Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-21
All England Trusts in Lord
Roberts.
BEST LOVED COMMANDER
King Oscar INSISTS England-The
Turkey Question-Spain is APP
parently Very Much Scared-The
Theatrical World.

London, April 21.-(Copyrighted, 1900 by
the Associated Press. )-This ha been u
sad week for the British general. The
brewing storm hat last week was over
hanging their heads received it's electric
spark through the publication of Lord
Roberts ensures regarding the engage
ment at Spion kop. 1t descended in a
merciless torrent from an unanimous
press. At the present moment General
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 representative of the Associated Press
that he is far too thick skinned to take
such a step and will stick to his post
despite all criticisms and ~avalanches OF
adverse public opinion.
Nor is Lord Kitchener spared In the
present outbreak. There is a story go
ing the rounds of the clubs that the great
man of the Soudan'' has been severely sat
| upon by the little man of Afghanistan,"
| and specific instances Of disagreements
, between them are quoted. Once, SO goes
| the gossip, with mysterious references 10
private letters and such inner sources OF
information, Lord Roberts felt constrain-
| ed to put Lord Kitchener in his place.
II wish you to understand" Kandhar is
reported to have said to Khartoum, "if
you please, that 1 command this army.
/ You are my chief Of staff. I do not seek
$1,000. r cloJ1 lo1;l0 ~or,~o1f M
what is to be dom n shall isue my or
ders accordingly"
Nc documentary evidence has been OBJ
tanned to prove the truth of this and it
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 fascoes OF Generals
Gatacre, Butler and Methuen, which We're
only too fully borne out by later official
and detailed accounts.
With regard to Lord Kitchener there is
another story current which insists that
after the Colenso disaster the queen de-
manded that Butler be superseded by the
%conqueror of the khalifa and that the
cabinet protested, but compromised by
sending Lord Roberts as a fgurehead.
This is considered rather improbable;
but, if true, the cabinet has caught a tar
tar in the shape of Lord Roberts.
1t is marvellous to note the wholeheart-
edness Of the English public trust in this
old general. Not one paper has attached
to his criticism of General Butler his
predecessor in the command-one iota of
unfairness or self-interest. his, perhaps,
is explained by the universal recognition
of the fact that the field marshal has lit
tie to gain by this campaign and that he
gave 40 all to which long and brilliant
service entitled him in order to serve his
country. Whatever the outcome of the
Boer war. Lord Roberts name will stand
in England's military annals as one of
the most successful and best loved of her
commanders. This fact is ever before the
public and they believe their commander
in chief in South Africa to be miles
above jealousies or rivalries that might
actuate other generals.
The visit of King Oscar of Sweden and
Norway to England, though undertaken
incognito, has attracted a surprisingly
small amount of interest. The spectacle
of that monarch-burly, despite his Il
years, and standing head and shoulders
above his felloWs-pushing his way past
the station barbados to shake hands
with the Swedish wOrkmen who had
cheered him as he entered the London
depot. can for human mpulsiveness be
scarcely exceeded in the actions of the
most democratic ruler. King Oscar is
no stranger to England. He has paid
frequent visits to this country, and his
abilities as historian and writer upon
abstruse subjects have gained for him
honorary degrees from the English uni
versities.
# all European potentates he is prob
ably the most cultured, the tallest and
the most impulsive.
The possibility of trouble between the
United States and Turkey has attracted
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 statement that Turkey has placed
several important commissions with the
krupps, to be completed before the end
OF the year. which include better ma
chine guns than are at present used nv !
any European army. and 1OO, 900 Mausers. |
which, Immediately upon their recent.
will be delivered to the Turkish hrst |
army corps.
Spain is apparently scared by post /
bellum publications showing how many |
authorities thought the United States
would have been well advised immedi-
ately to attack the Canaries, for Premier
sllvela's ministry is now sending to these |
islands a number of heavy guns for de-
fenslve purposes. One of the most fire.
quent comments heard in English naval
circles is that America should have cap.
eured the canaries at the outbreak of the
Spanish war.
h great chalkhead land at Dover,
known as Shakespeare Cliff, is to be
leveled in order to give the new rapid
firing batteries Of that harbor's de-
fenses a better range.
h recently announced death of
Ihomas Dudley from bubonic plague at
sydney recalls the terrible story in con-
nectlon with the loss of the yacht
Mignonette. of which he was the master,
IN 1884. When she foundered Dudley, with