TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 484, 28 June 1890, Page 5

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

London, May 2. War Organisation of the Future.

The “United Service Magazine,” which has been entirely remodelled and is altogether greatly improved, contains severa articles of interest to antipodeans. The most important is perhaps Sir C. Dilke’s paper, entitled “ Our War Organisation of the Future,” in which he enlarges on the necessity of a general staff ot the army. After indicating the weak places in our armouratpresent andthesteps which should be taken to ensuie permanent readiness and efficiency, Sir Charles goes on to speak of the share which should be taken by the colonies. “lb is,” he says, “ not the United Kingdom only, but tho whole British Empire, which needs consistent and united organisation for defence. The colonies should be* represented on our great General Staff, and the principle of selfpreservation, applied to the empire, should be ‘disentangled from the petty political questions by which the relations between the mother country and her children are oftenhampered andsometimesembitted. If, as I hope, wo are to continue to stand together as a confederacy holding tho future of the greater portion of the world in its hands, tho inhabitants of the borne islands and of the colonies must come to an understanding for mutual support during that crisis of civilisation in which we may find ourselves at any moment. How would it be if the colonists had a voice in the deliberations of the great imperial Staff, and were fully cognisant of the dangers which might beset them for want of a thorough mutual understanding on military questions ? The scientific organisation of our defensive forces under a General Staff - , in which all parts of the empire producing military talent would find representation, can alone solve the problem of imperial defence.” Emin Pasha’s so-called base ingratitude has caused little surprise in Egypt, where it was noticed from the (irst moment of bhei arrival, that all was not—well —serene between the “rescuer and the rescued.” That Stanley thoroughly dominated Emin anyone could see, and if the German didn’t both fear and hate his capturer —I beg pardon, his preserver—l am assured his features belied him. On one or two occasions the old fellow threw off the mask altogether. For example, when one of Stanley’s lieutenants was talking of their return to Europe, Emin gruffly observed that he would be several times over before he’d go to either London or Brussels to play the part of rescued captive to Stanley’s gallant hero. The one thing the American did not calculate on, was his victim acting as ho has. He tries naturally to make tho best of the contretemps , but that the best is infernally ridiculous, unfortunately cannot be denied. Mr Stanley reaches Brussels to-morrow, and will come on to London presently. Henceforward there can be little doubt he will talk more of the geographical discoveries of his expedition and less of Emin, whose conduct lamentably dims the brilliance of his rentree.

Easter Monday was cold and wet, with the result that Crystal Palace and similar resorts reaped unusually rich harvests even for Bank Holiday. At Sydenham no fewer than 82,439 persons (or nearly twice the entire population of one of your principal cities) passed the turnstiles, the Aquarium accounting for 30,000, whilst the Christy Minstrels entertained two audiences of over 5,000 apiece, and all theatre matinees were crammed.

On the other hand, of course, Kempfon Park, Epping Forrest and outdoor picnicing places generally showed attendances below the average. Tuesday was splendidly fine, and the majority of working folk prolonged their holiday over it.