The German people are said to be greatly excited against
Russia, but the German Government, through its usual
POSTAGE ADRO lD 1n. organ, the Post, treats the affair very lightly. It is disposed to consider the stoppage of the ' Prinz Heinrich' as an " isolated incident," which will soon be settled, and to refuse to be driven by the principles involved in the incidents in the Red Sea into an attitude "in which Germany might be drawn into affairs with which she has absolutely no concern." That means, of course, that Germany will leave Great Britain to defend the rights of neutrals and the general freedom of commerce by herself, looking on the while, if it comes to a contest, with an amused feeling that she herself is all the while growing stronger. That broad result must, however, be equally perceptible both to Russia and to France, and it is hardly possible to believe that either can be beguiled into abetting such an issue. The great danger, in fact, in recent events is that those who have planned or allowed them may think a quarrel with this country the least discreditable way of avoiding a visible retreat before the Japanese. The bear, defeated by the fox, picks a quarrel with the elephant, and says : " Lo, how am I oppressed !"
