The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-14
SCANDALS BREWING
IN THE BRITISH ARMY

LONDON. Nov 13-Some army and
navy scandals of serious character are
brewing The Admiralty will have some
thing TO answer in regard 10 transporta-
ton. The commissariat department will
be called upon some day TO answer for
stores for man and beast which have been
found unfit for use just before loading.
While all parties have united 10 support
the Government in the crisis, severe criti-
cism Is coming as TO how the earlier
stages OF the war are being conducted
One great cutlery is why the troops We're
not modified earlier than IS being done.
Thousands of troops are now being hur-
ried to the front but the question is asked
in many quarters why were they not
transported much quicker. Though many
splendid ships have been hired as trans
ports, there are some which are reckoned
below the standard for such purposes.
Much Indignation IS expressed over the
putting Of soldiers on old. slow boats The
Government has been ready and anxious
10 pay any amount for the best transports
and the best food that could be got
4 great factor in strengthening the
British forces in South Africa was the
speed Of vessels, and the question is
asked why the Admiralty. which is re-
sponsible for the hiring OF transports, did
not secure in every case the best and
thority that the most serious critic of the
work of the Admiralty in this respect is
the commander in chief himself, Lord
Wolseley. There is no complaint about
the seaworthiness of the vessels en-
ployed. but many of them cannot make
more than ten knots an hour. None IS
reckoned dangerous, but, seaworthiness
being granted, time being the main object,
many Of the transports are not. in the
WoIseley in particular, up TO the standard
required.
1t is beginning TO be limited that in
some instances there have been dealings
between certain subordinate Admiralty
officials and the owners Of ships which
offer something more than mere grounds
of suspicion that ships are being certi-
fed as up 10 the standard which ought
never 10 have been hired at all. for con-
siderations which may mildly be termed
commissions. Without particularizing as
70 the rank held by some of these officials
appointed by the Admiralty as transport
surveyors, it is we'll known that some OF
these men are not highly paid and there
fore the temptation 10 quietly accept con-
sideration for passing certain ships as up
10 requirements has been great. There
Will no doubt. be a strict inquiry into
these irregularities. The time that is be-
Ing lOSC on the IDoDllLZaLOn Oh forces III
South Africa through slow transports is
too serious 10 pass without it, for this
means a delay in relieving General White,
Colonel Baden-PowelI and those gallantly
holding out at Ladysmith, Kimberley and
Mafeking.
II achievements arrive one day too
late it will De known where the blame
lies-not with the military authorities, but
with the Admiralty.
There viii also be an inquiry into the
working Of the commissariat department.
Certain dealings there have passed the
bounds of suspicion. In some cases com
pressed fodder for horses and food for
men have, on examination before the sail
ing OF vessels. proved below the standard
and have been thrown aside. In those
cases certain contractors have secured or
( ders through making compacts OF a shady
( character with subordinates who have had
the handling OF stores. It was only
through the thOroughness and alertness
; of those officers whose duty it was to
finally examine the stores that the scan
dals have been brought TO light.