LONDON CHAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

LONDON CHAT.

[FEOM OT7B OWX COBKESFOJTOE.Vr.]

London - , September 11. At the present stage it. would lie quite idle to attempt any conjectures as to the future of the Balkan situation or its effects on the Near Eastern question. The hideous game of mutual outrage and atrocity is being vigorously played by the Turks on the one hand and by the Macedonians and Bulgarians on the other, bub the " balance of criminality"—to use Mr. Balfour's phrase-—which at one time seemed to be the heavier on the side of the so-called Christians, does now most, unmistakably incline the other way. At any rate if the Macedonians and Bulgarians are perpetrating worse infamies than the Turks they must be a " bad lot" indeed! Which, however, is very probable! One Turkish pasha thought that he had scored rather neatly against England on the one hand and the insurgents on the other. The pasha, Hilmi by name, announced the receipt of information by letter direct from Boris Sara-foff, the Macedonian leader, to the effect that he had determined to kill the British Consul. The guileless pasha naturally imagined that this would arouse English wrath against the insurgents. But he reckoned without his host. He was promptly warned that the insurgents were still Turkish subjects, nob having been granted independence, and that England would hold Turkey responsible for the death of any Englishman who might be murdered during the present rising, also, that Hilmi Pasha having admitted his knowledge of the alleged murderous intention would be held personally responsible if he did not prevent its execution. This was a rather neat counter- ' check, and poor Hilmi collapsed. He is now quaking desperately lest some fanatic should really make the attempt, whose contemplation was a pure invention on his part. The insurgent leader on being interviewed, not only denied flatly— of course he would—the existence of any such intention on his part, but also offered very good and convincing reasons why he and his friends should oe specially anxious not to excite the wrath of any Christian Power against them, or to alienate any sympathy which might possibly exist on their behalf. Meanwhile Turkey continues to mobilise on a large scale, and now has nearly half a million mm at. hand. Russia still "lies low."

C.-B. AND HIS PARTY. Poor Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerrciatt is becoming a most serious source of perplexity to his Party. The Radicals elected him their Leader in the House of Commons not the Leader of the Party, remember— purely as a stop-gap. Now, however, they are bitterly tired of him. But he won't go! All sorts of friendly hints have been administered to him— vain. Little paragraphs intimating the likelihood of his early retirement from his post have been inserted time after time. But he won't " see it."

I am personally acquainted with one of the chief London organisers of the Liberal Party, a, man well advanced in years, and of half a century's experience in political warfare. In the course of conversation with him I had pointed out the virtual impossibility of the Liberal Party attaining office and power under Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman after hiS unpatriotic attitude during the late war. He replied: " You may take it from me that he will not long remain our Leader. We quite recognise that the case is as yon say. But in our inner conclave we have definitely decided to elect Asquith, as the Leader of the whole Party. We cannot get on with Rosebery, and indeed he would not resume the lead without such a pledge of unanimous support as our people could not be induced to give him, first because they do not think him sufficiently " thorough" in his Liberalism, and secondly because they do not desire a peer for Leader, which they consider to be inconsistent with the traditions of me Party. So they have resolved to concentrate on Asquith, and this will be brought about at no very distant date." Such is the information that was given to me by a man who undoubtedly knows intimately the inner movings of the Party. It was not to be used in England, but might be published freely abroad. Indeed, I confess to a suspicion of a hope being entertained that such publication might stir up Sir Henry Campbell-Banner-man to " chucking" point.

EXTRAVAGANCE AMONG OFFICERS.

The Commander-in-Chief has just issued a very drastic and uncompromising array order on the subject of officers' expenses. Commanding officers, it seems, are still indisposed to carry out " in their true spirit and intention" the service regulations with regard to extravagance, and Lord Roberts has found it necessary to supplement previous warnings by one which is calculated to leave no doubt as to his own intention in the matter. The new order is as follows —"Extravagance among officers, individually and collectively, has long been forbidden by regulations. In view, however, of the financial concessions which have recently been made for the purpose of diminishing officers', expanses it is the duty of commanding officers to see that officers derive' full benefit from these advantages. If officers are extravagant in their mode of living it is tne duty of a commanding officer to discourage and prevent it; and general officers are directed to ensure, by careful periodical inspection, that officers' messes are so conducted that it is possible for those of moderate means to live in the service. Should any commanding officer fail to carry out. in their true spirit and intention, the regulations of the service on a subject so materially affecting the interests and prospects, of the younger officers, the Commander-in-Chief will seriously consider the propriety of retaining him in his command." The order further provides that officers on appointment to a unit whose mess has been furnished at the public expense, will not be required to pay any mess contribution, and the contribution hitherto levied on promotion, transfer, or exchange is also to cease."

So notorious had this condition of affairs become that the committee declared that " Commanding officers who connive at gross personal extravagance or inordinately expensive habits in their regiments will be considered unfit to retain their position," while " any case of combination among regimental officer.', with a view to excluding desirable entrants on no other ground than alleged insufficiency of private income will be treated with the utmost severity."

RESIGNATION OR POLO PONIES, j Even this very plain speaking did not | prove sufficient to cause reform of the gross abuses, so Lord Roberts issued a fresh army order in which he declared that he would hold commanding officers and general officers commanding responsible for seeing that " the reductions in expenditure were strictly carried out," in order that the army might have officers of the best grade irrespective of social status and private income. Nevertheless the old scandals have been disregarded, and the boycotting has gone on unchecked. The infamous " raggings" which constituted so recent an army scandal were entirely the outcome of this state of affairs; Even quite lately the subalterns of a certain crack regiment had made strong efforts to reduce their personal expenses. Their efforts were viewed with marked disfavour by the colonel, who gave them to understand very clearly that unless they each provided themselves with a pair of polo ponies they would become extremely unpopular. The alternative to providing tne ponies was resignation. The subalterns concerned accepted the alternative, and keen and promising officers were lost to the army, through the contemptible snobbery and vulgarity of the society type of commanding officer.

THE WEATHER. There is no change for the better in the weather. Three hot days astounded London early in the week, out were followed speedily by fresh storms and gai?s and deluges. All hope of summer is now finally abandoned, as well as of even a moderate harvest, and with the earth thoroughly soaked and chilled, I fear we must look forward to a hard winter, with the aggravation of dear food of everv "description, and of clear luel as well. " The cricket season has finally fizzled out in drenching rain and swampy grounds. It hat been the dnlefullest season on record, cricketicaliy as well as meteorologically ! °