The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-11-06
| BULLER . LOSES HIS POST
Is Relieved Of His Command and
Placed on Half Pay.
RESULT OF HIS RECENT SPEECH

General French. When He Returns From
South Africa, Will Command the First
Army Corps-His Selection a Popular
One-Buller Would Not Resign When
He Had the Opportunity.
London.-Sir Redvers Butler, Of the
First Army Corps, has been relieved
of the command practically in dis
grace, in consequence Of the speech
he made on October 10, after the
luncheon given in Ills honor by the
Kings Royal Rifles, dealing with Lis
famous dispatch to General White, in
Ladysmith. He has been placed on
half pay, and General French has
been appointed to succeed him.
In the official announcement the
War Office says that the Commander
in-Chief, latter full consideration of
all the circumstances and the expla-
nations furnished" recommended that
General Butler be relieved, which has
been done.
The appointment Of General French
Is to take effect when his services are
no longer required in South Africa"
Pending General French's return
General Hildyard will command In
Aldershot.
General Buffers suppression was
not unexpected, but the manner Of it
has caused sensation. 1t is under
stood that the Government endeav-
ored to break the fall by giving to
him the option Of resigning, but that
Butler declined to give way.
The morning papers all express SYM
pathy for the unfortunate ending Of
a brilliant career. but they are unani-
nous that no other course was open
after his indiscreet speech. and they
express the greatest approval Of the
selection Of General French to succeed
him.
The speech which has caused the
disgrace and downfall of Butler
caused a great sensation all over Eng
land. In it he expressed his coldem-
nation of the newspaper criticisms Of
men who were doing their best and
risking their lives for the country. He
asserted that nobody junior to him
was fitted to command an army corps
and he challenged the critics to name
one. General Butler said he had been
attacked on account of telegram
which it was said he had sent order
ing General White to surrender Lady
smith after his (Buller's) attack on
Colenso, on December. Is. 1900, had re-
suited unsuccessfully. General Butler
described his own and General Whites
difficulties at that time. He said that
at that time he prepared message
telling General White that his (Bul-
ler's) attack had failed and he could
not make another attempt to relieve
him within a month in the then slow
fighting.
General Butler said he read this
telegram over several times. saying
to himself: "That's mean thing to
send a fellow" but he knew the re-
sponsibility was his, and that General
White could say. IL he surrendered,
that General Butler had advised it.
The same telegram suggested that 1t
might be necessary to surrender. ana
in that case General Butler made
some suggestions as to what General
White should do and how he should
do it, thinking that it would be cover
for man whom he believed to be IN
greater difficulties than his own.
The London newspapers were d.
yided in their opinions Of Buffers
speech. A majority of them, includ-
ing some that We're not hostile to Gen.
eral Butler, regarded it as an amaz-
ing blunder, and greatly regretted
that the General did not adhere to his
lately avowed practice MOTTO answer
newspaper criticism. Several papers
declared that his explanation that he
photographed to General White, sug-
costing that it might be necessary for
him to surrender and advising what
to do in such a case, actually was In
struction to surrender, and they con-
,Sfsmned him accordingly.