The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-19
SHAKING UP IS NEEDED
IN THE BRITISH WAR OFFICE 1T Is
RELIEVED.
The "NvoIscIey Gang Has Been Run
ming Things. but Not to Any
body's Satisfaction.

|
New York. December 1s.--A dispatch to
| the Tribune from London says There is
general impression that the war office
has been conducted in the interest OF what
is known as the "Wolseley gang and
that 1t needs good shaking up Certain
~ the selection OF Lord wolseleys rival,
Lord Roberts, the best OF all tho Indian
lighters, is rebuke 10 the headquarters
favorites who have been managing the
campaign.
The shipment OF the army corps and
all the details Of the transports on shore
may have been we'll managed, but 1t re-
mains true that the stan did not adapt it.
self to the precise requirements of the
campaign with mounted infantry, remark
able for mobility, and that the cavalry
arm was neglected.
The new programme OF the war office
calls for Ions range artillery and an UNI
usually large proportion of MOUNTED
troops. The shaking up process has al
ready been useful
1t is not necessary for Lord Wolseley's
indiscreet friends to explain under their
breath that the queen has been suspicious
Oh MN since his refusal TO go to Canada
as vlceroy, and that Lord Roberts has
oeen sent to Capetown in order to provide
the Duke OF Connaught with a high com
mand in Ireland. The best soldier is
needed Tor an emergency OF supreme i'm
portance, and the queens ministers have
summoned him. heartbroken though he
Is from the loss of his only son.
me ministry also required vigorous
shaking up. and Is getting it. 1t is I'M.
aoubtedly true that Lord Wolseley was
ANXIOUS TO mobilize Ia army corps as ear
Y as June or Juy nut the chancellor of
the eXchequer would not agree to provide
the money, and Lord Lansdowne was not
convinced that such action was expedient
or necessary. Military men were furious
wnen war was brought on with the grass
green on the veldt for the Boer punies
ana the leading martinets have been dis
posed to regard Sir Michael Hicks Beach
as the Jonah OF the ministerial ship. Many
Ola tories have pointed 10 Mr. Chamber
IAN as the real Jonah. They assert that
the ministers throughout the NEGOTIATIONS
took from him the false cue that Presi-
dent Kruger would certainly give way
under steady pressure and that even II
ne did not make concessions the Beers
would not make genuine fight and
that there would be at the worst not a
war, but military demonstration. This
is secret history as it is told by men who
know what has been going on in the In
hermost circles safe commentary upou
1t would be thai Presidents Kruger and
Steyn brought on the war at their con- /
venience. Just as the Dutch commanders |
nave succeeded in forcing the British gem |
erals to attack them under conditions
most favorable for themselves.
The old tories are always railing at Mr..
Chamberlain, but unlike what is going
lie ehar RrYh,
end OF the war he will settle the African
question as he likes, for no other minis
ter VIII interfere with him. He presuD-
poses British yc;ory--which Lord Rob-
erts can bring about II any Englishman
Fan do 1t. with this help of heavy bat
Ialions recruited from the army reserves,
he militia. the yeomanry and the volup-
teers. The resources, which are included
IN Mr.. Wyndham's war office programme
make up an enrolled force of over 1873, 900
men, exclusive of the regular standing
army ON a peace footing.
The earliest reports Of the battle of
colenso from special correspondents are
by the censorship and leave un-
old what the public is most anxious to
,cribes the excellent practice of the Brit
sh batteries after dawn and the heavy
HIRE which the infantry drew from the
enemy concealed and sheltered by broken
edges. and naively adds that General Bull
er's army retired after eight hours fight
ing, tho Fourteenth field battery being
partly demolished and LETT behind on the
held Some Of these early accounts read
rs though the censor had revised them
With tho help of a howitzer battery.
Military men say that Colonel Long who
brew away the batteries at Colenso by
leelecting to send forward scouts did
he same things at the Adershot maneu-
'ers in 1898. and was reprimanded for It
'ither by General Butler or the Duke Of
lonnaught. II that be true, Butler ought
o have been on his guard against his
reckless tactics.
A fresh break in the cable has inter
'upted the current war news in the last
wenty- four hours.
The revised list of the Magerstontein
osses has increased the number OF pris-
'ners by forty-fye
The Dutch have guarded against n Sec
md use OF the armored train by blowing
Up railway culverts north OF Modder river
heir position is described by the stand I
I'd correspondent as marvelously strong.
Tho correspondent, George Lynch is held
/ Pretoria ON the charge OF being
py.