The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-04-20
ANXIOUS ABOUT THtIR GENERALS
I'm the Absence OF War News, the
British Discuss the BIunders of
Their Leading Officers.

In the absence of news of im-
portant military operations-the
forward movement in the Free
State being still delayed by vic
lent rainstOrms-the chief sub
ject of discussion in London yes
terday was Lord Roberts con-
demnation of the blunders which
combined to cause the British
retirement from Spion Kop.
In military circles the com
mander-in-chief's remarks nat
urally caused a great sensation.
What will be the effect of Rob
-erts' criticism on the generals?
Will there be designations and
recalls? These were the ques.
tions asked.
The rumor was afloat yester-
day that Sir Charles Warren had
already been ordered home to
England. AS no official confir-
nation could be obtained, the
story was generally thought to
be reflection of what is expect
ed to happen to him. Lord Rob-
erts's charges of errors of judg-
ment and want of administrative
capacity being the most serious
that commander-in-chlef could
bring against a general On whose
wisdom, as much as courage, so
much depended.
The general war situation is
unchanged. The Beers are pre-
pairing to oppose Carrington's
movements through Rhodesia.
A small Boer force has started
to march through Zoutpansberg
to intercept him.
The Beers seem to be more
anxious as, to Wepener and are
spreading reports that the town
has already surrendered.
Further rumors are current
that Colonel Baden-Powell has
attacked the Boer forts around
Mafeking, but no details are
forthcoming.
AMERICAN VIEW OF 1T.
New York, April 49, The Sun S
military expert this morning
says:
"The inefficiency of their whole
military system is being brought
home to the British people in
about the only way to guarantee
a sweeping change, and it is for
tunate for England that the expe-
rience has been gained in war
with handful of farmers, and
not with the highly organized
armies of one or more European
powers. The defects that have
been revealed in the Natal and
Free State campaigns are only
what might have been expected
in an army in which military
talent look second rank and
court favoritism and family con-
nections formed the great quail
fications to advancement.
1T seems hard on the dis
graced generals that they should
be among the sufferers in war
from the system under which
they flourish in time of peace;
hut If the confidence of the fight.
ing ranks is TO be retained the
government has no option but to
recall those officers whose indie.
cision, incapacity or other faults
have proved their unfitness to
command in the field.
"But there are other questions,
equally grave, demanding action
! on the part of the British wal
office. Serious scandals in the
connection of supplies for the
army have been brought to light,
IN consequence of which the
health of the troops has suffered
and the names of several con
tractors have been stricken of
the list, but the friends of th'
men in the field are demanding
] more drastic measures from thu
2 government. The breakdown
of the commissariat department
> nearly compromised the opera
tions following the relief OF Kim
; berley, and has been the caus
, of the long delay at Bloemfonteil
since then"