The age-herald., 1902-02-09
Dishonesty Charged in the Pur-
 chasing Department
QUESTIONS ARE AVOIDED
Disclosures Show That Many of the Purchases of Supplies for Army In South Africa Were On
 Business Principles.

London, February S.-The apparent in- competence, and, 1t is claimed, possible dishonesty, which permeate the purchas- ing departments of the British army, as revealed this week in Parliament have caused a public agitation that augurs badly for the War Office
 Judging from recent and promised dis closures, scarcely any of the supplies for the army in South Africa were secured on business principles. Speculation contrac- tors are now known to have made hun dreds of thousands of pounds by reselling contracts.
 The opposition vainly endeavored to get details of the new contract of the supply of meat announced by the government in the House of Commons with the view of ascertaining if saving over the for mer methods will really be effected. The government successfully avoided an- swering but the Associated Press under stands that the contract in question was first resold at s1O,O0O and then at e40,0o0, while Cecil Rhodes and the Debeers group handed over s2OO,OOO and thus finally se- cured the privilege of supplying the troops in South Africa with fresh meat
 Public Indignation.
 These figures are likely to be published here soon and when known will doubt less add fuel to the fire of public indigna- ton which threatens to center around the Secretary of War, MT Broderick, as viciously as it did around Lord Lans- downe, when the latter was sponsor for the early blunders of the war. dozen or more committees of investigation are now sitting or are In process of formation, but as the Saturday Review says: These are only too often synonymous of obliv- lon"
 "The fact remains" adds the Satur day Review, that we have been swim dled on a very large scale"
 While these stringent criticisms of the war office are being publicly aired, there is proceeding beneath the surface a re- volt which threatens to be of still greater importance. The leading authorities of the volunteers, including many of the commanders of the best known regiments several of them being titled persons and nearly all wealthy. are holding frequent meetings to decide on the best methods of defying MT. Boderick's new volunteer regulations.
 Committee Aggravates Matters.
 The committee which MT. Frederick ap- pointed to hear the grievances aggravat- ed matters. The commanders of the leading regiments had previously formed themselves into a deputation to wait upon Mir. Broderick and he temporarily de- clined to see them but the Secretary of War stole a march on the members of the deputation by announcing In the House of Commons that he had appoint ed a committee of his own in which none of the deputation was included. His action created intense feeling among the mem bers of the original deputation who pri- vately declare that the new volunteer regulations and the 'deadhead commit tee were introduced for the sole purpose of making conscription possible. The colonel of the London regiments said to a representative of the Associat- ed Press: We know MT. Frederick wants conscription, though perhaps in modified form. If his ideas win the day the volunteers will gradually cease to be an effective force and will thereby supply ment in favor of compulsory military service or the enforcement of the old ballot laws. Rather than see that come about we intend to break up our regi- ments. I have a letter. from distin- guished nobleman urging me to take that course, and many other commanding of- ficers contemplate disbanding their regi- ments."