The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-11-24
NEWS AFTERMATH
Continued from Page ID

farmers. especially in Picque.berg dis
Iric-. are armed with Mau.ers, and are
watching me course of events before
Joining the BCsTs. From StOrmbe-g IL
Is reported shat the Free State forces
are working slowly toward Dordrecht
with a view Of attacking Queens Gown
and cutting off the towns in the north
err districts Of Cape ColCly.
The wounded are recovering in a re-
markable manner. The Mauser wounds
are small ana heal rapidly. Many OF
the wounded apply To- permission 20
return D the front.
The fact shat the latest Two official
dispatches were received from General
Sir Forest er-Walker and not from
General Butler seems TO indicate that
he latter may have a.e3dy left Cape
Town. i Brussels telegram asserts
tina. ne has actually reached Dun ban.
This is certainly premature, but he
nay have started
SCANDALS IN BRITISH ARMY.
LONDON. Nov. 13.-Some army and
navy scandals of a serious character
are brewing. The Admiralty will have
something TO answer in regard to
transportation. The commissariat &C.
partment 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 sup
port the Government in the crisis, Sc
we're criticism is coming as to how the
earlier stages of the war are being con-
Quoted. One great Outcry is why the
troops were not modified earlier than
is being done. Thousands OF troops
are now being hurried to the front, Dut
the question is asked in many quarters
why they were not transported much
quicker. Though many splendid ships
have been hired as transports, there
are some which are reckOned below the
standard for such purposes Much IN
dignatiOn is expressed over the putting
of soldiers on old. slow boats. The
Government has been ready and anx-
ious to pay any amount for the best
transports and the best food that could
be got.
A great factor in strengthening tie
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 fleetest vessels. | understand on
| high authority that the most serious
critic of the work of the Admiralty in
| this respect is the commander in cnle1
himself, Lord Wolseley. There is &C
complaint about the seaWorthinesS Of
the vessels employed, 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 opinion OF
military authorities, Lord Wolseley il
particular, up to the standard re-
| quired.
| 1t is beginning to be limited that il
| some instances there have been deal
| ings between certain subordinate AG
miralty officials and the owners O
ships which offer something more thar
mere grounds of suspicion that ships
are being certified as up to the stand
ard which ought never to have peer
hired at all, for considerations Whicl
may mildly be termed commissions
Without particulariZing as to the rail-
held by some of these officials appoint
ed by the Admiralty as transport sur
| N6yOrS, 1t IS well kuONH IlitL Solle -
these men are not highly paid al
therefore the temptation to quietly &C
cent consideration for passing certai
ships as up to requirements has pee
great. There will, no doubt, be
strict inquiry into these irregularities
The time that is being lost on the nc
bilizat ton of forces in South Afric
Through slow transports is too serlou
: to pass without it, for this means dc
lay in relieving General White. Colont
Baden-Poweli and those gallantly ho't
ing ont at Ladysmith, Kimberley al
| Mafeking.
If reinforcements arrive one dav TO
Iste il will be known where the blam
lies--not with the military authorltie
| but with the Admiralty.
There will also be an inquiry into Ii
working of the commissariat deDar
ment. Certain dealings there nav
passed the bounds OF suspicion.
some cases compressed fodder Il
horses and food for men have, on t
Ianination before the sailing of ve'
sells. proved below the standard, al
have been thrown aside. In thoS
cases certain contractors have secure
orders through making contacts OF
shady character with subordinates wi
have had the handling of stores. 1t ";
only through the thoroughness at
alertness of those officers whose Iut
liz was to finally examine the stores III
the scandals have been brought
light