NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11368, 10 May 1900, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Captain Mahan is preaching "Patience! Patience!" in the attempt to strengthen both the official and popular phases of AngloAmerican unity. He writes thus to the president of the McQill University at Montreal, which is about to confer the LL.D. degree upon the distinguished naval historian : " A cordial understanding between Great Britain and the United States is sure to be reached provided that those of us who are aware of its importance have the patience to bear with the volatile, prejudiced, or malevolent parts of our community. Great Britain needs patience more than we do, because your homogeneous people find it difficult to understand the violent utterances of our nation, which is not yet even composite, but simply heterogeneous. In this connection the Irish are conspicuous, but the Germans are not blameless. But if this is hard for Great Britain to bear, what is it for those of us who see the righteousness and policy of the State endangered by such folly and malevolence as we have lately been shown here';" Capain Mahan concludes his letter with an admonition to both sides to act patiently and endure.

The American War Department has posted an instructive statement comparing the mortality figures in the Spanish-American war with those of the first six months of the present South African war, the purpose being to show that the casualties suffered by the American troops at the time of their occurrence (which were regarded in some quarters as excessive, and were the basis of much criticism) were actually very much less in number proportionately than those suffered by the British army up to date. As to the British showing, the statement covers the returns from October 11 to April 7—nearly six months. There were 309 officers and 3944 men killed in action (including those who died from wounds and disease). There were sot down as missing and as prisoners 186 officers and 3722 men, and 270 officers and 4934 men were invalided home, making the British losses, exclusive of sick and wounded in tho hospitals in South Africa, 765 officers and 12,600 men. It is estimated that nearly 10,000 officers and men are sick and wounded in Hie hospitals, showing a loss in effective strength since the beginning of the war of about 23,000 men. The number of wounded is not slated. During the war with Spain the United States army lost by death 107 officers and 2803 men. There were vuunded 113 officers and 1464 men. Only 12 per cent, of the American death-rate resulted from wounds or occurred in battle, while the corresponding rate for the British army was 63.13 per cent. The War Department's statement in conclusion reads as follows:—" The conditions, both military and climatic, under which the campaigns were carried on were so different that it is difficult to make any comparisons. The American campaigns were carried on in the tropics in midsummer, the most unfavourable season oi the year. The diseases most prevalent were tropical fevers. The climate in the theatre of operations in South Africa is remarkably healthy. There was much sickness in Ladysmith, but that was due to siege conditions and not to climate. In the American campaigns the clothing worn was as light as possible. Lord Roberts has sent from Bloemfontein for warmer clothing for his army on account of threatened prevalence of pneumonia."

Few war correspondents have had a more interesting career than Mr. H, A. Gwynne, who represents Renter with Lord Roberts' army. He is probably the only man who did not become a war correspondent by accident, but made up his mind that he would be one from his earliest years. In order to qualify himself he speo,t several years first in French Switzerland, and then in German Switzerland, mastering the two languages, and, during this period of his life, he also distinguished himself as an Alpine climber.

Contributions from his pen have 1 ■■ lished in the Alpine Journal,,J7 >*v, peak near the lake of Geneva fcjSBP after him because he m fa the first." H ' of it, Among Wither pd.to«iL M J I Gwynne once undertook for a Wager 7 * x ' " ■.' his living on the Continent by MtiM teaching various kinds of Knglj|ll ." .m ;,' V mhi.brt,t«icl.hgwfa nq j,,j * . and winning competitions of various k 1 How he diddle has «ss*! ' an interesting bonk, which did not, howev %$& secure the sale it deserved \f* ~ p " -™i■ •'"-,' first engagement is a war ennespondeni « " '■■ in the last Ashanti war. H%M^H • his mind that lie would |,e the fir§t nmn 7 : -VCoomassie, and he started off alone fa'.?vance of the army.to get there. At'the 1 \W& moment, however, he was turned back h ''" : 1 stalwart Ashanti sentry, and hi friendu -* oven more astonished than lie was, that th : :: • fellow did not kill him. fs illfe a|jj-J h-) |p Gwynne has been with Kdhein Pasha u* ' : Qraco-Turldih war, and with Lord Kitchenet ,v in the Soudan campaign. For „■ Wliiie £ represented Renter at Pekin, -fa w a , in ; * •:' ■'. slnietad to move to the Cape as soon as hojl " tilitics threatened to break out. ' ■■■■ -■;;

The news of the Queen's intention to visit Ireland, according to a London gossip, m ' as a thunderbolt to her astonished suite' Sh' broke the intelligence both to litem and toA the Royal Familv with startling abrupt, »' It happened at dinner this wise. The con' • versa tion had turned on the weather mi ■■■ Lord Lansdnwne remarked : " I hope von will find it warmer, madam, in Italy." 'n, '■'■'■ Queen looked up rather quickly; and in n . ' usuallv distinct accents?— all alone, : -v the table—she replied :"T am not going to Italy, but to Ireland ; my Irish suhiects and ' myself ought to see one another." fhis vii'l"--the first intimation of her approaching trip ■'■■ to the Emerald Tslc. At tho age of 81 ty Queen is si ill one of the most inoVtriom women in the world. Few could credit how much work, in truth, devolves upon Kj has been estimated that, roughly speakine she signs about 50.000 documents from every Ist of January to the last day of December Her memory is truly marvellous, notonlvfor dates and faces, as we are so frequently taught to know, but she will settle some deli-' cate point in a political discussion or. past , history, which even her Ministers fail to do ' Her memory of the details of State cere, inonial is truly astonishing; whilst her - knowledge even of distant relationships in the families of our aristocracy, and her memory for the idiosyncrasies of those artists and litterateurs who have once been presented ' to her. surprise everybody who is brought ill contact with her. :_*'..".

The Boers are in considerable force in the vicinity of the Sand River, north of Winburg, Tim railway between Brandfort and Smaldeel is seriously damaged, and the'' transport of stores is delayed in consequence,') General French's whereabouts is a mystery, It is stated that General ITutton's colonial division has behaved splendidly, and that they largely contributed to the recent successes in the Free State. Colonel Pltimer, who is advancing from the north, has communicated with Mafcking by pigeon post, Colonel Baden-Powell reported on April 25 that everything had been quiet since April 25, when the Boer leader failed to induce his force to attack the town. The Boers are rapidly withdrawing from Natal. The country from Acton Holmes to Van Reenen's Pass is now clear of the enemy, The Australian prisoners who escaped from Pretoria slate that the British prisoners 'art suffering from insufficient sanitation and lack of medical attention. The food is scanty, and the shelter Inadequate. In a despatch regarding the siege of Kimberley, Lord Roberts praises Colonel Kekewich's tact, judgment, and resolution, and states that Mr. Cecil Rhodes also contributed materially to the defence of the town. The Transvaal Volksraad has opened. President Kruger, in his speech, after acknowledging the loyal co-operation of the Free State,, expressed confidence in the future of the Afrikander nation. He said the world's sympathies were with the Transvaal, and their finances were able to bear the strain of the war. Thf Burmo-Cliinese Boundary Commission have been attacked by Chinese, but their assailants were repulsed, losing 30 killed. The new Chinese regiment guarding the camp behaved splendidly. The Federal delegates regard the prospect of the Commonwealth Bill being passed without amendment as unfavourable. Mr. Chamberlain adheres t» the Privy Council appeal amendment.