The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, MAY 14, 1888.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 113, 14 May 1888, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

MONDAY, MAY 14, 1888.

For tho caune that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For tho future in tho distance, And the good that we can do,

Wnir.l. we in the colonies arc suffering from an attack of Chinaphobia, people in England have got the disease known as " war scare." It was just the other day that tho lion. Mr Stanhope, in reply to an evidently excited deputation, prophesied smooth things regarding the defences of English ports' and the condition of the army and navy; and now we havo the "Daily Telegraph" a-sserting quite the contrary, declaring that our army is the worst-aimed in the world, and that tho giant iron clads which take the place of England's " wooden walls " are " practically without guns and ammunition!" At the same time wo find that Lord Wolscly, who has been satirically called " England's only General," and in whom Mr Stanhope stated the Government had every confidence, has been censured by Lord Salisbury and by tho London "Times" for statements made by him in public addresses, which apparently criticised the organisation and efficiency of the British Army. An unswerving faith in tho perfection of things as they are, and an overweening confidence in the ability of an Englishman to fight three "darned Mounseers," are cardinal points in the creed of " Jingo" Bull, and it is therefore no shock to learn that there are "strained relations" between Lord Wolseley and the Commander-in-Chief, the Duke of Cambridge, while the Secretary for War has cancelled his recent testimonial, and now condemns the General whom he so lavishly praised three days ago. Tho head of the British Government deprecates any panic, but his statements arc not altogether calculated to allay the "scare " that has been caused by recent revelations. Indeed, when he says that tho state of affairs in Europe is critical, and that it is not politic to i disclose the steps taken for the defence lof England, he is more "alarmist" in tone than the critics of British armaments could possibly be. It is not very comforting to learn, on Lord Brassey's authority, that, while English orders aro being neglected, the Whitworth factory is supplying large guns to the order of France, which would bo a hostilo Power in the event of a European war; but it is much more disquieting to know that the English Government have apparently committed the country to a war policy, exposing the country to the danger of invasion, and straining her resources in tho effort to cope with the armed millions of France and Lussia. If the country is really involved in tho European quarrel, ho is the true patriot who points out defects in armaments and endeavours to secure efficiency, so that a national disaster may be avoided. Lord Wolesly would appear to be backed in his opinions by the Headquarters Staff of the army, which recommends that the regular troops should be supplied with magazine rifles, and that the second army corps should be at once placed on a war footing. The adoption of such practical measures is preferable to vague but high - sounding expressions of confidence in armaments and defences ] but even supposing Lord Salisbury's Government to have included these in the secret precautions which they are taking, it is a matter of regret that their Jingo policy should have brought the country to the verge of a tremendous conflict, in which, so far as appears, her interests will not be be assailed.