The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-05
DiSCOSSED BI PA ELL fl M ENT.
Governments Publication ofspiOn Kop
 Dispatches Supported

 Dispatches Supported.
 London, May 4.-In discussing the publication of the SpioH KGp dispatches in the house of commoIns to-day Under Secretary of War Wyn dham quoted the Duke of Wellington as lprecedent for the governments action He strongly de- tended Lord Lansdowhe, he war secre- tarS;; saying that he was prepared to discuss the questiSn of the judgment and the discretion, but rhot fhe honor or rectitude of the Marquis of Lansdowne Many misconceptions in regard to the dispatches had already evaporated, in cluding the belief that Lord Roberts and General Butler had criticised General Methuen's operations, and that the crit icisms that they had been suppressed as supposed, by favoritism had been eliminated The only point at issue was why the criticisms of General Butler had been published, if the government in- tended to leave him In command. MT. Wyndham contended that it was impossible to isolate the Spion Kop dis patches and treat them as no other dis patches had been treated in the history of the last hundred years. The war of flee, he asserted, had acted entirely in accordance with the queens regulations It was said that the publication would shake the confidence of the troops in Natal in their commander, but, MT Wyndham said, that was not the view of the government, nor the view of Geperal Butler who was in the best po- sition to decide. MT. Wyndham then said he though General Butler had merely been unlucky and the General Warren's services should not be over looked, adding that while in publishing the dispatches the government had act ed on its own responsibility, it had been confirmed in so doing by the opinion of Lord Roberts.
 The case of the government was that the right course was to publish what it had published and nc more. He was persuaded that both General Butler and Lord Roberts had sent the dispatches home for publication. Did the house suppose that harm was done to a com mander by a dispatch showing his scheme was a good one and ought to have succeeded or by deciding five, points In his favor while one point was criticised? Was 1t fair to leave 10000 or 10000 men in doubt regarding what obscure causes had made all their hero- ism unavailing? Because General War ren failed in a large independent com mand did that prove that he was unfit ted for other work?
 With rH tp pttI1 10 ot tempt to apologize for him would be great insult to a great man, who had deserved we'll of his country and his troops would be glad to know his strat- egy was praised by Lord Roberts"
 The liberal leaders, despite the state- ment of the under secretary bitterly at- tackled the government for its action, but when test vote was taken to show the sentiment of the house the govern ment was supported by 2l5 to 118.
 Statrmrnt in House of Lords.
 In the house of lords, while discussing the same subject the secretary of state for war, the Marquis of Lansdowne, said it was the only course open to the government. Proceeding, he quoted the queens regulations relating to the pub ilCdtloi oL Sucu uCNVlppIlleHtS anu pointed out three cases in, the Afghan war in which censorious dispatches were published adding that in those cases other employment was found for the generals,
 Regarding Spion Kop the secretary claimed the government might have published nothing, but the battle cost 11,600 casualties, and if the papers had been withheld the reputation of the gen erals would have been damaged more than by their publication. The censure of Lord Roberts on General Butler amounted to the charge that he had trusted too much to his subordinates. That was a very mild rebuke. Lord Roberts showed conclusvely that he had not withdrawn his confidence in General Butler by leaving the latter at the head of the army entrusted with the most difficult operations which were success fully carried out. After Lord Kimber- ly, the liberal leader in the house of lords, had declared the publication un- justified, Lord Rosebery asked if it were true that as a consequence of the pub lication General Butler had tendered his resignation, which was refused. Lord Lansdowne replied that the war office had no knowledge of such a step The subject was soon after drOpped