Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-30
Talk Of the Soldiers Going
to the Front.
OFFICERS IN COMMAND
There is Some Difference of Opinion
As to the Fighting Qualities of the
Troops Who Are There--OpiniOns
of the Dewey Celebration.

London. Sept. 30.-(Copyright, 1899, by
the Associated Press. )-Comment regard
ing the, personnel and material of the
British force which is expected to be
fighting within a short time in South At
RIGA, continues to occupy a large share
of public attention. Many criticisms APP
pear, blaming the government for not
permitting the war office some months
ago to put an adequate defense force on
the probable scene of action. But the
rumors of the forthcoming departure of
an army corps somewhat appease the
critics.
1t is almost certain General Sir Redvers
Butler, the former adjutant general, will
have supreme command in South Africa.
In the meantime, the military response
bility is divided etwee Major General
Sir George Stewart White and Lieutenant
General Sir Frederick William Forester
Walker, the latter at the Cape and the
former in Natal, each being supreme over
his own state. General White, who is de-
scribed as a fighting man "keen as mus
tard' has not yetarrived in Natal. Upon
him will devolve the duty Of checking any
desultory Boer raids or in case of actual
hostilities Of holding Natal until General
Buffers army corps arrives, when the
aggressive British campaign will prob
ably occur. Some dissatisfaction is ex-
pressed because General White has
never served in South Africa. 1t is gen.
orally thought that his fighting abilities
will more han make up for his lack OF
typographical knowledge.
Under Generals White and Walker will
be a host of officers specially selected for
their knowledge Of Boer methods and
South African campaigning. General Sir
William Symond, General Whites Sec
ond in command, is one Of the few sur
vivOrs of the massacre of 1ssandlWhana.
The artillery at Natal will be command
ed by Colonel DOming, late chief instruc-
tor at the school Of gunnery, S~hoebury-
ness, who has the highest scientific and
practical reputation, some
what with Rear Admiral SIMPSONS repu-
tation in the United States navy as an
ordnance expert. Major General French,
commanding the cavalry, is a dashing Of
ficer, somewhat on the lines Of an Amer
lean officer. General Young S erved
through the early Egyptian campaigns.
Much has been said regarding the ply
steal unfitness of a large percentage OF
the British rank and file going to South
Africa or already there. A great differ
ence of opinion m the subject exists, but
it can be said that the regiments selected
are believed to nave the highest standard
of physique and are all comparatively
long service men. Many of the British
officers believe the Mauser, with which
the Beers are armed, is superior to the
Lee-Metford, Of the British forces,
NH TrI{0r -, n ~
Australian horses will be much used by
the cavalry and mounted infantry will
probably suffer from the change of
country tina the men, being obliged to
live on oats and mealies, a form of fodder
they are utterly ~unaccustomed to.
The apparent inclination of the secre-
+! tary of state for war, the Marquis of
L~ansdoWne, to run the campaign prep
! arations on his own ideas and his ten
dency to consult subordinate officers,
have called forth published reminders
that he has a capable commander in
charge at his elbow. Some comparisons
are made as to the status Of Field Mar
shall Lord Wolsley, compared with that
of Major General Miles. when the latter
was reported to have been disregarded
by Secretary Alger.
Alaskan boundary matters are still
taking up considerable attention at the
foreign office. The Canadian minister OF
marine and fisheries, Sir l.. H. Davies, is
daily visiting the officials who are busy
drawing up maps in Illustration OF the
Canadian contention. He expects to fin
, ish his share of the matter in two weeks
He will probably return home Oct. l. The
negotiations at present apparently are
confined to consultations between Great
Britain and Canada, the United States
embassy taking little or no interest ir
them until Sir Davies reaches an under.
standing with the imperial government
Reports of the arrival of a settlement
continue to appear, but these are as un'
reliable as they are contradictory. Sill
Davies said to a representative of thu
Associated Press:
1T is impossible to give any statement
at present"
Asked if he was going over the lower
bay proposition, he said.
mo. not exactly. I am here solely tt
represent the Canadian government"
The papers print long special dispatche!
from New York describing the welcome
accorded to Admiral Dewey. Most o
them, while not protesting to quite un'
derstand the tremendous enthusiasm
treat the outburst as an excellent featur
of the national character.
The Daily Mail special says:
Being on the spot it is impossible no
to enter into the spirit of the thing an
to participate in the enthusiasm. 1t is no
hard to understand the magnetic patriot
ism of this vast lOvable national prid'
whose emotions are as keen in expression
n as frank and unrestrained as thos,
of children. 1t is also necessary to real
ize the strong, simple, modest, attractiv,
personality of Admira Dewey. He is tn,
one figure without a flaw. One man out
side a party"