Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-26
is He TREATED
AS WAS DREYFUS?
Gen. Butler Warned the War Office
Of Boer Armament,
WAS SHOWN CONTEMPT
And Information OF Intelligence De-
parlment Given Credence-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.
1t 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 distasteful to
the government and were put away out
Of sight, and Cen Butler was harshly
criticised
Gen. Butler. It seems, drew attention
to the way in which the English were
misled by the blindness Of the intelli-
gence department. which from what
has taken place, was totally unaware
Of, or purposely mlsinformed by the
Beers as TO their arms and numerical
strength.
II Is well known here that British
agents Of the intelligence department
were sent from time 10 time TO find out
what the Beers were doing In the way
of armament. The Beers knew all
about II, 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 Krugefs men, who were
cunning enough to inspire strangers
by their plausibllity.
Thus the British intelligence DEPART
ment received the most minute reports
OF the caliber, range and number OF the
cannon possessed by the Bores, but
were merely gulled by the Willy burg
hers. 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 Oh
them.
The English government sent out
guns equal IN caliber TO what the agents
had beel. allowed TO see.
In the same view II Is thought that
the Beers undcrstated their numerical
forces and small arms.
II is understood that all these things
were told to the home government by
Gen. Butler with the result that But
Ter was called dsloyal and pro- Boer,
and rabld papers demanded his degra-
dation.
But since war began people who know
the cortents Of Gen. Buffers dispatches
have come forward and ask that they
be pushed The attention OF mem
beers Of Parliament has been called 10
the matter, and when the Commons are
assembled In six weeks time demands
will be made for the publication Of the
dispatches.
II IL be asked why Gen. Butler did
not speak out, IL must be remembered
that he Is a military man In a high po-
sition, and says: MY lips are sealed"
but the subject is now occupying the
club gossips.
One very clever club man remarked
that the question really amounts 10
this: rs he a traitor or a Martyr
Anothere said: rs Gen. Butler the
Dreyfus Of this war, and has he been
snubbed by the queen? For II VIII
be remembered that when the queen
visited Bristol he was withdrawn from
the chief command Of the western dis
trict. and Il was stated that he would
have been nooted had he appeared.
Has he been insulted by the press In
order TO shield the war office. which
believed the intelligence department
rather than the chief Of the South Az
rcan fOrces?"
Some one else said: Remember Lord
Wolseley's recent speech, We have
been grossly misinformed as TO the
strength and resources Of the Beers.
The public naturally asks Deceived
by whom?"