The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-17
AGAIN FINDING FAULT WITH LORD
ROBERTs's METHODS.
Think He BIundered in Not Capturing
Botha Before Entering the
Transvaal Capital.
Copyright, 1900. by the Associated Press.l

III <ASIdnSis W soy ANeA-AHS -
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 considerable interest. In fact, so
genuinely absorbed has the nation become
in its own peculiar affairs that those OF
other countries fail to elicit the slightest
comment.
The war, as it is learned General Kelly
Kenny said to General Tucker a few weeks
ago, is 1.-THE rummfest have ever seen. If
we (referring to division commanders)
do things wrong we are sent home in dis
grace. If we do them right Roberts gets
all the credit" And the war is 'rummier"
than even General Kelly-Kenny had any
idea of. The 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 communi-
cation with the outer world, while units OF
his force, 700 men, were annihilated by
supposedly pacified enemy, whose territory
was annexed stands almost unique in mil
itary history. While Lord Roberts is not
blamed for these disasters, there is strong
feeling among the leading South Africans
in London that he or some one Numbered
at Pretroia. Those who know every inch
around the Transvaal capital say Lord
Roberts took the most arduous side to ap-
proach 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 At
rican campaigners are asking is: why did
n l.
take Pretoria afterwards. instead of taking
a deserted town and letting the Beers calm
ly walk away under the nose of his over
whelming force?" Yet, while this question
is frequently heard, there is such genuine
admiration for Lord Roberts and belief in
the efficacy of his tactics that even those
who ask it are loath to criticise him until
they know all the details.
XXX
The patent liabilities of the generals
fighting at the front have caused endless
criticism since the war began, but scarcely
any blunder in South Africa has drawn
upon it such condemnation as the recent
Aldershot maneuvers, when 10000 troops
engaged in a sham battle on the hottest
day of the year. The inquest upon four of
the enlisted men, who died from heat pros
tration, records the fact that the troops
started early in the morning without an ad-
equate meal, and that the forage caps they
wore were utterly insufficient to protect
their heads from the sun. A more damning
| indictment OF military equipment was
scarcely ever so quickly and efficaciously
secured as by this simple verdict of a
coroner's jury. Besides the men who died.
some 400 had to go to the hospitals. The
result is that the obnoxious forage cap is
| likely to be done away with.
XXX
The death of the third Duke of yelling
| ton removes one of the shyest and least
/ known peers in England. He was a pro-
nounced valetudirsrian, and also suffered
| from a keen appreciation of his own posi-
ton. Once and only ones he made an at
| tempt to speak in public. It was on the
| vagrancy question, In which he was greatly
interested. profusion of notes lay before
him he sat in the House of Lords. He
| caught the lord chancellor's eye, solemn,y
| rose UP. arranged his notes. cleared his
throat, and sat down without even uttering
| syllable. lie never tried again.
| xxx
| curious story is printed regarding the
| Duke of York 1t AYERS that in January a
bevy of four beautiful Oriental maidens ar
rived at York House and announced them
| potentate. The Prince of Wales's son did
/ not desire to offend the giver, yet he could
| scarcely accept, so, in some way or an
other, the maidens were returned and there
| was no offense
Not only theatrical circles, but the whole
| of London. is amused and interested by
| the existing controversy between the cele-
| brated dramatist, w. s. Gilbert, and ia
| nette Steer, the American actress. Just be-
fore the latter produced two of his plays at
| the Comedy Theater last week Mr.. Gilbert
| retired from the stage management, and In
| Gilbertian letter repudiated all RESPONSE
biiity for the forthcoming productions. 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:
st further understand that last night Won
materially altered the business as arranged
by me, and it played under my di-
rection by Mrs. Kendall, Miss Anderson.
| Miss Rose lie Clerk and. indeed by every
my stage management during the last
| twenty-eight years. / must ask you to ad-
vance and kneel in front of Cynisca from
| her left, not from her right; to throw your
self On your knees in front of her with
| out any exclamation; to fall at Cynisca' s
feet, and not on any account to cross Pyg-
r1allOn, OF, lnueeQ, 90 any business not ar
| ranged at rehearsal. If you do not comply
| with my wishes in these respects will
apply for an injunction to prevent your
playing the piece. or otherwise. as may be
| advised"
The next day Gilbert wrote again: 81
| understand you interpolated several ex-
| carnations last night while Miss Rapton
| was delivering her important speech at the
| end of the second act of 'Pygmalion and
| Galatea,' thereby greatly impairing the
| effect Of that speech and causing IL to be
indistnct and confused. As this was not
/ done at rehearsal had no clew to your in
| tention or 1 should have cautioned you
before this. AS X Is. ! must direct your
| attention to the necessity of keeping silence
| during the delivery of the important speech
in question. AS. unfortunately, experience
has taught me that a mere request OF mine
is not likely to receive much consideration
! at your hands, 1 have instructed Miss Rep
ton how TO deal with the difficulty should
il arise again. My instructions to her are
TO stop short at the first interruption. re-
main silent until the interruption ceases,
and then begin again. Should the inter-
| ruptton be repeated she is again to stop un-
Ill the annoyance ceases altogether"
Miss Steer writes that the real difference
of opinion resulting I'm Mr.. Gilberts ebulli-
ton arose from quite another matter.
When arranging with Mr. Gilbert for the
production of the two plays question
which he made an imperative condition
who. apparently. is protege, for the part
OF Cynisca- On Wednesday evening I re-
quested her to wear the Wig provided Tor
the part. and she CURLY refused, where
| upon Mr. Gilbert fnterfered and vehemently
stated he would not allow her to diedgure