The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-25
FORCED FALL
OF CEN, BULLER
Influence of Roberts and Bred
erick With the King.
THEY THREATENED TO RESIGN
EDWARDS SYMPATHY WITH
BLUFF OLD SOLDIER.

New York. Oct 24.-Interesting de-
tails concerning the enforced retire
ment of Sir Redvers Butler are given
in a dispatch from London to the Her
aid. 1t is an open secret that what is
known as 'petticOat influence" has
been far too strong at the war office
ever since the Duke of Cambridge re-
signed, and the present commander
in-chief has not escaped it.
There are many people who are in
clined to applaud the speech of H. c.
Richards the night before last at
Northampton, who declared that if
Lord Roberts would leave bazaar open
ings to Lady Roberts and take the
staff selections and war office reforms
into his own hands there might be
great reform at the war Office.
It is doubtful if King Edward will
ever have to face d more painful di-
lemma than the one he encountered
when Mr.. Broderick and Lord Roberts
had an audience with him at MARI
kings household. When the news
reached BalmOral of General Buffers
Westminster speech everybody in the
household suspended judgment until
some sign was apparent how the king
regarded it.
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 for
mer COMMUNICATIVE chief with his part
ing salute: Good old Butler he has
thus been spoken of.
King Liked Butler.
Even since his return to England it
was known that the king had not
changed his opinion of his former bon
Camarade." The day after the West
minister speech IT became bruited
among the household that the king
still held faith in the bluff general
and regarded his oratorical outburst as
merely a military explosion in the face
of bitter goading.
So it became an accepted conclusion
that, no matter what the papers might
say, the king would stand by his for
mer friend. even to the extent of con-
ferring a peerage, as a mark of per
sonal friendship. Some Ieakages of
this opinion found their way to the
public press and were transmitted to
the war office.
1t is said that ever since General
Butler refused to correct his Spion Kop
dispatches he has been subjected to
ne bitter hostility of Lady Roberts,
who used every effort to force her hus-
band to demand his recall. Within
the last few days her antipathy has
found fresh vent, owing to his West
minister speech. 1t is Said she induced
'Bobs" to go to the war Office and de-
mand of Mr.. Broderick that he issue
an order for General Buffers resi-na-
ton. Such an order was issued, but
old Butler replied with a fiat refusal
to resign.
Roberts Threatened to Resign.
Then Lord Roberts and Mr.. Broder-
/ lex put their heads together and waited
for the instant of the kings return to
London to lay before his majesty the
alternative of Buffers dismissal CT
their resignation.
1t was by no means pleasant inter
View. At first the king refused point
blank to countenance any such drastic
proceeding. He defended Butler right
and left and declared that such a
provocation as anonymous attacks was
sufficient warrant for such an explo-
sion on the part of the bluff old sol
dier. but Lord Roberts and Mr.. Brod-
ertck were equally stubborn
Lord Roberts threatened to resign
1nstanter unless a royal mandate were
| issued for Buffers official decapitation
| To this Mr.. Broderick also added his
| intention to relinquish the seals of the
/ war office.
| The latter threat would haze not
/ weighed for a moment with the king
i but "Bobs popularity is a different
/ matter His majesty used every effort
| 10 induce the commandments tc
! reconsider his determination. ONLY
| when he finally discovered that tbi.
/ was out of the question was the rOya
| consent reluctantly given to the orde1
| for General Buffers dismissal