New-York tribune., 1901-07-31
RRODRICK'S LANE EXCUSE.
cuaRGES AGAINST WAR OFFICE
CLERKS PROBABLY UNFOUNDED.
,-rcE OFFICIALS THOUGHT RESPONSIBLE
FOR LACK OF NEWS-MINES-THE
WHEAT CROP.

WHEAT CROP.
cnopv-tght; 1901: BY The New-York Tribune)
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
rondon July 81. l a. m.-There is no new
,hase in Mr.. Brodricks singular attempt to dis
.,n,ne newspapers suspected of obtaining the
sn,rets Of the War Office by improper means.
The law arms him with full resources for pun
,sbng not only Jerks betraying the confidence
- the department, but also those who
,,-e them 10 do IT. Those conversant with
she ordinary procedure Of the War Office are
s,,nsed by Mr.. Brodrick's disingenuous effort to
s;scredit his own staff by charging certain news
nspers with corrupting clerks with moderate in
comes.
The real. source Of leakage is well known.
whenever important dispatches are held over in
the War Oftice for twenty-four forty-eight
hours. there is gossip among military men who
receive their cues from high officials. Coniden-
tial matters which are whispered in the military
clubs soon reach the ears of the journalists and
find their way into print. This is the natural ex-
planation Of many disclosures which Mr. Brod-
rick attributes TO bribery on the part Of the
newspapers
The best safeguard against leakage would be
the immediate publication of the bulletins
oeiyed from South Africa before the higher off,
Gals themselves have a chance Of tattling about
them Il is one Of the requirements Of red tape
that nothing shall be published from the War
Office without the direct sanction Of the Secre-
tary Of War This is a common cause of delay,
since he cannot be consulted readily at all times
Mr.. Brodrick has brought himself into ridicule
by his credulous and irrational conduct in seek
ing 70 discredit The Daily Mail" and the clerks
IN the War Office.
The action of The Irish members in bringing
of
the attention of Parliament yesterday has
caused great annoyance 10 most English people
as the Nationalists never conceal their contempt
for the honor Of the British House of Commons.
The Mali dsclaiTns any attention TO imply
that Mr.. Brodrick had been guilty Of falsehood,
and merely considers the Secretary of War to
have been misinformed in supposing that it had
used any improper methods Of obtaining official
information.
The three Irish members of Parliament who
have been suspended this week have undergone
the penalty for the first time this session They
were not among the number who were suspended
Al the sitting when the police were called in
The decision OF the umpires with regard to the
sham naval action of the Scilly Isles indicates
that the encounter used up cruisers at such
rate that it was feared the nnaneuvres might
the eighteen cruisers knocked out. nine have
been rel eased, TO continue the proceedings.
There is no truth in the story that Cecil Rhodes
is negotiating for the purchase Of Battle Abbey
in order 10 present TO the nation. If this prop
erty be diverted from the chances Of the auction
room and converted into an Anglo-Saxon me
mortal. Lord Rosebery is more likely than Mr..
Rhodes 10 control the transaction. Mr.. Rhodes
spends the greater part Of his time in London
with Alfred Belt, and has promised to accom-
pany DR.. jameson TO Scotland. He has larger
interest in the resumption of mining operations
at johannesburg and Kimberley than in the
preservation Of historic monuments in Southern
England.
Like the news with respect to the conduct Of
military operations in South Africa, intelligence
Of the doings Of the Rand mining companies
comes to hand in driblets 1t is evident, how
ever, that daily progress is being made with the
preliminary details essential to the actual re-
sumption OF crushing. According TO the latest
announcement, development is proceeding at the
Princess mine. The main shaft at the Roode-
poort central deep is being actively continued.
and pumping is going at the Geldenhuis, Ian
caster and Lancaster West mines. Measures are
meanwhile being taken by the administration at
Pretoria to ameliorate the lot Of the native la
borers
Smart sets have been greatly interested in the
attempt 10 restrain Countess Cowley from using
The courtesy title after her divorce and remar-
rage. The House Of Lords has decided that the
ordinary courts have no right TO interfere in the
matter, and that the courtesy title belongs to
Countess Cowley, and that she has the right to
use Il after being divorced and married to a
commoner.
There is great diversity Of opinion among
produce dealers here respecting the probable
supplies Of wheat from Europe and America
The German crop is known TO be unusually
small, and consequently the proposed increase Of
euues upon imported grain will bear heavily
against the industrial class. The French crop is
reported 10 be less than last years. Russian
slaustlcs are not trustworthy. American and
Canadian crops viii determine the course of
prices throughout Europe as soon as satisfactory
estimates are received IN F.
Ak- BRODRICK AND "THE NAIL"