The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-04-21
BUTLER AND WARREN
Their Course in the War Is Severe.
ly Censured.
Critfcism by Lord Roberts So Pro.
nounced That Both Omcers VIII
Probably Ask to BE Relieved
OF Their Commands.

London, April 1s.-The government
has chosen this as the moment to pub
lish dispatch from Lord Roberts
pronouncing ceusure upon Sir Redvers
Butler and Sir Charles Warren, two of
his most important subordinate COM
manders. This dispatch. written Feb
ruary 10, has been in the hands of the
war Office for five weeks. Just why it
is published now, in the middle of the
campaign, is not understood, unless It
is expected that Gen. Butler and Gen.
Warren will ask to be relieved of their
commands. The revelation of their in
confidence of the troops in their lead
ership.
The reports were published in the
Gazette and comprise Gen. Buffers re-
port on Spion Kop and the operations
from January II to January "a and
Lord Roberts comments dated Febru-
airy 10. Lord Roberts deals severely
with. Gen. Warren and some others.
Even Gen. Butler does not escape. Lord
Roberts complains that the plan of
operations is not clearly described in
the dispatches. After sketching Gen.
Buffers intentions, as communicated
to Sir Charles Warren, who command
ed the whole force, Lord Roberts points
out that Gen. Warren seems to have
concluded, after consultation with his
officers, that the fanking movement
ordered by Gen. Butler was imprac-
ticable, and, therefore, so changed the
plan of advance as to necessitate the
capture and retention of spion Kop.
Whether the government has any
special purpose or not in publishing the
dispatch, the way in which it has been
received will make it most difficult to
retain the censured commanders in
active service.
Roberts Long Wait.
Lord Roberts long wait and the Boer
activity have seriously disturbed pub
lie equanimity. lie is still 300 miles
from Pretoria. No one doubts the ulti-
mate success of British arms, but, be-
hind the British army that brushes the
Boer armies, an army of occupation
will have to be installed. From various
sources come hints that more men than
are already provided for will have to be
sent out. Lord Roberts indicates that
at least 10000 men are advancing to
cut off the Beers who are investing
Wepener. AS there are reports from
the Basuto border that firing has been
heard in the direction of the hills to-
ward De Vets dorp. it is possible Gen.
Chermside's advanced troops are al
Spafv in cont ot Will, Tho Doo,.
British at Wepener still Surrounded.
London, April 1s.-The war office
has received the following dispatch
from Lord Roberts, dated Bloemfon-
tein, Tuesday, April II:
"Our force at Wepener is still surround
ed, but it is reported that the enemy are
attacking in very half-hearted man
ner and are anxious about their COM
munications. hearing that forces are APP
preaching Wepener from two directions
one under Gen. Rundlc, via Reidnrsburg,
and another under Gen Brabant. with
Gen. Harris brigade in support via Roux-
vile. On the reoccupation of Rockville,
April Is, the few Beers there retired, and
Gen. Brabant made some important ar
rests. Violent storms of rain have some-.
what interfered with the march OF these
columns, but it is hoped they will soon
be able to make their presence more de-
cidedly felt. Gen. Settle reports from
Kenhardt, April IA, that 200 Transvaalers
made determined attack the previous
day on Dopaspoort, held by Il party of
Orpon's horse. Our losses were two killed
and onewounded. The enemy's losses must
have been heavy, as they applied to US for
doctors and an ambulance"
Beers in Fair Shape.
Plumer's Column, Gaberones, Fri
day, April 6. via Lorenzo Marques,
April 17.-The Boer artillery about
Mafeking is well horsed. Their POM
poms are mounted on light four
wheeled carriages, each drawn by four
smart horses, in marked contrast with
tthose Col. fiul1er fought with at Croc-
odile pool. The Beers. too, are we'll
mounted and well dressed and have
tit-looking patrols. The grain aud
other crops in the district are excel
lent, so the Transvaalers are not like
ly to suffer from scarcity of food for
a long time. Plumer's little force is
now strongly intrenched northwest Of
r. u