The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-16
England Has Been Fully Occu'
pied the Past Week
With One War on Hand and
Another in Prospect.
ASHANTI REBELLION
Is Also Beginning to Claim a
Share of Attention.
No Time to Attend to Her Neigh
bOrS' Affairs.

Copyright. 1900, the Associated Press.) |
London, June 16-With exciting news /
from the war that has supposed to be !
over in South Africa sensational re- |
ports in regard to the war that it said !
TO be pending in China, and alarming |
dispatches relative to the rebellion |
against British rule in Ashanti, to say |
nothing of the gay Ascot meeting, the |
death of Mrs. Gladstone, and the death |
of the Duke of Wellington. the week
in England has been one of consider
able interest; in fact, so genuinely alb
sorbed has the nation become in its
own peculiar affairs that those of other
countries fail to elicit the slightest COM
ment.
THE war" as it is learned General
Kelly Kenny said to General Tucker
Il few weeks ago, lis the rummiest I
have ever seen. If We" referring to
the division commanders, 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.
The spectacle presented this week of
a victorious British general, in com
mand Of the greatest army this country
ever put under one man, shut off from
all communication from the outer world
while units of his forces of 700 men
were annihilated by a supposedly paci-
fled enemy whose territory was an
neXed, stands almost unique in mill
tary history.
While Lord Roberts is not blamed
for these disasters, there IS strong feel
ing among the South Africans in Lon
don that he or some one blundered at
Pretoria. Those who know every inch
around the Transvaal capital say Lord
Roberts took the most arduOus side to
approach 1t, whereas with easier means
of access he might have gone eastward
and shut off all possibility of General
BOtha'S retreat. AS it is, the capture
OF Pretoria was practically an empty
triumph, except for it's moral effect.
What old South African campaigners
are asking is Why did Roberts not
get Botha and his men and take Pre-
tOria afterwards, instead of occupying
deserted town and letting the Beers
calmly walk away under the nose Of
his overwhelming force?"
Yet while this question is frequently
heard, there is such genuine admira-
tion for Lord Roberts and belief in the
efficacy Of his tactics that even those
VINO ask it are loath to criticise him
until they know all the details.
The patent fallibiities of the generals
fighting at the front have caused lesser
criticisms since the war begun: but
scarcely any blunder in South Africa
has drawn upon it so much cOndemna-
when 10000 troops engaged in sham
battle on the hottest day of the year.
The inquest upon four of the enlisted
men who died from heat prostrations
records the fact that the troops started
early in the morning without an ade-
Quate meal, and that the forage caps
they wore were utterly insufficient to
protect their heads from the sun. A
more damaging indictment of military
equipment was scarcely ever so quickly
and effectively secured than by this
simple verdict of a corOner's jury. Be
sides the men who died, some 400 had
10 go to the hospitals. The result is
that the obnoxious forage cap is likely
to be done away with.
Not only theatrical circles but the
whole of London is amused and inter
ested by the exciting controversy be-
tween the celebrated dramatist w. 5.
Gilbert and Janette Steer, the American
actress. Just before the latter produced
two of his plays at the Comedy theater
last week, Mr.. Gilbert retired from the
stage management and in Gilbertan
letter repudiated all responsibility for
the forthcoming production. The plays,
however, were produced June IA and
proved most successful, but Gilbert
does not feel disposed to let the matter
rest and wrote Miss Steer as follows:
Madame: / further understand that
last night you materially altered the
business as arranged by me. and as it
was played under my direction by Mrs
Kendall, Miss Anderson, Miss Rose Lee
Clerk and, indeed by every other lady
who has played Galatea under my stage
management during the last % years
must ask you to advance and kneel III
front OF CynisCa from her left not from
her right; to throw yourself on your
knees in front of her, without any eX-
clamation; to fall at Cynisca's feet and
not on any account to cross PygmaIion
or indeed, do any business not arranged
at rehearsal. If you do not comply with
my wishes in these respects I will apply
for an injunction to prevent your play
ing the piece, or otherwise as may be
advised"
The next day Gilbert wrote again:
= understand you interpolated- sew
eral eNclamations last night while Mis-:
Iepton was delivering her important
speech at the end Of the second act ol
'Pygmalion and Galatea thereby
greatly impairing the effect of tha-
speech and causing it to be indistinc
and confused. AS this was not done A
rehersal, had no clue to your intention
or l should have cautioned you before
shall insist upon your keeping silenc,
during the delivery of the importan
speech In question. As unfortunately
experience has taught me that a roaT.
request of mine is not likely to receiv,
much consideration at your hands.
have instructed Miss Repton how I,
deal with the difficulty should it aris
again. My instructions to her re r.
stop short at the first interruption. re
main silent until the Interruption cease
and then begin again. Should the inter
ruption be repeated she is again to sto
until the annoyance ceases altogether
Miss Steer writes that the reai differ
ence of opinion resulting in Mr.Gilbert'
ebulitiOn arose from quite another mat
ter as toloWs- when arranging wit
Mr.. Gilbert for the production of tn
two plays a question which was mad
an imperative condition was that
should engage Miss Repton, who, appa1
emily, Is protege for the part of Gym
isca. On Wednesday evening request
ed her to wear the wig provided for til