The Washington times., 1901-09-29
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
General Kitchener Growing Resttvs
Under Home Restraint.

Under Home Restraint.
LONDON. Sept. 2S.--The Kings au-
dience with War Secretary Brodrfck and
the seemingly almost desperate position
of the whole war situation have filed the
air with variety of rumors during the
last few days. Even the War Office takes
rumors seriously. so seriously as to put
out yesterdays official pronouncement
that General Kitchener had not resigned;
that. In fact. his relations with his mill
tary chief here all along had been of the
most cordial character
A distinguished general writes to the
papers today to warn the public to regard
this as an official lie so one is thrown
back upon the circumstantial published
statements that General Kitchener insists
on a free hand in the treatment Of rebels.
and insists on martial law in western
Cape Colony to enable the activities Of
the influential Boer sympathizcrs there
to be summarily suppressed, and on more
vigorous support fross home in the way
of efficient re-enforcements. instead of
raw. worthless yeomanry He is said TO
pledge his reputation to bring the war to
a speedy end under such conditions
Exactly what part the King Is playing
In the matter no one can say, but this is
certain-his influence would suffice, as,
perhaps, nothing else would. to keep Ger
eral Kitchener. who always was ter
rible stickler for free hand in iine with
Secretary Brodrick, who has all that
love Of a tight rein characteristic OF an
earnest but inexperienced driver of diffi-
cult team. The sympathies of the public
undoubtedly viii be with General Kitch-
ener. for everyone here is as sick as
General Kitchener himself with the weary
prolongation Of the war. week after week.
and Is, moreover. feeling profoundly un-
easy lest the War Office should still be
as deep In the mud as ever in its man.
agement Of the whole war machine.
The Times and Spectator today
tardily join in the swelling outcry, Of
which spoke last Saturday, over the ap-
pointment of General Butler to the COM
mand of the First Army Corps The
Times" permits correspondent whose
Importance is indicated by the bigness Of
the type in which his letter is set to re-
count the whole list of General Buffers
calamitous failures In Natal, including his
message to Sir George White, suggesting
the surrender of Ladysmith, and to ask.
rs this record for which the Government
and Lord Roberts, who knows all. have
chosen the commander, on whom the first
not plain that the old army theory that
the highest appointments are matters OF
vested interest for senior generals has tri-
umphantly reasserted itseif?"
There are, moreover. the appointments
Of the Duke of Connaught and Sir Evelyn
Wood to command the Third and Second
Army Corps respectively. The duke gen.
orally is estimated to be fine, even an
accomplished soldier. but his royal asso-
Citations have always prevented the fulfil
ment of his earnest wish to take his full
share OF war risks. General Wood Is
nearly sixty-four years Of age. and has
not seen active service for seventeen
years. Is II likely, critics ask. that ne
II the answer Is No in his case as in
the Duke Of Connaughss. then the Minis
try has broken the pledge upon which II
secured the assent of the Eouse Of Com
namely. that the corps be placed under
the commanders who would lead them In
been thrown from Office for less than this,
but as yet official Liberalism remains
dumb.
The London smallpox epidemic Is assum-
ing serious proportions. Up to midnight
on Thursday 163 cases were under treat
meat in the hospital ships Atlas. Endy-
mion, and CaStalia. seven fresh cases be-
ing reported on that day. Pretty well
every friend one meets has been, or is
being. voluntarily revaccinated under pri-s.
vate medical orders, but the Government
having yielded to the anti-vaccination
agita ton, and practically removed the
character of vaccination, there
is tumult and confusion among the work
ing classes. They declare that it savors
of pauperism to go to the pubic vaccina-
tion officer. who asks househOlders STa-
ciously to permit him to attend them free
at their houses or invites them to his pri-
vate surgery. Thus thin-skinned is Eng
land becoming.
A significant effect of the decline OF
Elgiands rural population Is being felt
in many rGral districts in the decline in
the amount of fees receivable by the reg
istrars of births. a decline quite out Of
proportion to the decline In the popula-
ton shown in the recent census There
are cases in which, while the population
has diminished by from 10 to II per cent
in the last three decades. the number of
births registered now is less than half of
what it was in ISL The decline in the
rate. though considerable, Is not
so marked as in the birth rate
Thirty pages of today's official gazette
and fifteen columns of the Times today
are devoted to announcements of further
honors, medals. and promotions to the
officers and soldiers of the South African
war. Well may Lord Roberts be dubbed
the most complimentary general in his
tory. Cromwell. after Dunbar. thought it
enough to say of his successful comrades:
Il know they look not to be named, and
therefore l forbear particulars"