The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-02
steamer M.shona Not Forfeited.
WARM DEBATE IN COMMONS,
Wyndham, Parliamentary Undes
Secretary, Relates the Enormous
War Preparations Made.

LONDON, Feb LIN the house of COM
mons today the government parted most
of the questions in regard TO the war in
South Africa
MIR. Wyndham. the parliamentary under
secretary of state for war. maintained
that the information furnished by the
intelligence department was generally ac-
curate and that Information In regard to
the forces remaining In the United King
dom would be included in the statement
which the government would make short
ly. Relative TO the speech made by Gen.
Lord Wolseley, the commander in chief.
In regard to the reverses In South Africa,
Mr. wyndham said Lord wolseley merely
intended TO convey the impression that
the military qualities shown by the Beers
were of a higher order than had been am
ticipated AT this remark the Irish MEM
bers cheered. Asked IL he had any war
news to communicate TO the house, Mr..
Balfour, the government leader and first
lord of the treasury. replied in the mega
tive.
Mr.. Balfour In answer TO another ques-
ton, said that while the military opera
tions were proceeding he could not an
swer any inquiry as to the slaughter OF
IIghlanders at Magersfontein.
Regarding the dispatches OF Mai. Gen.
Sir William Francis Butler. who was in
command OF the British troops in South
Africa until August. 1899, when he was re-
neved by Lieut. Gen. SIR Fred Forester
Walker 1t being intlmated that Gen. But
ler's sympathies were In favor OF the
Beers. Mr.. Balfour said there was no rea-
son to present them TO the house.
Gen Buffers opinion on South African
affairs he added was We'll known. The
general has never suggested to the war
office. either publicly or privately. that
the number OF troops required would be
anything like the number actually sent.
In regard to the suggestion that Indian
troops should have been used In South
Africa. the housc. Mr.. Balfour said. would
understand the impossibity OF this Re-
plying to questions relating TO the letters
OF u. +. Hawkesley. counsel for the Brit
ish South Africa Company. and other let
ters published by the Independence
Beige, the secretary of state for the colo
nies. Mir. Chamberlain. admitted that
those OF which he had personal knowledgs
we're published substantially correctly.
The letters. he added. were stolen from
Mr.. Hawkesleys ofice BY a clerk who
was summariiy dismissed IN 1855.
Mir Chamberlain further declared that
he was only aware Of the existence Of the
letters a few days before they were pub
iished,
Mr.. Balfour. repl-+as 90 another cues
ton by Mr.. John Gordon Swift Mcneil.
Nationalist member for South Donegal,
IN regard 10 the letters published IN the
Independence Beige. and What the gov
crnment proposes 10 DO when the cabinet
ministers where deliberately charged
with personal diahonor and public false
hood said that according 20 his view
OF the case such 3cousaiions ousht 10 Be
treated with contempt
Sir Charles pake advanced Radical
member for the Forest Of Dean division
af Claueestershire, resumed the debate
on Lord Fit9maurices amendment Re the
address 70 the speech from the taroae.
rae saba he thought no one coula decay
that the net result had been 20 MI the
belief OF the world In Great Bxitains
ability 10 conduct a war The c0untrys
military reputation. he added. was never
lower. and even nov the government
failed to grasp the seriousness % the
war
Mr.. wynahafn. parliamentary secretary
FOR the war onsce who followed admitted
the war office bad uot been impeceablo
but be argued that the gpecrament has
doua its best, eensideriRg the limitations
az the military system. and welcomed
criticism. as the country would be thus
enabled to turn q best account the tide
% patriotism and the lessons q the war.
II the government had done wronE. De
continued {; had donc tt with right mo-
uyss The TWO cardinal points ln the
campaign were; Firstly. desire 70 give
diplomacy n chance, secondly, the deci-
alien Of Ger. Butler to rslisvs L~aysmlth.