The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-21
QUARREL.
Roberts and Kitchener Are at
Swords Points.
British Public Disposed to
Stand by "BObs."
KING OSCARS VISIT.
SWeden's Ruler Attracts Much
Attention in England.
Turkey Has Ordered Big Lot Of
New Guns.

Copyright, 1900, by Associated Press.)
London, April 21.-This has been a
sad week for the British generals. The
brewing storm that last week was
overhangings their heads received its
electric spark through the publication
of Lord Roberts censures regarding
the engagement at Spion Kop. 1t
descended in a merciless torrent from
an unanimous press. At the present
moment General Butler could find no
better way to endear himself to the
hearts of the people than to request his
recall, but one who knows the Natal
commander intimately tells the represen-
tative of the Associated Press that he is
far too thick skinned to take such a
step, and will stick to his post despite
all criticisms and aValancheS of ad-
verse public opinion.
Nor is Lord Kitchener spared in the
present outbreak. There is a story go
ing the round of the clubs that the
great man of the Soudan has been Sc
verely sat upon by the little man OF
Afghanistan, and specific instances of
disagreements between them are
quoted. Once, so gossip says, through
mysterious references to private letters
and such inner sources of information,
Lord Roberts felt constrained to put
Lord Kitchener in his place.
Il wish you to understand" Kandhar
is reported to have said to KhartouTn,
IF you please, that 1 command this
army You are my chief of staff.
decide myself on what is to be done,
and shall issue my orders accordingly
ROBERTS A COMPROMISE.
No documentary evidence has been
obtained to prove the truth of this, and
it may be pure invention, but it has
already been printed in London, and
originated much in the same way that
the first stories arose regarding the
| fascos of Generals Gatacre, Butler and
| Methuen. which were only too fully
borne out by later official and detailed
| accounts
With regard to Lord Kitchener there
| is another story current which insists
/ that after the Colenso disaster the
! queen demanded that Butler be super
| seded by the cOnquerOr OF the khal1n
| and that the cabinet protested, but
! compromised by sending Lord Roberts
as a figurehead. This is considered
rather improbable, but if true the cab
| met has caught a Tartar in the snaps
| of Lord Roberts.
1t is marvellous to note the whole
| heartedness of the English public trus
in this old general Not one paper ha:
/ attached to his criticism of Genera
| Ruller-his predecessor in the command
| one iota of unfairneSS or Self-intereSt
| This, perhaps, is explained by the uni
| versal recognition of the fact that the
| field marshal has little to gain by thi,
l
which long and brilliant service en-
titled him in order to serve his country
| Whatever the outcome of the Boer war
Lord Roberts name would stand il
Fngland's military annals as one o
the most successful and best loved o
her commanders. This fact is ever be
fore the public, and they believe thei
commander in chief in South Africa t
be miles above jealousies or rivalrie
that might actuate other generals.
KING OSCARS VISIT.
The visit of King Oscar of Swedel
and Norway to England. though under
taken incognito has attracted a surpris
ingly large amount of interest. TIL
spectacle of that monarch, burly despit
| his Il years and standing head ant
shoulders above his fellOws-pushini
his way past the station barricades t
shake hands with the Swedish workmel
| who had cheered him as he entered tn
London depot, can for human impul
siveness be scarcely exceeded in the ac
| tions of the most democratic ruler. KIM
Oscar is no stranger to England H
has paid frequent visits to this countr