The Van Buren press., 1900-04-21
GIN. LORD ROBERTS BOMB.
An Explosion That Has Startled the Brit
ish-Incapacity of Army
Officers.

London, April Is, 4 a. m.-The gov
ernment has chosen this as the mo
mont to publish dispatch from Lore
Roberts pronouncing censure upor
| Sir Redvers Butler and Sir Charles
Warren, two of his most important
subordinate commanders. This dis
patch, written February 13, has beer
in the hands of the war Office for five
weeks. just why it is puhlished now
in the middle of the campaign, is not
understood, unless it is expected thai
Gen. Butler and Gen. Warren will ask
| to be relieved of their commands. The
revelation of their incapacity mus
tend to undermine the confidence OF
the troops in their leadership.
Somewhat Appalling Language.
Lord Roberts dispatch, with the en-
closures, is the great feature of the
London press this morning. In long
editorial the Daily News speaks of the
somewhat appalling language" of the
dispatch, and then goes on to say:
Upon the whole, these dispatches
are disquieting and disheartening in
nc ordinary degree. n Follow
ina Immediately upon the recall OF
Gen. Gatacre, they will create wide
spread feeling of uneasiness andanxie'
ty."
Not without n Purpose,
The Standard, which is supposed to
be in the confidence of the govern
ment, says;
at is scarcely likely that the publ
cation of Lord Roberts dispatch is
without a purpose. 1t irresistibly sug'
gests whether it is not to be followed
by further important changes in the
South African commands. Painful as
such measures must be, there must be
no hesitation in carrying them out II
they are required in the public inter
est"
The Daily Telegraph compliments
Lord Roberts upon mot hesitating,
where great national interests are at
stake, to wound private susceptible
ties"
The Daily Chronicle confesses to "a
feeling something like CONSERVATION
when reading the extraordinary pass
ages" of the dispatch.
Only Zoo Clearly Justified.
The Times says
Lord Roberts severe condemnation
is justified only too clearly by the Of
fetal narratives of what took place
The story is painful; but it Is well for
the nation and for the army that II
should be told clearly and simply
without concealment or eXaggeration
at is not the least of the great serv'
ices Lord Roberts is now rendering
fne country that he exposes with judi
cal impurtiality and wise, wholesome
severity, errors and omissions ir
figh quarters which have cost us SO
very much"
Whether the government has any
special purpose or not in publishing
The dispatch, the way in which it has
been received will make it most dilli'
cult TO retain the censured coInanders
in active service.
Public Eaunnimity Disturbed.
Lord Roberts long wait and the
Poer activity have seriously disturbed
public equanimity. He is still 800 miles
from Pretoria No one doubts the ul'
innate success of British arms, but,
behind the British army that crushes
the Boer armies, an army of occupa'
ton will have to be installed, From
various sources come hints that more
men than are already provided foI
will have TO be sent out.
Projected Flnnk Movements,
Lord Roberts intimates that at least
ten thousand men are advancing tc
cut of the Beers who are investing
Wcpener. AS there are reports from
The Basuto border that firing has been
heard in the direction Of the hills to.
ward De Vets dorp, it Is possible Gen,
Chermisde's advanced troops are al
ready in contact with the Beers. Lord
roberts wires that he expected to
tlear the southeast section of the Ere,
State east Of the railway, and then
to swing round to the north and tc
turn one after another the positions
held by the Beers north of Bloemfor
tein.
Buker Ready to Act.
Gen. Buler's prohibition of all press
kilograms in Natal until further no
tice is taken to indicate that Il move
ment is about to begin there,
Exactly what part Gen. Butler will
take is still Il secret which no one Is
able TO probe
From the seat Of war there Is sig
niiicant silence.
10TH TO LEAVE WEPENER.
ts. Il.,l.. sn