Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-18
CABLE LETTER FROM LONDON
The Criticism of the British
War Office Continues.
FLOOD GATES HAVE BEEN OPENED
Stream of Comment is Whiting
Regulations.
outspoken Abuse of the Generals in the
FieId-Unpleasan stories of Service Jeal-
ousiss Butler Likely to Make Himself
Disagreeable TO Lord Roberts.


Copyrighted 1900, BY The Associated Press.
London, Eng, Jan. 13.--The time
has come when the people Of Great
Britain no longer keep silent regarding
the mismanagement of the wal. The
food gates of criticism, have been
opened and, under the stream of adverse
comment pouring forth, regulations are
whiting.
the British from passive discomfort tc
most severe fault-finding Is the out
field. There are unpleasant stories of
fierce service jealousIes and, in short,
all the army's shortcomings, which
heretofore have been secretly whispered
In clubs, this week find place in print
and not in disreputable journals, but
in organs that month ago would have
fiercely denounced such tales as un-
patriotic, whether they were true or
otherwise. 1t is now widely known
that Gen. Butler desrises Field Mar
shal Lord Roberts, and hates Gen.
Lord Kitchener, the commander in
chief; that Lord Wolseley shares Gen.
Buller's feelings, land that Lord Wolse-
ley is scarcely on speaking terms with
the Secretary of State for War, Lord
Lansdowne. To such hagrant extent
uOBS bulS bDmlLJ ~ thahi11oid WpAoSAoy
wrote to Lady Butler that he knew
nothing about Lord Roberts appoint
ment to command the British troops in
South Africa, and that he dlsapproved
of it. Without enormous obstacles to
overcome in the way OF the Beers
strenuous resistance and initial ad-
| yantages, this condition cf affairs be-
| tween the army leaders would constitute
\ a stupendous drawback to the success
Of the British. One paper, usually
we'll informed on service matters, de-
clares it is quite likely that Gen. Butler
| will throw up his command and come.
| home, and be a thorn in the side.of
| the government. This is probably an
exaggeration, kbut it is admitted on all
| sides that be is likely to make himselfs
as disagreeable as possible to LORD
Roberts.
| AS If this were not enough, it Ia
openly said Gen. Lord Metbuen has
gone mad, that his mother died insane,
and that all his life he has been afraid
he might share her fate. Hence, it is
added, his uneeasing restlessnes5.
Only this week high cavalry officer
returned from South Africa with COM
rlaints against Lord Metbuen-that
the general, during one of his first ac-
tions, ordered HIM to advance with his
cavalry, and that, upon the. colonel
sending the general word that his
horses and men were too exhausted to
be physically capable of SO doing, Lord
Methuen said: ''Well, you had better
go to hell.'' The officer to whom this
remark was made has come home, de-
manding trial by court.martial; but
II is probable that he will not get 1t,
MS he has been slated for another com .
mand. TINA
Gems. White, Gatacre, Clery and
| French all come in for their share Of
abuse, and there is evidence that the
senior generals are divided against
themselves.
: How all this will end, il the cam
, paien drifts on much longer without
: serious change for the better, no ono
can tell. The resignation of Lord
r WolseIey would not surprise those who
8 are cognizant of sthe inner workings Of
3 the War Office. A great victory would
8 probably quiet the feeling of discomfort
: until the day of reckoning in ParlIa-
. ment arrives. But. lacking that, there
t seems pending an upheaval. which 6odes
a and some of the generals in the field.
/. The Imperial Yeomanry, after the trsi
= flush of public applause, is being
o gauged gingerly. 1t is dawning on the
!. minds Of all that what Great Britain
Q wants are crack shcts and rough riders
r after the type of the American cavalry
Q men; and frequent comments appear
It pointing out that the average yeoman,
. who is a farmer, does not come up tt
this standard, while the average lord
ling, who adas brilliancy to the force
is not generally much nearer the mari
Ii in this respect than his tyeoman tenant
: and that both have far less militar,
!, training than the members OF Sh,
J volunteer force What is being forcee
}. upon the Wa, Office is that 100 colonials
d accustomed to bushwacking,. COW
i punching and scouting, are worth Loo
!. English clerks and farmers.