Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16

Lansdowne was listening with the closest
attention, and now and then scribbling a
pencil note on the back of a Blue Book he
held upon his knee. There is something of
the eagle about Lord Lansdowne, and, cold
as his features were, 1t was easily to be
seen storm was raging in his mind. He
was secretary for war when Lord Wolse-
ley was commander-in-chief. What was
his story of the government not listening
to Lord Wolseley? He was at the table
the moment Lord Wolseley sat down. He
was very calm. There was no anger in
his voice. He leaned negligently, one ell
bow on a pile of books, and talked as
though it were mere commonplace sub
ject. Yet his words slashed and cut deep
He was glad, he said, that the self-imposed
muzzle which Lord Wolseley had worn
these last five years no longer prevented
him taking part in the military debates.
But what was the broad issue? Was it to
centraliZe in the commander-in-chief the
whole responsibility for the work in the
war office?
The failures and mistakes in respect to
the South African war were not due to the
system but to the fact that the system
had not been carried out as faithfully as
1t might have been. Lord Wolseley's de-
scripton of his position COMMANDMENT
chief was a travesty of the facts. What
had happened was that Lord WolSeley had
made his supervision a great deal smaller
than he should. If he had been a little
more ready to take advantage of the great
opportunities placed within his reach he
would not have made his complaint. Lord
Wolseley might, if he had paid more at
tention to the questions, have warned the
government that it would take more than
one army corps to subjugate the two South
African republics. He also seemed to be
ignorant that he was responsible for the
mobilization of the army, that the intelli
gence department was under his special
control, and that he was charged with the
preparation of schemes of offenSe and de-
Tense.
Tables Turned on WOlseIey.
Thus, Lord Lansdowne turned the tables
on Lord Wolseley, became the accuser in
stead of the accused, made his charges
solemnly and quietly, and the whole house
looked on amazedly at this scene of the
ex-secretary of war for rebuking in public
the eX-commander-in-chie of the British
army. 1t was the sharpest set-to the
house of lords has seen in the memory of
most of it's members, and is considered as
terribly weakening to the government.
Great surprise is expressed at Lord LanS-
downe's personal attack on Lord Wolseley.
Last nights debate, while less acri-
moniouS, was more brilliant and 1t is in
teresting to see how sides are taken in
the matter. Lord Rosebery's fine defense
of WolSeley is commented on on all sides
favorably today. 1t is a long time since
the noble lords took themselves so seri-
ously and everybody is looking for Wolse-
ley's reply to LanSdowne.. He is prepar-
ing 1t at present, and since the personal
element has been introduced he will prob
ably not spare his late confrere.
The Irish members are making good their
boast of obst1 uction, and last nights scene
in the house, when twelve Irishmen were
carried out by the police. recalled the good
old times when the clock tower was in
requisition frequently, and the suspension
of Irish members a nightly occurrence. 1t
Is the only fun parliament has, but it is
amusing to read the solemn headlines in
London papers this morning telling of
"Disgraceful Scenes in the Austrian Reichs-
rath,'' 'Rowdy Riots and the like. One
newspaper this morning has an article on
these dreadful occurrences in foreign par
liaments and speaks of the quietness and
order of the British legislation. Under the
report of the Austrian row it has a note
referring to this article In thoroughly
English manner, supremely unconscious of
it's nearer application, this London paper
calmly prints in another column the Irish
scene last night.
l learn from Berlin that a special COM
mission will be sent to the United States
at an early date to furnish to the ministry
of commerce reports upon the condition
Of the iron and steel trades there with
particular reference to the effects and pol
icy Of the great steel combination which
has recently been formed. The precarious
condition of the iron and steel industries
In Germany makes it easy for those inter-
eSted to persuade the government to send
such a commission and probably to act
upon it's recommendation. Indeed the Nor
gan-Carnegie trust has excited this country
and Germany in the highest degree
L, H, MOORE