itorial commentary:

"As is explained elsewhere, a serious breakdown of telegraphic
communication has occurred between London and Harwich, Ipswich and East
Anglia generally, as a result of which our readers are robbed of special
despatches regarding last night's conclusion of the East Anglian
Pageant. It is thought that the breakdown is due to some electrical
disturbance of the atmosphere resulting in a fusion of wires.

"But as an example of the ridiculous lengths to which the national
defence cranks will go in their hatching of alarmist reports, a rumour
was actually spread in Fleet Street at an early hour this morning that
this commonplace accident to the telegraph wires was caused by an
invading German army. This ridiculous _canard_ is reminiscent of some of
the foolish scares which frightened our forefathers a little more than a
century ago, when the Corsican terrorized Europe. But our rumour-mongers
are too far out of date for this age. It is unfortunate that the
advocates of militarism should receive parliamentary support of any
kind. The Opposition is weakly and insignificant enough in all
conscience, without courting further unpopularity by floating British
public feeling in this way, and encouraging the cranks among its
following to bring ridicule upon the country.

"The absurd _canard_ to which we have referred is maliciously ill-timed.
It will doubtless be reported on the Continent, and may injure us there.
But we trust our friends in Germany will do us the justice of
recognizing at once that this is merely the work of an irresponsible and
totally unrepresentative clique, and in no sort a reflection of any
aspect of public feeling in this country. We are able to state with
certainty that last Tuesday's regrettable incident in the Mediterranean
has been satisfactorily and definitely closed. Admiral Blennerhaustein
displayed characteristic German courtesy and generosity in his frank
acceptance of the apology sent to him from Whitehall; and the report
that our Channel Fleet had entered the Straits of Gibraltar is
incorrect. A portion of the Channel Fleet had been cruising off the
coast of the Peninsula, and is now on its way back to home waters. Our
relations with His Imperial Majesty's Government in Berlin were never
more harmonious, and such a _canard_ as this morning's rumour of
invasion is only worthy of mention for the sake of a demonstration of
its complete absurdity. If, as was stated, the author of th