The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
WOLSELEY In BAD HUM0R
HE RESENTs BEING HELD RESPoN.
sIBLE FOR WAR BLUNDERS.
May Raise q Storm When He Retires
from Leadership of the British
Army-Kitchcner's Promotion.

LONDON, Nov. 4.-The announcement
that General Kitchener has been recon-
mended at the Cabinet council for lieu
tenant generalship, so as TO enable him TO
take supreme command of the British
forces in South Africa, when Lord Roberts
leaves, has not been officially confirmed,
but there is no reason to doubt its accur-
acy. Lord Salisbury is q firm believer in
Kitchener's ability to put end to the
guerrilla tactics of the Beers, and it is toll
erably certain that once Kitchener is al
lowed free hand, his policy will not err
on the side of leniency to the Beers. 1t is
not known what Lord Methuen is going to
do. He is now the senior officer in South
Africa. after Lord Roberts, and he may
prefer to return home rather than serve
under junior.
The forthcoming promotion of Lord
Kitchener elicits from Charles Williams,
one of the leaders of the war critics, the
bitterest Indictment of that general ever
published in England. He declares Gen.
Kitchener meditates a reckless and ruth
less extermina ton of the Beers. hoping to
execute his atrocities amid silence, like
that of the tomb of the Mahdi He be-
lieves the British officers and men will not
endure this and that Kitchener will stand
revealed to the country a scourge in
exorabie Mr. Williams apologies to
Satan for mentioning him in the same
breath with Kitchener. and maintains
that the return of several general officers
and the removal OF General Kelly-Kenny
from Bloemfontein confirms the suspicion
that they would have nothing to do with
Kitchener's dirty work" 1t is almost
needless to say that this bitter attack
by no means represents the average opin-
ion.
Lord Wolseiey is reported to be dissat-
isfed with the position which he holds of
commander-in-chief without any real au-
thority, and ii is said that he will not wait
for Lord Roberts's return, but will retire
next week, in which event. his duties as
the supreme officer of the British army
would be carried temporarily by Sir
Evelyn Wood, the adjutant general 1t IL
reported that Lord Wolseley, after his re-
tirement, is going to raise a tremendous
storm in army circles by an. exposure of
who Is responsible for the blunders of the
African campaign His friends say all the
blame has been laid on him and he will en-
dure Ii no longer. He quits in order TO
clear himself. He may make the exposure
through the newspapers or from his seat
in the House of Lords. The Liberal news
papers blamed the secretary of state for
for the British reverses He defended
himself and, by implication, at least,
sought to place the blame on the COM
mander-in-chief. The Conservative press
followed the government lead and Wolseley
has felt that he was being made a scape-
goat of for the sins of the War Depart
ment.
The persistent reports that Sir Alfred
Miner, the British high commissioner in
South Africa, will be invalided home, per-
manently, groundless. He will be Of
fered a holiday, as soon as feasible. He is
the last man the government contemplates
Withdrawing from South Africa and the
state of his health by no means justifies
the rumors
General Buffers home newspaper. the
North Devon Herald, says it understands
the general will be made q peer when the
New Years honor list is Issued, and that
he will assume the title of Lord Butler OF
Ladysmith