New-York tribune., 1900-07-08
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
AN UNSATISFACTORY INVESTIGATION
OF WAR SCANDALS
Mr. BALFOURs HOSPITAL COMMITTEE AP-
POINTMENTS CRITICISED-NO INTER
EST IN AMERICAN ELECTIONS
MRS CRAIGIE'S NEW BOOK


MRS CRAIGIErS NEW BOOK
copyright: 1900: BY The New-York Tribunal
IBY CABLE THE TRIBUNE-I
London, July Matthew ArnoId's weary
Titan sighs for relief front the burdens Of empire
and, finding none. hardens his heart. The only
quarter in which there is marked improvement
is Ashantee; Sir Frederick Hodgson's column
from COomassie is expected at Cape Coast Cas-
tie tomorrow after an arduous march The re-
lief expedition under Colonel WilcOcks will
reach its destination by the end of another
week. and unless all signs fail Will succeed in
pacifying the country and averting the neces-
sity for another little war. The situation in
China is black enough TO bIacken the whole
sky. The best thing that can be said is that
the destruction of the legations and the slaugh-
ter of foreigners have not been officially an
nounced and are not known with certainty
This horror of great darkness would be suff-
GENTLY appalling in any circumstances; England
is peculiarly oppressed by 1t on account of her
own helpIessness in so awful crisis With
more than two hundred thousand soldiers stII
actively employed in South Africa. she cannot
exert herself with energy and resources com
mensUrate with either the crisis or her own
position in Christendom. but must invite
Asiatic Power like Japan TO take the lead and
content herself with concrTating Russia in every
possible way. China would be less horrible
nightmare if the British Government were pre-
pared 10 act with decision and authority.
The campaign in South Africa is clearing
slowly. A combined movement against De Vets
four commanders is in progress, but the scheme
of development is on so large scale that gaps
will probably be left by which they will escape
FACET is within striking distance OF bethlehem
with Clements behind him; Brabant's force has
been shifted to Senekal. where il can cooperate
with Paget: Rumble holds positions in the south
toward Ficksburg; MeJhuen is in reserve at
PaardekraaL on the west; Hunters division.
with MacdonaIds brigade. is at Frankfort. and
an unknown column. probably from Standerton.
is marching toward Vrede
The cooperation of so many columns leaves
many chances for mishaps. especially when
each is dependent upon conveys for supplies
The press here is probably preparing itself for
disappointment when 1T assumes that De Vets
force will be entrapped and compelled To sur
render What is likely TO occur is the occupation
of Vrede and Bethlehem after Frankfort. and a
narrowing Of the sphere of Boer operations 70
the district between Harrismith and the noun
tains; but De Wet is good soldier and may
have some effective cOunterstrCke.
Guerilla warfare is not easily ended; one town
after another may be occupied and garrisoned.
but hostile forces win have considerable range
in the mountain districts and will be constant
Iy subdividing and breaking up into smaller
bands. Steyn will probably be hunted down In
the mountain passes in the course Of few
weeks; Botha is held of temporarily in the
TransvaaI until De Vets commanders can be
dispersed. With double lines OF railway COM
munication with Pretoria, transport difficulties
are now largely obvlated. except i'm the noun
tain districts. which have become the centres
of guerilla warfare
Mr. Balfour blundered unexpectedly in ap-
pointing two doctors and a lawyer. all three
Unionists. on the commission for reporting on
the arrangements for sick and wounded in
South Africa. A commission of three might
have answered if conspicuous business man
or railway director had been substituted for
one of the doctors; as it is, NIr BaIfour must
now find two apostles of rhe gospel Of com
mon sense. Lord Lansdowne has not been
great War Minister. but it is surprising that
he should have made so stupid a mistake
the recommendation of so unsatisfactory a com
mission The War Office is greatly indebted to
the colonies for the loyal support received dur
ing the campaign. and this tact ought to have
been a safeguard against undertaking the i'm
portance of the charges made against the medt-
cal service.
The Canadian contingeuts, -or example. which
have fought most CALAMITY and endured cheer
fully every privation, have suffered heavily from
outbreaks of fever and dysentery. L am told
that as many as 800 Canadians have been in
the hospital at one time. The British Gov
ernment can hardly expect the COlOnials to
volunteer for future service for the Empire
unless there are assurances Of an efficient medi-
cal as well as surgical service. Mr.. William Ash
mead Bartlett Burdett-Cou and The Times
may have had motives of their own for bringing
the medical scandals 10 light, hut when it was
once done Mr.. Balfour ought TO have known
intuitively that the Governments obligations to
the English people and 70 the loyal colonies re-
quired a thorough investigation of the whole
matter by a competent committee
The debate over the hospital service has been
taken UP by The cllques and factions into which
the West End is divided on military matters
There has been much heartburning and wrang-
ling among the sympathizers with the Alder
shot ring since Lord Roberts succeeded Sir Red
Butler. and Mr.. Burdett-Coutts has enabled
the friends Of the various victims Of Boer STRAIT
egy TO set their tongues wagging at the expense
Of the commander of the army in South Africa
Sir Henry Colvile. who has been ordered to re-
turn to England is a Guards general with a
large circle OF friends in the world OF fashion
His retirement is not yet explained. but his
cause has already been taken up hOtly by social
champions. as the grievances Of General Cat