The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-30
THE BRITISH WE'RE FOOLED.
Grossly Misinforrned as to the
Strength of the Beers.

0NS4Ss
New York, Dec. ga dispatch to the
Herald from London says: 1t appears
that storm is brewing on the subject
of the course of the government toward
General Sir William Butler, whose con-
duct at the outset of the war met with
much criticism.
1t is said that General Butler. pre-
vious to the war, sent a series of dis
patches warning the government
against attacking the Beers, giving de-
tails of their condition for war. which
have been verified by recent events.
But his dispatches were very distaste-
full to the government, and were put
away out of sight, and General Butler
was harshly criticised
General Butler, it seems, drew atten-
ton to the way in which the English
were misled by the blindness of the
intelligence department. which, from
what has taken place, was totally I'M
aware of, or purposely misinformed by
the Beers as to their arms and numeri-
cal strength.
1t is well 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 knew all
about it. but simulated naivete, and
conducted the visitors around forts
which they chose for their own pur-
poses, where old guns were set up and
shown with an affectation of pride by
President Krugers men, who were
cunning enough to inspire strangers by
their Dlausibllity.
Thus the British intelligence depart
nc-t nrfc
of the calibre, range and number of the
cannon possessed by the Beers, but
were merely gulled by the willy bur-h-
ers The real guns, with which the
war is conducted, the creuSots and
Krupps, were so 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 calibre to what the
agents had been allowed to see. In the
same view it is thought that the Beers
understated their numerical forces and
small arms.
1t is understood that all these things
were told to the home government by
General Butler, with the result thai
Butler was called disloYal and pro-
Boer, and rabid papers demanded his
degradation.
But since war began, people who
know the contents of General Buffers
dispatches have come forward and ask
that they be published. The attention
of members of parliam ent has been
called to the matter, and when the COM
mons are assembled in six weeks time,
demands will be made for the publica-
ton of the dispatches.
If it be asked why General Butler did
not speak out it must be remembered
that he is a military man in high po-
aition. and says: MY liDs are sealed, .
hit the subject is now occupying the
club gossips. One very clever club
man remarked that the question really
amounts to this: Is he traitor or
MARTYR"
Another said: rs General Butler the
Dreyfus of this war, and has he Deeh
snubbed by the queen? For it Will ne
remembered that when the queen VS.
tied Bristol he was withdrawn from the
chief command of the western district,
and it was stated that he would nave
been hooted had he appeared. Has ne
been insulted by the press in order 10
shield the war office, which believed the
Intelligence department rather tnan tne
chief of the South African forcesY
Some one else said: Remember Lord
Wolseley's recent speech: We nave
been grossly misinformed as to the
strength and resources Of the Boers.
The public naturally asks: Deceived Dy
whom?