Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-14
BRITISH ARMY SCANDAL
Indications That Great Britain Will
Experience the Usual Scandal
About Food, Etc
Lord Wolseley Already Criticising
the Transport Service Hints of
Dishonest Deals.
Certain Officers Said to Have Been
In Collision With Con-
tractors, Etc.

tIdCsUISs ElC
London, Nov 14.-Some army and
naval scandals of a serious character
are brewing. The admiralty will have
something to answer for in regard to
transportation. The commercial de-
partment will be called on some day to
answer for stores for man and beast,
which have been found unfit for use
before loading.
port the government in the crisis Sc
were criticism is coming as to how the
earlier stages of war are being con-
duced.
/ One great cutlery is, why We're the
troops not moblized earlier than is be-
ing done? Thousands of troops are now
being hurried to the front, but the
l question is asked in many quarters,
! why are they not transported much
4 quicker?
Though many splendid ships have
been hired as transports, there are
some which are reckoned below the
y
ldignation is expressed over putting the
soldiers on old, slow boats.
The government has been ready and
4 anxious to pay any amount for the best
4 transports and the best food that could
/ be got The factor in Strengthening the
i British forces in South Africa was the
speed of the vessels, and the question is
/ asked why the admiralty, which is re-
I ,i,.it, of r.
\ did not secure in every case the best
! and tleetest vessels.
/ It5is given out on high authority that
the most serious critic OF the work of
/ the admiralty in this respect is the
commander in chief himself, Lord
4 Wolseley.
There is no complaint about the un-
seaworthiness of the vessels employed,
4 but many of them can not make more
than ten knots an hour. None is reck-
oned dangerous. but seaworthinsss be
] ing granted and time being the main
object, many of the transports are not,
in the opinion of the military authori-
] ties. Lord Wolseley in particular. up to
the standard required.
Ii is beginning to be limited that in
some instances there have been deal
lfngs between certain subordinate adj
miralty officials and owners of ships.
A which offer something more than mere
i grounds for suspicion that ships are be-
4 in. certified as up to the standard
4 which ought never to have been hired
lat all for considerations which may pe
mildly termed commissions.
Without particularizing as to the
rank held by some of the officials APP
POINTED by the admiralty as transport
surgeons. it is We'll known that some of
these men are not highly paid, and
therefore the temptation quietly TO ac-
lcept considerations for accepting GER
Etain ships as up to the requirements
Ahas been great There will no doubt be
La strict inquiry into these irregularities
The time that is being lost in the
mobilization of the forces in South Al
lrica through SLOW ships is TOO serious to
pass without it, for this means delay in
. relieving Gen. White, Col. Baden Pow
ell and those CALAMITY holding out at
lLadysrnith, Kimberley and Mafeking.
Ii reinforeements arrive one day too
Ilate it will be known whore the blame
lies-not with the military authorities,
but with the admiralty.
There VIII also be an inquiry into the
, working of the commissariat depart
!. ment. Certain dealings there have
!: passed the bounds of suspicion. Ir
, some cases compressed fodder fol
horses and food for the men have OF
examination before sailing of the yes
sells proved below standard and have
! been thrown aside. In these cases alst
= certain contractors have secured order!
i through making compacts of a shad!
character with subordinates who hav'
; had the handling of stores. II has onl.
, been through the thoroughness an
alertness Of those officers whose dut.
lit was to finally examine the stores tina
scandals have been brought TO light.
While the time has not come yet {
j particularize cases, there is a good dea
of trouble in store for not few officers
| The Daily Mail said yesterday tina
q, the transports have taken a niue
longer time than was expected by man.
but that this has been due to tw
|, things-low speed of many of the ship
4 selected for the work and bad weather
/ AS there are at least ttirty-six larg
steamers in the mercantile marine cap
able Of doing seventeen knots and owe
4 lit is not obvious why such slow vessel
| we're chosen, as there was nothing i
/ the nature of things to prevent one. di
I vision from being sent in fast vessels
1 in which case every man in that divis
| ion might by now have landed al Dur
4 ban
Il