking and cruelty to prisoners-all very serious accusatious, conviction on two of which, murder and train wrecking, would justify his execution. However, the verdict, after a postpɔɔment of the trial for a further consideration of evidence last month, has been in favour of the accused, who is in future to be treated as an ordinary prisoner of war.
As we are not in possession of the facts of the case we must presume from the finding of the Court that the charges against KRITZINGER
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
were exaggerations-as indeed it cannot be denied that many of those against other Boer leaders have turned out to be. The postponement of the trial, it was directly stated at the time, was due to Commandant DELAREY's chivalrous treatment of the cap tured Lord METHUEN, which was opposed to the wishes of the bulk of his commando. It cannot be supposed, however, that if KRITZINGER had actually been proved a murderer
277
It can serve no good political or commercial purpose for any correspondent to abuse his privilege by telegraphing wild rumours. As a matter of fact the so-called rebellion is probably nothing more than a few piratical bands, their numbers increased through local causes, making predatory raids which the Imperial troops are usually content to ignore unless disturbed by exceptional deeds of violence.
FRANCE ON THE YANGTSZE.
(Daily Press, 11th April.) Whilst the British are endeavouring to philanthropically assist the Chinese Govern- ment to meet its punishment at the expense of the British merchant, the French are again considering the advancement of their The leading territorial interests in China. Paris paper, French should have a naval station on the Yangtsze; a very modest suggestion and one typical of the humour which prevails in MAX O'RELL's established literary efforts. It may have been ventured as a "feeler" in opposition to the Anglo-Japanese Agree.
like the traitor SCHEEPERS (elevated naturally by Mr. W. T. STEAD into the position of a heroic patriot) he would have been acquitted for all the courtesy of that distinguished general, DELARKY. It is satisfactory to think that KRITZINGER's character must have been cleared of the It worst imputations made against it. must not be forgotten, nevertheless, that KRITZINGER was, like SCHEEPERS, a Cape rebel. Both made themselves very promin ent in the early part of 1901, carrying on a guerilla campaign in Cape Colony with a certain amount of success. It was at this time that the atrocious acts for which SCHEEPERS and a few other afterwards suffered the extreme penalty were com- mitted. At the period undoubtedly KRITZ-ment. INGER'S name was associated by report with the crimes against the laws of civilised warfare, and after bis capture it was undoubtedly thought that his chance of escape from death was little. In view of the fact that he was a rebel, taken in arms, this Boer commandaut may be considered Still, as we started lucky to have got off. by saying, the feeling, on the whole, will be one of satisfaction that it has not been found necessary to make another example. In spite of the strong feeling against the Colonial rebels, the sentiment is still stronger against shooting in cold blood men who have lately been fighting against our troops, unless
their offences against humanity are of the grossest kiud. The British public is the very reverse of what the Continental Anglophobes delight in representing it to be, and no people is more averse to unnecessary bloodshed or severity of the justification of which there is any doubt.
THE REBELLION RUMOURS,
It is
(Daily Press, 11th April.) Much has been written of late concerning the rebellion which is supposed to be raging in the Two Kwang, and the information supplied is apparently based on native gossip that filters down. from the interior to the correspondents at the Treaty ports. The actual information to hand is sparse and does not impress one as being very accurate. One day we hear of towns beseived and captured by small armies of rebels; the next brings news from as equally question- able sources that the interior is quiet and sedition finds no outlet in the presence of strong patrols of Imperial troops. quite possible that some of the graphic rebellion narratives are circulated for a purpose on the part of those who, posing as Reformers, have a political object in view. Other information may even be invented by correspondents from purely personal motives, and we have a recent case in point. Two weeks ago considerable surprise was caused in Tonkin by the receipt of a telegram from Paris to the effect that news had been wired from Hongkong to London stating that Marshal Sou had joined the Kwangsi rebels with 20,000 men. Without hesitation the French attribute this mischievous and incorrect report to British political motives. At that time, as the French well knew, Marshal Sou was at Lungchow with his command, which is limited to 10,000 men.
the Figaro, suggests that the
Considering that at present no power, not even Great Britain, who relin. quished the Chusans, has a naval station on the Yangtze, though she has more commer- cial interests there to protect than the other Powers put together, the Figaro's suggestion is novel and entertaining. It is especially so considering that the French acceptance of the share of the indemnity is scarcely cold. But friend MAX was ever thus.
After threatening for two weeks or so, rain made its appearance yesterday, much to the relief of everyone, and doubtless to none more
than to the Water authorities. The weather appears to be breaking for the rainy season.
MANCHURIAN CONVEN-
TION SIGNED.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
SHANGHAI, 9th April, 62 p.m. The Manchurian Convention was signed at Peking yesterday without objection to any clauses.
NEWSPAPER EDITORS
ARRESTED IN MANILA.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
MANILA, 10th April, 6.6 p.m. Three editors of the Freedom have been arrested for a seditious attack on the Civil Government and two editors of the Volcano arrested for libel: each liberated on $2,000 bond. The Press Club condemns the applica- tion of the laws here and cabled President Roosevet urging constitutional interference. sensationalists, defeating civil progress, and The Commission regards the editors as prepares for their vigorous prosecution.
THE HEALTH OF HONGKONG.
The sixth plague case of the year was reported during the 24 hours ending at noon, on the 7th inst. the vic'im, a Chinaman at 19, Lung Hong Street, succumbing to the disease.
Last week's figures of communicable diseaBOS were:-Plague, 2 cases. 2 deaths (Chinese); cholers, 34 Chinese cases (21 in Vic oria, 13 from sa Hong Moh in the Harbour), 29 deaths; 2 Japanese cases; smail-pox. 6 Chinese cases diphtherin, one Portuguese case; enteric fever, (0-e in the Harbour), 6 deaths.
Two Chinese who were arrested here recently for piracy committed within the jurisdiction of Chins were taken to Canton on the 4th inst. in a Chinese gunboat for execution, ·