Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-05
DE WET IS HEADED AGAIN
So Says a London Correspondent
 of New York Paper.


 Botha and Delarey Will Surrender
 Very Soon-Row in the House of
 Lords Yesterday-It Was Caused by
 the Boer War.
 New York. March 5.-Boer war news continues favorable, says the Tri- Dune'S London correspondent. and the spirits of the ministerial followers are rising. Not only is General French clearing the eastern district of the Iransvaal, but General De Wet has been headed off ill one direction and is being closely followed toward Fauresnith. so his capture can be effected. The surrender of Generals Botha and Delarey will follow speedi- ly. This. at least, is the opinion of London military men, wno are now more confident in .-leir forecasts than they have been during the recent months. It is rumored in parliament that Sir Michael Hicks Beach has two budgets in preparation-one adapted for the close of hostilities and the other for an indefinite continuance of the present condition of guerilla war fare. One is believed to be much more favorable than the other to the tax payers, but each is reported to in- volye considerable widening of the area of indirect taxation.
 London, March 5.-In the house of lords yesterday Lord Wolseley, the former commander-in-ch of the forces. attacked the military system of Great Britain in carefully written speech. which, it is understood. he has long meditated and had phrased in consultation with friends. He spoke for three hours.
 In replying the Marquis of T.ans- downe. the former war minister. se- verely handled Lord Wolseley. declar- ing that Lord Wolseley during his term of office had failed to understand his duties. The fault was not in the sys- tenn. he said but in the fact that Lord Wolseley had not properly carried out the system. The debate has created a sensation.
 In opening his argument Lord Wolse- ley declared that his attack was not directed against individuals but against the military system, ''which have honestly tried for five years and found wanting. and which entails many great dangers not realized by the people of this realm"
 Lord Wolseley said he had worked With the Marquis of LanSdowne and there had not been a single disagree able incident. His complaint was that the professional commander-in-ch chief was robbed of his chief usefulness. He had to hand over the command and the entire management of the army to q civilian secretary of state. assisted by subordinates. with whom he dealt direct. The responsibility for every thing rested with the secretary of state alone
 Lord Wolseley outlined the present system. which was entirely unsuited for the army. under which it would never he efficient. and he doubted much if they would ever have q con- tented army
 When he accepted the office of con- mander-in-chief he had been told it was proposed to introduce regulations greatly altering the position of future commanders-n-ch When he learned the nature of these changes they were not to his liking, but he had honestly given them five years trial and was convinced they would never make an effective army
 My lords. I need not tell you." said Lord Wolseley. impressively. "that our l soldiers do not love the war office nor | it's civilian rulers. You cannot fiout | the sentiment of the army without in- 1 turing it's morale-'
 After declaring that Lord Wolseley | had failed to understand his duties. | Lord Lansdowne declared that he l might at least have warned the gov | ernment that one army corps was not | sufficient to crush the Boers. Lord Wolseley might have enabled the gov ernment to turn to better account the auxiliary forces of the country. He might have told the government. be- fore the South African war. that La dysmith was not a suitable military station. He might have prepared schemes for defensive and offensive operations Lord Wolseley had re- stricted his duties: he had not taken advantage of the opportunities at hand.
 The war office system. he said, might have been changed to advantage in details. but the main principle of enabling the secretary of state to get advice from his experts at first hand hc was not willing to give uIH The mistakes and failures ill South Africa were not due to the system. he declared. but to the fact that it was not carried out as faithfully as it might have been. The noble lord had failed to appreciate the immense inn portance of the special duties assigned to him.
 The Marquis of Lansdowne, upon  the eve of his departure from the war office, had considered q military note Lord Wolseley had addressed, he be- lieved. to Lord Salisbury upon this subject. He found. to his intense sur prise that Wolseley. in enumerating his duties. had omitted altogether that he was responsible for the mobiliZa- ton of tie army. that the intelligence department was under his special con- trol. or that he was charged with the preparation of plans of offense and de- fenSe.
 The debate will be resumed to-day. Cradock. Cane Colony March D. The British this morning arrested the Rev Reynecke, q minister of the Dutch Reformed church, under martial law. Cradock, Cape Colony. March A. The Boers have occupied Pearston, 1o% ,,sxy