New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-15
DEFENCELESS ENGLAND.
ropp WOI.SELEY THINKS THAT i 90, 900 MEN
MIGHT TAKE THE COUNTRY.
THE ApJuTANT-GENERAEs REPORTED RESIGNATION
,xp HIS OFFENCE IN TIE HOUSE OF LORDS
LORD SALISBURY REPLIES AND THE COM
u.NDER-IN-cHIEr TAKES A HAND IN
TIE DISPUTE.

rnndon May l4.-It is reported that Lord
wolseley, Adjutant-General Of the British Army.
h.s tendercd his resignation in consequence Of
Tora Salisbury's attack upon him for making what
,,e Prime Minister called panic-producing
noerb, in regard TO the condition Of the army The
Cabinet is said to be strongly opposed to the ac
cep,ance of the resignation
The House Of Lords this afternoon was crowded
With people who desired to hear Lord Wolseley's
defence. The peers and pceresses' galleries were
allied Mr. Gladstone Mr.. Stanhope, Lord Ran
dolnb Churchill, Viscount Cranbornc, and other
members of the House OF Commons crowded the
,,ons Of the throne Lord Wolseley, who was
seated on cross bench, rose when the Duke Of
cambridge entered and shook hands with him.
Upon the appearance of Lord Salisbury, Lord
Wolscley asked leave to make % personal
nIanation with reference to the Prime Minister'S
complaint of his attacking the Government. lie
.onld not see how an unprejudlced person could
construe his remarks into an attack upon the
Goyernment lie felt that he could not honestly
sssail the Government for negligence toward the
army and navy. In the position which he oc-
runied in the administration of the army, he could
NOT fail to be fully aware Of what Mr.. Stanhopc
had done and doing to render the army efficient
He felt deeply the necessity of keeping the forces
efficient and WIS convinced that more might be
done than had yet been accomplished. He adj
mitted that the present Government had done
much toward improving the military defences In
the bananet speech referred to- he said no more
than he did in his evidence before the Commission
Of Inquiry lie still adhered TO that evidence,
word for word and had nothing whatever to
withdraw.
As long as the navy weak as it was now.
the army could not hold its own, dispersed as it
was all over the world. The defenCes at home
and abroad were in bad condition. The mill
tary forces not organized rs they should be:
they did not guarantee even the safety of tho
capital. He did not want to create panic, but
ne maintained that the condition of the country
cuphf "a M mo SncrCp1pI
In efecting landing and were properly handled.
there was no reason why they might not take
possession Of the country.
He made this statement with full appreciation
Of his responsibility lie had been tempted to re-
Eign on Saturday after reading what Lord Salisbury
had said. The House could not take the initiative
In the matter but he placed himself in the hands
Of the Premier He did not intend TO cast q slur
upon the Government; he had endeavored to the
best Of his lights to serve his sovereign and his
country. Checrs
Lord Salisbury held that his structures upon
Lord Wolseiey's statement at q recent dinner
were fully warranted. At the same time, he ac-
cepted Lord Woseley's disavowal of any intention
70 attack the Government. He only hoped that
If Lord Wolseley had occasion to assail the Ad-
minstration in the future he would do so in
the House. lie trusted that Lord Wolselev
would not take the matter TOO seriously. lie
should regret the Generals leaving the service
as the greatest blow that could fall on the mil
ltafy administration. Lord 'Wolseley's statement
regarding the weakness Of tho countrys defence
would be seriously inquired into. Meantime he
deprecated the practice of officers speaking over
the heads of the Government, and thus DESTROY
Ing the ministerial authority and shatterng the
administrative machine {" Hear. hear"l
The Duke Of Cambridge said that every now
and then he and Lord Wolseley did not agree,
but they disagreed without quarreling. If these
matters were to be discussed in open honse between
the Commander-in-Chief and the Adufant-Gen-
eral IL would be most detrimental to the interests
Of the public service. {" Hear hear")
At a crowded meeting of citizens of London to-
day. resolutions were adopted urging the Govern
ment without delay to deal effectively with tho
national defences. mass meeting arranged
for June 5.