The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1912. THE KING IN INDIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 22, 9 January 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1912. THE KING IN INDIA.

Although many plausible excuses were put forward to account for the absence of troops of elephants at the Delhi Durbar it is now stated that the real reason was kept in the background, and was to ensure the success of two great tiger “shoots,” in honour of the Royal visitor. It was arranged that King George should attend two. great tiger “shoots,” one in Rajputana and the other in Nepal. It was the intention that both these “shoots” should be truly “royal,” and the preparations required the services of hundreds of elephants. Rut there are not enough domestic elephants in India to furnish both the Durbar and two great hunting “drives” at the same time. The method employed of ensuring royal sport is this. An, area is selected which is known to be well stocked with game. A huge ring of beaters and elephants is then established, enclosing thousands of acres. The army of boaters begin slowly to contract their circle. They drive methodically inwards all day, and sleep at their posts all night i ound largo lires, so that there is ■no chance of any of the game breaking ■nick through the line. Thus slowly the game is driven into a restricted area round a point of vantage that has been chosen for the royal gun. The process of thus ringing the game often takes weeks. - In fact, in Nepal it probably begun in November for the December “shoot.” As these “drives” were to be a “record,” it would bo almost idle to attempt to estimate the number of elephants that would be borrowed and hired to complete the vast living circle. It is not to be wondered, therefore, that there was a scarcity of elephants for the display at Delhi. It is probable that the King himself will shoot a score of tigers, but no one will ever.be able to say what it has- cost his native iiosts per tiger to produce this sport.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Sir Joseph Ward’s promised announcement regarding the political situation "'as made yesterday. In deciding to call Parliament together at an early date he has taken a correct course, and one which should satisfy every fair-minded individual. As to what will happen when Parliament does meet is merely a matter of speculation, though it seems likely that Mr Massey will he given an opportunity to form a (Government. It is pretty certain that the four Labour members hold the balance of power, and whichever Party secures their support may. in. accordance with past

usage and the rules of Party politics, claim the right to occupy the Treasury benches. But the outlook in any case is not a happy one, for the day has hardly arrived when lion and land) may lie down in peace together. The experiment of how near They can attain to such a wonderful situation will ho watched with some misgivings.

MR ROOSEVELT.

Mr Roosevelt still provides good “copy” for the papers and, as one correspondent remarks, although he is out of office there are still opportunities of joining his “Ananias Club.” According to the New York “Evening Rost,” a dinner was recently given to Mr Oscar Straus in honour of his long career of public service. Mr Roosevelt was one of the speakers. “Believe me, gentlemen,” he said, “when I called Mr Straus to my Cabinet I was considering no question of religion or race or station. I was considering only his fitness for the office to which I had elected him. Neither as German nor as Jew was Mr Straus called to my Cabinet, but simply as the man most fitted for the position.” The next speaker was Mr Schiff, the New York banker. He is known to be a bit deaf and sometimes absent:ni>:ded. After the proper greetings he began slowly: “My friends, when Mr Roosevelt wrote and asked me whom I considered the best Jew for the position ” The silence that followed was almost too terrible.