The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-02
DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.
Speeches by Mr.. Wyndham, Mr.. Bal
, four and Others.

Speeches by Mr.. Wyndham, Mr.. Bal
|, four and Others.
LONDON, Feb. LIN the House of Com
mons to-day the government parted most
of the questions in regard to the war in
South Africa. Mr.. Wyndham. the parlia-
mentary under secretary of state for war,
maintained that the information furnished
by the intelligence department was gener-
ally accurate. and that information in re-
gard to the forces remaining in the United
Kingdom would be included in the state
ment which the government would make
shortly. Relative to the speech made by
General Lord Wolseiey, the commander-in
chief, explaining the British reverses in
South Africa Mr.. Wyndham said General
Wolseley merely intended to convey the i'm
preston that the military qualities shown
by the Beers were of higher order than
had been anticipated. At this remark the
Irish members cheered.
Asked If he had any war news to COM
municate to the House, Mr.. Balfour, the
government leader and first lord Of the
treasury. replied in the negative.
Mr.. Balfour in answer to another ques-
ton said that while the military operations
inquiry as to the slaughter of Highlanders
at Magersfontein. Regarding the dis
patches of Maj. Gen. Sir William Francis
Butler, who was in command of British
troops in South Africa until August, 1899,
when he was relieved by Lieut.. Gen. Sir
Frederick William Forester Walker 1t be-
ing intimated that General Buffers SYM
pathies were in favor of the Beers, Mr..
Balfour said there was no reason to present
them TO the House. General Buffers opin-
ion or South African affairs. he added, was
we'll known. The general had never sugges-
ted to the War Office, either publicly or
privately, that the number of troops re-
quired would be anything like the number
actually sent.
In regard to the suggestion that Indian
troops should have been used in South
Africa. the House, Mr.. Balfour said, would
understand the impossibility of this.
Replying to questions relating to the let
tiers of B. F. Hawksley. counsel for the
British South Africa Company. and other
letters published by the Correspondent
Beige. the secretary of state for the colo
MES, Mr.. Chamberlain, admitted that those
of which he had personal knowledge were
published substantially correctly. The let
tiers. he added. were stolen from Mr.
Hawksley's office by clerk, who was sum-
marily dismissed. in 1897 Mr.. Chamber
lain further declared that he was only
aware Of the existence of the letters a few
days before they were published.
Mr.. Balfour replying TO another ques-
ton by Mr.. John Gordon Swift MacNeil,
Nationalist member for South Donegal in
regard TO the letters published by the
Correspondent Beige and what the gov
eminent proposes TO do when the Cabinet
ministers We're deliberately charged with
personal dishonor and public falsehood -
said that according to his view of the case
such accusations ought to be treated with
contempt.
Sir Charles Dixie, advanced Radical.
member for the Forest of Dean division
of Worcestershire, resumed the debate on
Lord Edmund Fitzmaurice's amendment to
the address TO the speech from the throne
He said he thought no one could deny that
the net result had been 10 kill the belief
of the world in Great Britain's ability to
conduct a war. The country's military
reputation, he added, was never lower and
even now the government failed to grasp
the seriousness of the war
M Wvndharo. parliamentary secretary
for the War Once. who followed. admitted