Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-26

to the Canaries for Their Defence.
Copyrighted, 1900. by The Associated Press.
Londcp, Eng. April q. This has
been a sad week for the British gen.
erals. The brewing storm, that last
week was overhanging their heads, re-
ceived Its electric spark through tho
publication Of Lord Roberts censures
regarding the engagement at SpIon kop.
It descended ip merciless torrent from
an unanimous pressure. At the present
moment, Gen Butler could find no
better way to endear himself to the
hearts Of the people than to request his
recall, but one who knows the Natal
commander intimately tells the repre-
sentative of The Associated Press that
he is far too thick skinned to tako
such step, and will stick to his post
despite all criticisms and avalanches of
adverse public opinion. Nor is Lord
Kitchener spared In the present out
break. According to story going the
the Soudans has Eeen severely sat uron
by the Little Man of Afghanistan,
and specific instances Of disagreements
between them are quoted. Once, so
gossip says, with mysterious reference
to private letters and such inner sources
Of information, Lord Roberts felt con-
strained to put Lord Kitchener in his
place. ~ wish you to understand, +"
Kandahar Is reported to have said to
Khartoum. "if you please, that COM
mand this army. You are my chief OF
staff. I don't seek your advice. ard
shall decide myself on what is to be
done, and shall Issue my orders accord
ingly." No documentary evidence has
been obtained to prove the truth Of this,
and this may be pure invention, but it
has already been printed in London.
and originated in much the same way
as the first stories arose regarding the
fiascoes of Gems. Gatacre, Butler and
borne out by later official and detailed
accounts. With regard to Lord Kitch.
ener, there is another story current,
which insists that, after the Colenso
disaster, the Queen demanded that
Butler be superseded by the conquerorl
of the Khalifa, and that the cabinet
protested, but compromised by sending
Lord Roberts as fgurehsad. This
is considered rather improbable, but,
If true, the cabinet has caught tartar
| in the shape Of Lord Roberts. 1t is
| marvellous to note the whole hearted
ness of the English public trust in this
old general. Not one paper has at
| tached to his criticism of Gen. Butler
his predecessor in the command--one
| iota OF unfairness, or self-interest. This,
| perhaps. is explained by the universal
recognition OF the fact that the field
marshal has little to gain by this cam
paign, and that he gave up all to which
long and brilliant service entitled him,
| in order to serve his country. What
H.. of 4b<,
Roberts name will stand in England's
military annals as one Of the most sue.
cessful and best loved of her command
| ers. This fact is evidence before the
public, but they believe their COM
mander-i in chief In South Africa to be
| miles above the jealousies or fivalries
| that might actuate other generals
The visit of King Oscar of Sweden
and Norway to England, though under
taken incognito, has attracted sur
prisingly small amount of interest. The
spectacle Of that monarch-burly, de-
spite his II years, and standing head aud
shoulders above his fellows--pushing
his way past the station barricades, to
shake hands with the Swedish work.
men who had cheered him, as ne
entered the London depot, can for
| human impulsiveness be scarcely ex-
ceeded in the actions of the most demo-
| cratic ruler. King Oscar is no stranger
to England. He has paid frequent
| visits 10 this country, and his abilities
| as historian and writer upon abstruse
| subjects have gained for him honorary
degrees from the English universities.
| OF all European potentates, he is prob-
ably the most cultured, the tallest and
the most inrulsive.
The possibility Of trouble between
the Unired States and Turkey has at
| tracted PASSING comment In England,
| though the average newspaper reader Is
much more interested IN the Croton
| dam riot. In connection with the
former subject, the birmingham Post
is responsible for the statment that
Turkey has placed several important
commissions with the krupps, to be
completed before the end Of the year
which include better machine guns than
are at present used by any European
Power and 100000 Mausers, which
Immediately upon their receipt will be
delivered to the Turkish First army
corps.
Spain As apparently scared by post
bellum publications showing how many
authorities thought the United States
would have been we'll advised imme-
diately to attack the Canaries, for
Premier Silyela's ministry is now send
ing TO these islands O number Of heavy
guns, for defensive purposes. One OF
the most frequent comments heard in
the English naval circles is that
America should have captured the
Canaries at the outbreak of the Spanish
war. pEs- 6=ts ,a4a M
The great chalk headiand at Dover,
known rs Shakesdeare Cliff, ia to be
leveled, in order to give the new rapid
fiie batteries of that harbor's defences
a better range. 3