LONDON GOSSIP.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 8, 10 January 1912, Page 4

LONDON GOSSIP.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES. tFEOJI *OUH OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Ist December The most interesting figure- who is brought to light in thn shuffle at the Admiralty is undoubtedly Captain William C. Pakenham, who is appointed Fourth Sea Lord. Captain Pakenham belongs entirely to the modern navy. Joining in 1874, he came to notice first by reason of j sovoral life-saving efforts in which he was prominent. In 1878 he jumped ! overboard from the Raleigh as sho was I leaving the road*; at Cyprus and rescued a man overboard. Just ten years later, when tho fleet was manoeuvring in Kiel waters, he auain jumped overboard from the Calypso," but this lime without success. But the experience for which Captain Pakenham is most envied as a nava.l officer is his presence in Admiral Togo's flagship almost throughout » the war with Russia. He was British Naval Attache in China and Japan, and the friendliness of Japan enabled him to be present at the great battle -of Teushinia. DEPRESSION IN SWORDS. Without knowing exactly why, the Canadian militia suddenly discovered themselves to be armc-d with swbide made in Germany, and a lot of satire and indignation js being expended on the subject. Most oversea governments, it seems, get from tho War Office the addresses of British sword-making firms, and so shield themselves from tins great j humiliation/ but Canada failed to do so, j and hence the trouble. It is admitted j that even here many of the parts used i are made in Germany, but there are British firms which are quite willing, "to guarantee to supply English-made swords if the necessary price, were paid." The sword trade in England has always been small and uncertain, not it eeems, because England does not have sufficient wars, but simply because of the "constantly recurring periods of depression. There was a rush of orders when there was a new pattern, and then there were two or three years of absolute- barrenness," which not every firm could stand. TRUTH ABOUT THE RAID. That picturesque envoy, John Hays Hammond, who was sentenced to death for his part in the Jameson Raid but lived to represent the United States at the Coronation of King George, has told the inner 6tory of the Raid. The moveriient of resistance to Kruger, originated, he said, at a meeting of Americans, and all but five of the five hundred present voted to take up arms it necessary. ThePresident ; had issued an order that all foreigners were liable for service in the Boer army against the Kaffirs, and care was taken that one of his' emissaries should bo present at the meeting, afc which it was further decided that if the compulsion was insisted in any Americans who, might be impressed should first fire o ntheir Boer officers. This was sufficient. _ No Americans were impressed. Mr. Hammond denies that the Americans were working in conjunction with British associates. On the contrary British and Americans did not mix we'!, and the entry of Dr. Jameson into tli« '.jusinees u,.s quite against the wishes of the latter. "When ljr. Juineson had , .been defeated," ho continued, "the Bri- | tish High CommiFsioner gave his assurance: "that if, we would lay down our arms to save Dr. Jameson he would look after us. But he lost his nerve and went south, and left us to the mercy of the Boers. The Beers soon started to arrest us. We four leaders could have I escaped, tiut we would not desert the ! others." •