The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22
Opinion General that the SpiOn Kop
Affair Was n Blunder and that
Somebody Should Suffer.
KITCHENER AND ROBERTS
REPORTED TO HAVE HAD A FALL
ING-OUT In THE FREE STATE.
British Society Women in Danger of
Becoming a Laughing Stock by
Swarming to South Africa.


of Ashanti, Sir Frederic NJ. Hodgson,
stands in danger of being murdered and his
rule swept out of remembrance. the United
States is generally considered on the brink
of war with Turkey, the Paris exposition
has been opened, Queen Victoria is return
ing from her remarkable visit to Ireland
yet who cares?" In England there is only
one topic, and that is Lord Roberts's Spion
kop censures and the possible result. Even
the commencement of the advance against
Pretoria fails to detract public interest
from the all-absorbing sensation of the
hour. The weeklies TEEN with comment
that defies a cabled synopsis. While these
multitudinous expressions of opinion re-
garding the advisability Of the publication
at the present moment of such terrible in
dictments of British generals and officers,
and while the authorities differ widely as
to the causes of their inefficiencies and the
remedies therefor, one common verdict
seems to have been reached, which Is that
Spion kop was terrible muddle, and that
some one must be brought to book.
Though the Cabinet itself appears scarce
Iy decided on what course to pursue. public
opinion is pretty clearly defined and is
unanimous in demanding the recall of Gen.
Butler and General Warren. Placing Col.
Crofton on half pay has merely whetted
the national appetite, and the ravenous de-
mand for action and for the prevention of
the useless loss of loved ones lives cannot
be satisfied with such meager bone
Crofton. Higher heads. it seems, must fall.
1t is probable the government hopes Gen.
Butler will apply for his own recall, but
4t..- fI.a
country angrily walls for the action that
all sections of the press declare must follow
the Observation-Disclosures publication of
Lord Robertss structures. A curious fea-
ture is that Lord Roberts. apparently, is
not empowered to deal with General Butler
or even General Warren, both having been
directly appointed by the government, and
beyond reporting, Lord Roberts is unable
to take action. Yet for six weeks after re-
ceiving Lord Roberts's report the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the secretary of state for
war, left the question open, and now, for
some mysterious reason, has taken the pub
lie into his confidence. Hence Lord Roberts
is, naturally, freed from all blame and has
increased his popularity for being brave
| enough to expose weak spots.
Spencer Wilkinson says: Lord Lans-
| downes action in publishing the Spion kop
| dispatches is inexplicable, with our present
knowledge only on the theory that he
wants to be assured of the support of pub
| lie opinion in shortly recalling General
Butler Ministers of late years have never
dared act until they first felt the pulse of
public opinion. General Butler has many
powerful friends. He was selected by Sir
| Henry Campbell Bannerman, late secre-
| tary of state for war, to be commander-in-
| chief on the resignation of the Duke of
| Cambridge. Lord Lansdowne is officially
responsible for General Buffers selection
| for the South African command, and he
may hesitate to order him home. The pub
| lication of the dispatches is an invitation
| to the public to produce their verdict.
"It is remarkable that Lord Wolseley
| should lend himself to so strange course
| as the delayed publication of censure un-
accompanied by recall The nation is
gradually growing angry with the head
management of the War Office, and it is
| about time :"
| The polite warning of the British high
| commissioner. in South Africa, Sir Alfred
| Miner, that English ladies are not needed
| at Cape Town. forms the basis of a scath-
| ing article in the Saturday Review, which
SAYS: 'It is barely year ago that the
English press teemed with comments far
| from complimentary on the eXtravagant
| cutbursts of New York society over the
| apotheosis Of Dewey and his sailors. But
| the harm effected by that ridiculous spec
| tacle was limited to its personal results.
| There was no interference with military
| operations and the policy of the United
| States was in no way hampered because
| certain young ladies made themselves and
their victims laughing stocks. Though
| morally the fruit of this same sickly SEN
| timentalism and love Of notoriety, this de-
| scent of English society on the shores of
| South Africa, is far worse. This rush to
| the front is only a particularly repulsive
exhibition of a general outburst OF un-
healthy sentimentalism, for which the war
| has afforded the opportunity. This sickly
| exotic, matured by the Kiplingism of the
| music hall and cherished by idle hands,
| bids fair to obscure its vigorous, sturdy
| brother. which is spreading its roots
| throughout the empire" The Saturday
| Review goes on to say that If the women
| do not take Sir Alfred Miners hint the
world will know what to think Of them.
| The Rev. T. De Witt Talmage breaches
| his first sermon this year in England to-
morrow at Manchester. He is looking for
ward with keen interest to addressing
crowds Of similar enormous proportions to
| those which heard him when he last WIS.,
tied England. Referring to the war. DR..
Talmage said to q representative Of the
Associated Press: Regardless Of the merits
| of the belligerents, can certainiy assert
enc thing hers, ana that u that tho<o y