A Reuter telegram in the papers of Tuesday summarized an
article by Prince Billow which has appeared in a work entitled "Germany under William II." Prince Billow says that it would have been a mistake for Germany to join a Continental coalition against Great Britain during the Boer War, although public opinion would have favoured it. France would have gone over to the side of Great Britain as soon as Germany committed herself, and Germany then would have bad to build her fleet in face of active British opposition. With regard to the possibility of an alliance with Great Britain, Prince Billow says, referring to Mr. Chamberlain's overtures at the opening of the Boer War, that offers from a single Minister were not enough. Absolutely binding engagements would have been necessary on the side of England in order to counteract the widespread jealousy of German progress. An alliance would have brought Germany into antagonism with Russia, and, in case of a general war, Germany would have had to fight on two fronts, while Great Britain would only have had to defend and increase her Dominions.
