Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-16
LONDON LETTER
ENGLISH CRITICISM ON THE CAP
TURE OF PRETORIA.
IT WAS AN EMPTY TRIUMPH.
England's Capitalize Aldershot
Manoeuvers Condemned.
IT WAS AN EMPTY TRIUMPH.

Stirring Events Absorb Attention Of
England's Capitalize Aldershot
Manoeuvers Condemned.
London. June 16.-(Special London
cable letter for Saturday afternoon pa
pers. Copyright 1900, the Associated
Press.)-What with the exciting news
from the war that was supposed to be
ever In South Africa. sensational reports
N regard to the war that is said to be
pending in China, and alarming dis
patches relative to the rebellion against
British rule in Ashanti. to say nothing
of the CAV Ascot meeting, the death of
Mrs. Gladstone and the death of the
Duke Of Wellington, the week in England
has been one of considerable interest. In
fact SO generally absorbed has the ma
tion become in its own affairs that those
OF other countries fail to elicit the slight
est comment.
The war. as it is learned General Kelly
Kenny said to General Tucker a few
weeks ago. lis 'fthe r,lmmiest ever saw.
we treferring to the division COM
mander) do things wrong, we are sent
home in disgrace. If we do them right
Roberts gets all the credit
AND the war Is "rummier" than ever
General Kelly-Kenny had any idea Of.
Inc spectacle presented this week of a
victorious British general, in command
OF the. greatest army this country ever
put under one man. shut off from all
communication with the outer world
while units of his force of 700 men
were annihilated by a supposedly pacified
enemy whose territory was annexed,
stands almost unique in military history.
While Lord Roberts is not blamed for
uhese disasters. there lis strong feeling
among the leading South Africans in
London that he or some one blundered at
Preuofia.
Those who know every inch around the
IrNnsvaal capital say Lord Roberts took
the most arduous side to approach It,
whereas, with easier means of access he
nhleht nave gone eastward and shut off
all possibility of General Botha's retreat
AS II us. the capture of Pretoria was
praftfcaiiy an empty triumph except for
Ms moral effect. What old South African
carfpaigners are asking is "why did Rob
erts not get Botha and his men and take
pretoria afterwards, instead of occupy
ing q deserted town and letting the Beers
calm!y walk away under the nose of his
overwhelming force?"
Yet. while this question is frequently
neafa' mere ~ such general admiration
1Qr ord Roberts and belief in the efi-
caecass OF his tactics that even those who
ask are lOath to cr,iticise him until thev
know all the details. 7s1'"sas E',oH'. =
The patent fallibilities of the general
fghting at the front have caused endless
cr11rclsm since the war began, but
scaaoeiy amy blunder in South Africa has
drawn upon it so much Condemnation n q
the recent Aldershot maneuyers. when
sv.Voo TROOPS engaged in a sham battle on
uhe hottest day Of the year. The tnouest
upon 1our of the enlisted men who died
from heat records the fact that the troops
started early In the morning without an
adequate meal. and that the forage caps
Iney wore were utterly insufficient to
Protect their heads from the sun. A more
danning Indictment of military eo,,in-
ment was scarcely ever so quickly Sc
cured than by this simple verdict of a
coroner's jury. VI
BE sides the men who died some 400 had
70 90 to the hospitals. The result is thai
be done away with. "
The death of the Duke of Wellington
removes one Of the shyest and least
known persons in England. He once.
ana only once, made an attempt to sneak
IN puphc. 1t was on the vagrancy oues-
A profusion of notes lay before him
where he sat in the house of lords He
cauEht the lord chancellor's eye, solemnlv
rose, arranged his notes. cleared his
throat and sat down without even utter
ing syHaDle He never tried again.
Duke Of York. It AYERS IN January a
bevy of four beautiful orinental maid
ems arrived at York house and announced
themselves as present from certain
duskH potentate. The Prince of Wales
SON did not desire to offend the giyer
yet he could scarcely accept, SO, in some
way or another, the maidens We're return
ed and there was no offense.
Not only theatrical circles, but the
whole OF London. is amused and interest
ed in the exciting controversy between
the celebrated dramatist, w. S. Gilbert,
and Jenette Steer. the American act
reAs Just before the latter produced two
of his plays at the Comedy theater last
week Mr.. Gilbert retired from the stage
management and in a letter repudiated
The plays, however were
produced and proved most successful,
out Gilbert does not feel disposed to let
the matter rest. and wrote Miss Steer
as follows:
Madame: 1 further understand that
last night you materially altered the
business as arranged by me, anu as 1t
was played under my direction by Mrs.
Miss Anderson, Miss Leclerk
and. indeed, by every olner lady who
has played Galatea under my stage man
agement during the last ri years. must
ask you to advance Estanele in front of
Cynisca from her left. not from her
right to throw yourself on your knees in
front of her without any exclamations;
to fall at Cyniscas feet and not on any
account to cross Pygmalion, or, indeed,
do any business not arranged at rehear-
sal. Iflyou do not comply with my wishes
in these respects I will apply for an in
junction to prevent your playing the
piece, or, otherwise, as may be advis-
ed"
The Princess of Wales. who Is regu-
lar attendant at Coyent Garden. sum-
nopea Mr. Maurice GraO Tuesday and
him on the success of the