Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-02-13
THE WAR OFFICE SCANDAL.
Specializing Contractors Made Hun
dreds of Thousands Of Pounds
Reselling Contracts.
RHODES AND THE De BEERS RAKE off.
Public Indignation Threatens to
Center Around the Secretary for
War, MIR. ROderick, rs ViciOusly
ms 1t Did Around Lord Lans-
downe, for Early War BIunders.

London, Feb. 9.-The apparent in
competence, and, it is claimed, posi-
BILE dishonesty, which permeate the
purchasing departments of the Brit
ish army, as revealed this week in
parliament. have caused a public agi-
tation that augurs badly for the war
office. Judging from recent disclos-
ures, scarcely any of the supplies for
the army in South Africa were Sc
cured on business principles. SPEC
ULATING CONTRACTORS ARE NOW
KNOWN TO HAVE MADE HUN
DREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
BY RESELLING CONTRACTS. The
opposition vainIy endeavor to get
details regarding the new contract
for the supply of meat, announced
by the government in the house OF
commons, with the view of ascer-
tanning if a saving over the former
methods will really be effected. The
government successfully avoided an
swering, but it is understood that
the contract in question was first re-
sold at 10000 premium and then
at 100000, while Cecil Rhodes and
the DeBeers group handed over
E2O0, 900, and thus finally secured the
privilege of supplying the troops in
South Africa with fresh meat. These
figures are likely to be published
here soon, and when known, will
doubtless add fuel to the fire Of pub
lie Indignation, which threatens TO
center around the secretary for war,
Mr.. Brodrick, as viciously as it did
around Lord L~ansdowne. when the
latter was sponsor for the early
plumbers of the war. Al dozen or
more committees of Investigation are
now sitting, or are in process of
formation, but, as the Saturday Re-
view says, ''These are only too often
synonyms of oblivion"
1.-THE fact remains" adds the SAT-
urday Review, that we have BEEN
SWINDLED ON A VERY LARGE
SCALE"
While those stringent criticisms, Of
the war office are being publicly ac-
cepted, there is beneath the surface
a revolt which threatens to be of
even greater Importance. The lead
ing authorities of the volunteers, in
Guiding many of the commanders of
the best-known regiments, several OF
them being titled persons, and near-
ly all wealthy, are holding frequent
meetings, to decide on the method, Of
defeating Mr.. Brodrick's new voliln-
teer regulations. The committee
which Mr.. Brodrick appointed; to,
hear the grievances only aggravated
matters. The commanders of tlie
leading regiments had previously
formed themselves into a deputation
to wait on Mr.. Brodrick, and he,.
temporarily, declined to see them.:
but the secretary for war stole a
march on the members of the dtpu-
tation by announcing in the house Of
commons that he had appointed, a
committee of his own, in which not
one of the deputation was included.
His action created intense feeling
among the members of the original
deputation, who privately declare
that the new volunteer regulations
and the "%deadhead committee were
introduced for the sole purpose. of
making conscription possible.
The colonel of one of the London
regiments said to a press representa-
tive: 'We know Mr.. Brodriok wants.
conscription, though, perhaps, in a
modified form. If his ideas win the,
day, the volunteers will gradually
cease to be an effective force, and
will thereby supply the war office
with its strongest argument in favor
of compulsory military service, or the
enforcement of the old ballbt laws.
Rather than see that come about, we
intend to break up our regiments. 7
have a letter from a distinguished
nObleman, urging me to take that
course, and many other commanding
officers contemplate disbanding their
'egiments."