The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-10-25
PetticOat Influence Was Too
Strong at the War Office.
THE KING FORCED TO YIELD
Lord Roberts aud War Secretary BrOderiek
Threatened to Resign Il Order for
Builer's Dismissal Vas Not
Issued.

NEW YORK. OFT, 2t--luteges,lnS de-
tails concerning the enforced retlremen,
of Sir Redyars Butler are gwen In a
dispatch from Loud,n to the Herald,
I; Is an open secret tina; what IS known
as 'pettlcoat influence" has baen far too
strong at the war office ever since the
Duke Of Cambridge resigned and the
present eommander-.n-ohief has not es-
capped 1t.
There are many people who are IN
tlined to applaud the speech OF H (.
Richards, the nigh; before last at
Northampton. who declared that Il Lord
Roberts would leave baEaar openings
to Lady Roberts and take the san So
lections and war office reforms into his
own hands ;here might be great reform
a; the war office.
l; is doubtful Il NJ Edward viii
ever have 10 face a more painful diem
ma than the one he encountered when
Mt Brodrick and Lord Roberts had an
audience with him at Marlborough
house, said a member 0. the kings
household.
When the news reached Balmoral Of
General Buffers Westminster speech
everybody in the houseaoli suspended
judgment until s,me sign was appar-
en-; how the king regarded II.
Ever since General Buffers depart
ure from Waterloo for the war, when
the king-then Prince Of wales-gave
the cue TO popular opinion OF the ex-
commander-ln-chief with his parting
s'lu,e; Goodbye. Did Butler" he has
thus been spoken OF.
Ever since his return 20 England II
was known thar the king had not
changed his opinion Of his former bon
camarade" The DAY after the West
minister speech 1t became hruiied
among the household that the king s,ill
held his taith in the blum old general
and regarded his oratortCal ou,burs,
"a merely a military explosion in the
face Of bitter goading
So Il became an accented conclusion
that nc matter what the papers might
say the king would stand by his former
friend. even TO the extent os confsrring
a qeerage. as a mark Of personal frienl-
snip. Some leakage OF this opinion
found their way 70 the public press ana
were transmitted TO the war office.
II is said that ever since General
Butler refused to correct his Sp,onkcp
dispatch he has been subjected to the
bitter hostility Of Lady Roberts. who
used every effort to force hsr husband
10 demand his recall.
Within the last DAYS her antlpatay
has found fresh vent. owing 20 his
Westminster spec p. Il is sad she IN
duced "Bobs" % 90 - the war off g
ami demand " NJ Br5ierick ,ha, h@
issue an order for General Bu'ls-'s r s.
ignadon Such an order w1s issued.
hut old Butler Piled with a IA, fu.al
90 resign Then L1-d Roberts and Nj
Brodr,ck put ;aei- heals together and
waited for the instance Of the kings
return 10 london 10 Law before his mai
esty the alternative Of Buffers ismis-
sal or their resignation.
Il was by n means a pleasant inter
view. At first the king rsfus-l point
blank TO countsnance any such drastic
preceding He defended Butler right
and left and declared thar such a prov
Oca,i0n as Anonymous attacks was suf-
fcisnt warrant so- such an explosion
on the part Of the bluff old soldier but
Lord Roberts and Mr.. Broirick We're
equally Stubborn.
Lori Roberts threatened 20 resign in
stan,er unless a royal mandate were
issued FOR Buffers decap.tauon. T.
this Mr.. Broirck also added his in
tentl01 10 release the seals Of the war
0fic=. The latter t1reat would no. have
weighed FOR a momen, with the king,
but "Bobs'' popularity Is a different
matter His majesty used every effort
TO induce the ommand-r-ln-chief 10 re-
consider his determination. Only when
he finally discovered that this was out
Of the question was the royal consent
reluctantly given TO the order FIR Cen
eral Buffers dismissal.
IRON TRADE SITUATION.