The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-16
Replies to the Marquis of Lans-
downe's Recent Personal Attack
and Defends Himself.
TELLS OF HIS TROUBLES
HIS ARMY RECOMMENDATION
WE'RE NOT CARRIED OUT.
of LansdOwne, Salisbury and
Rosebery-Duke and Duchess of
Cornwall and York Sail

LONDON, March 15.-The House of Lords
was unusually crowded to-day in anticipa-
ton of the reply of Lord Wolseley, the
former commander-in-chief, to the criti-
cism of the former war secretary, Lord
Lansdowne, now secretary for foreign al
fairs. The galleries were full of peeresses
and others. Lord Wolseley, in his opening
remarks, said he regretted being compelled
TO discuss a personal matter, but he could
not pass unchallenged the severe comments
Of Lord Lansdowne on the manner IN
which he had performed the duties IF
commander-in-chief. Lord Transformers
personalities were evidently premeditated.
His indictments were grave, and it almost
seemed as If the personal attack was made
in order to divert attention from the ques-
ton at issue and throw upon the COM
mander-in-chief blame for the mistakes
made by the government. Until the recent
debate he had never had reason TO suppose
that he did not possess the full confidence
of Lord Lansdowne and the Cabinet Early
i'm 1900. circumstances occurred which left
him no alternative but to resign. which
he did. If he did not possess the Cabinets
confidence, that was an opportunity which
had legitimately been used to appoint an
other commander-in-chief.
Lord Wolseley then proceeded to refute
the specific charges aunched by Lord
Lansdowne. He said he had made every
effort to improve the auxiliary forces. III
February, 1896, he recommended that addi-
tional troops be sent to South Africa. and
recommended strengthening the national
garrison and the defensive occupation. not
OF the town of L%adysmith, but of the Big
a.
miles in advance of Ladysmith. He had
never considered Ladysmith and its sur
rounding hills to be tenable. Lord Wolse-
ley admitted that, in common with all the
other authorities. he had underestimate
the fighting power of the individual Boer.
Three weeks before Mr.. Kruger's declara-
ton of war he had urged Lord Lansdowne
to send out an army corps, a cavalry divi-
sion and five battalions for the lines of
communication, in addition TO the 10000
troops already in South Africa. Such a
comparatively small number of troops, en-
ployed early, had often achieved results
which five times their number could not
produce later. The mobilization of this
force at that time would have produced a
considerable effect in South Africa. If
the country was not prepared at the out
break of war it was not because he had not
urged the gradual and transformations re-
enforcement of the forces"
Lord Wolseley concluded with saying: II
have said as little as possible consistent
with any justice to myself. The noble
dIQul ihaOC pei
which were not supported. / have made
my reply. which is also unsupported. |
cannot, however, leave the matter thus. 1
feel L am amply justified in moving that
all the papers be laid on the table. | am
prepared to prove by official documents all
1 have said"
Lord Lansdowne, in replying. said he
thought Lord Wolseley had hardly COM
pretended the purport OF his former
speech when he said 1t was a personal
attack on himself. After thus breaking
his windows, Lord Wolseley could hardly
expect that he (Lord Lansdowne) would
not retaliate on his conservatory. Proceed
ing. Lord Lansdowne questioned the cor
rectness of some of Lord Wolseley's state
ments. He reminded the latter how, after
the Glencoe disaster, he had suggested that
the British should fall back behind the
Tugela river. If the suggestion had been
given earlier it might have saved one of
the most untoward disasters of the war.
If Gen. William Butler had written a pri-
vate letter to Lord Wolseley suggesting
that 10000 men might be necessary for the
campaign, Lord Lansdowne did not wish
to excuse him for Understanding the en-
envy, but Lord Wolseley should bear his
full share. Lord Wolseley suggested,
among other things, the occupation of
Delagoa bay and an appeal to the colo
MES.
Lord Salisbury said he thought it unde-
sirable that all the papers referring to
the debate should be circulated. He was
not sure that any. personal charges had
been made against Lord Wolseley.
Lord Rosebery enumerated Lord LanS-
downe's charges against Lord Wolseley,
and said they were personal in the judg-
ment of the mass of the House and the
man in the street. He alluded to Lord
Wolseley's historic career, now closed, and
defended the single-mindedness of his pur-
pose in seeking to improve the War Of
flee system. The reply was some argu-
ment and the gravest personal attack.
Lord Wolseley's motion was rejected by
a vote of 62 to IS.