Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-26
Gen. Butler Warned the War Office
Of Boer Armament,
WAS SHOWN CONTEMPT
And Information OF Intelligence DE.
pnriment Given trcdencc-A
storm IL brewing.

New York. Dec. ga dispatch to the
Herald from London. says;
1t appears that a storm Is brewing
on the subject Of the course Of the
government toward Gen. Sir william
Butler. whose conduct at the outset OF
the war met with much criticism.
II Is said that Gen. Butler. previous
to the war. sent a series Of dispatches
warning the government against at
lacking the Beers, giving details OF
their condition for war which have
been verified by recent events. but
his dispatches were very dlstasteful to
the government and were put away out
OF sight. and Gen. Butler was harshly
criticised.
Gen. Butler. II seems. drew attention
to the way In which the English were
misled by the blindness OF the lntclll-
sencc department, which from what
mas taken place. was totally unaware
o. or purposely mlsinformed by the
Boors as to their arms and numerical
strength.
1t is woii known here that British
agents OF the intelligence department
were sent from time to time to find out
what the Beers were doing In the way
OF armament. The Beers know ait
about II. but simulated naivete and
conducted the visitors around forts
which they chose for their own pur-
poses whore old guns were set up and
shown with an nnectatlon OF pride by
President krugcfa men. who were
cunning enough 10 Inspire strangers
by their plauslhllity.
Thus the British intelligence depart
mcnt received the most minute reports
al aV ssaa H. 49, q h..
cannon possessed by the Borcs, but
were merely gulled by the willy burg
hers. The real guns, with which the
war IL conducted. the Crcusots and
krupps. were 10 carefully hidden that
scarce a soul outside OF the immediate
circle OF the government knew OF
them.
The English government sent out
guns equal In caliber TO what the agents
had bec,. allowed to see.
In the same view II n thought that
the Beers understated their numerical
forces and small arms.
II IL understood that all these things
were told to the home government by
Gen. Butler, with the result that But
Ter was called dlsloyal and pro- Boer,
and rabid papers demanded his degra-
dalton.
But since war began people who know
the cortents OF Gen. Buffers dispatches
be pushed. The attention OF mem
bers OF Parliament has been called to
the matter. and when the Commons are
assembled In six weeks time demands
VIII be made for the publication OF the
dispatches.
n II be asked why Gen. Butler did
not speak out, II must lie remembered
that he II n military man In high POI
Hltion, and says; MY lips are sealed"
but the subject In now occupying the
club gossips.
one very clever club man remarked
that the question really amounts to
this; is he a traitor or martyr?"
Anothcre said. Us Gen. Butler the
Drcyfus OF this war. and has he been
snubbed by the queen? For II Will
be remembered that when the queen
visited Bristol he was withdrawn from
the chief command OF the western dis
trict. and 4 was stated that he would
have been nooted had he appeared.
Has he been lnsulted by the press In
order to shield the war office. which
believed the intelligence department
rather than the chief OF the South AZ
rican forces?"
Some one else said: Remember Lord
Wolseley's recent speech. We have
been grossly misinformcd as TO the
strength and resources OF the Beers.
The public naturally asks Deceived
by whomY"