The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
General Roberts Now Getting His
share of Criticism.

4
| Share of Criticism.
| LONDON, May 19-Lord Roberts himself
| gets his share Of criticism now. One hear:
1t said in the clubs and even in Parliament
that he is not SO great a man after all
| At least he is pretty slow. Against Lord
Kitchener there still stands out that I'M
explained incident Of Paardeberg. where
| he repeated the same old plumbers OF other
| leaders. and needlessly sacrificed British
| lives in frontal attacks, and was only
saved from colossal slaughter by Lord
Roberts arrival and peremptory recall
Of every soldier.
General Gatacre is back in England. in
| strict retirement, a slight which military
men are now beginning to saw is unde-
| served, and though General White is s..;'
at large, banqueting here and prize-dis-
tributing there, he has yet to emerge from
the shadow OF the loss of two British regi-
ments before Ladysmith was beleaguered.
But against Baden Powell nobody brings
charge Of laundering. He is the hero OF
every music hall, every bar parlor. every
gathering of Englishmen, and it would
have been the darkest day Of all the dark
days of this war had his plucky seven
months stand at Mafeking ended in igno-
miny and surrender.
Experts here say that Mafeking is forth
with to become the centre of important
operations upon the Transyaal from the
west. Generals Darlington and Hunter are
expected to concentrate forces there and
to make an immediate move on Pretoria
and Lydenburg. The tussle. most people
believe, will come on the Vaal. In one
quarter where Boer plans are most likely
to be known the first great Boer stand is
expected to be made on the ridge near
johannesburg and 1t is remembered that,
though driven back, they have lost practi-
cally no guns and very little in the way OF
supplies. II pressed back from the Jo-
hannesburg ridge they will, 1t Is suggested,
throw some 5000 men into Pretoria to de-
lay Lord Roberts there while the main
Boer body presses on to Lydenburg and
the mountainous country to make deter
mined and prolonged stand.
Even though the British Government
take no active offence at Russia's defiance
of treaties in Corea, they are alive to the
gravity Of England's foreign relations gen.
orally in the far East, Morocco, and West
Africa. The naval manerres this year
are to be on particularly impressive
scale. and will synchronize, whether de-
signedly or not I will not pretend to say,
with the French naval maneuvres and so
demonstrate afresh England's mastery of
the seas. A Sheffield correspondent tells
me that the great gun-making house Of
Vickers has been commissioned to turn
out as many guns as possible. and as fast
as possible half finished ordnance for the
Japanese and other Governments being put
on one side.
The gravity of the situation on the god
9
titles of war material being sent out by |
every steamer. 1t is stated that orders /
have been placed during the last few days !
for more than 2,O00,000 cartridges. besides /
other warlike stores. 1t is, moreover. hint /
ed that the lords of the admiralty visited /
the smokeless coal mines of South Wales
the other day, preparatory to their state
purchase, so that Russia and France may
be debarred from buying further supplies
there. England in word, is preparing
for whatever may happen.
No Parliament could be an effective CEN
sor of dramatic plays, but the British
House of Commons has managed this week
to raise discussion which may eEd in
The suppression of that class of doubtful
plays which seem to possess such fascila-
lion for the commercially inclined man
,gers and authors in some leading London
theatres. Samuel Smith, NJ. p, who in
vited the House to express regret at the
growing tendency to produce plays of de-
character and to demand a
tricter censorship, is a pros porous Liver
,ool merchant. representing that highly
section of nonconformfty
which eschews the theatres. On the Rad
cal benches he was laughed at as Puri-
anical. while from the Governmg INT
benches came nothing but jeers and in
eruption. but he undoubtedly has case,
nd elicits sympathy among the large body
# English public opinion. even OF those
Who differ widely from him in other mat
ers.
AT least two plays now running in Lon
lon could scarcely be more suggestive |
we're there no Lord Chamberlain or exam
ner OF plays to act the censor. Indeed, |
he outcry against any real censorship, |
specially in the press and among the
ctors and authors. is so strong that the
has become almost farce. The
themselves feel this. as was |
by the Home Secretarg's remark !
hat an expression of Parliament's views |
you'd strengthen the hands of the Lord |
who desired to do his best in
he most difficult circumstances. Plays are ..
ertainly being licensed now that ten
ears ago would have been prohibited. 1t !
'ould be rash to predict whether this de-
ate ending a S ii did in no formal resolu-
ion, will so arouse public opinion as to
top the evident Collaboration Of the Eng l..
sh stage.
The opera is now in full swing at Covent
arden. Society is there in all its dia- \,
londs, from the Princess of Wales down. ..
ard. and, despite the sheers of the crit
IS that it is fashionable rather than a a.
lusical function, the management smiles :,
ecurely over the fat subscription lists At
Una ha a,-fr.- |
ittedly the best Covent Garden has done. .
S regards artistic talent, orchestra and | :
aging it could not well be surpassed, ,
ven on the Continent. !,