The Age Herald

Pet Measure Will be Greatly Modified Before Reintroduction.

THE BERLIN PRESS FAVOR BOERS
In the Event of War in the Transvaal Germany Will Not Stand Idly By-Naval Maneuvers Off Heligoland

Berlin, September 9.-The situation in international politics has been somewhat intensified this week. The dismissal of several cabinet members and a number of higher Prussian officials is merely a symptom of this. The emperor, as King of Prussia, before starting for the maneuvers had lengthy conversations with Prince Von Hohenlohe, the imperial chancellor, and president of the Prussian councils of ministers, and Dr. Miquel, vice-president of the council and minister of finance, in which the difficulties of the situation were thoroughly discussed.

The emperor hopes to see the canal bill, when it is reintroduced, with modifications at the next session, pass, notwithstanding the opposition of the agrarians. In this he will probably be disappointed despite the methods employed in disciplining the agrarians and the government officials serving as delegates to the diet.

The Emperor Is Desperate
The emperor is resolved to go to the length of forcing the resignation of every official, be he high or low, who actually sympathizes with the powerful agrarian society, the Bund Derlandweithe. This will strike many.

The probability of war between Great Britain and the Transvaal is discussed with great interest. The press comment is most unfavorable to Great Britain. The general opinion seems to be that the Boers were wrong in making the suzerainty question the main issue. Still, while Great Britain has doubtless secured a free hand, it is not likely that Germany, France and Russia will remain impassive spectators of all the complications which will possibly arise out of the war.

If the British are defeated there is a splendid chance for Germany in South Africa, while in the case of a British victory there will be the greatest Boer trick ever seen, the Boers emigrating en masse to German territory. Then, it is added, Great Britain will want also to oust Germany from South Africa.

The Naval Maneuvers
The naval maneuvers near Heligoland have not been sensational. Following the example of the United States in the war with Spain, the government has ordered the equipment of a number of repair ships for the navy, closely patterned after the Vulcan. These will be fire-proof, and will be used in training firemen.

The Vossische Zeitung prints a hitherto unpublished letter from Prince Bismarck to Field Marshal von Manteuffel, in which Bismarck was far from complimentary to the Prussian-conservatives. This is one of a number of unpublished letters brought out since the death of the field marshal by a syndicate of liberal politicians. They are said to contain many highly sensational letters, including some of the old emperor's correspondence to his son, then the crown prince.