Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-10
ENGLAND IS INDIGNANT
OVER WAR PURCHASES
Money, Free AS Water,
Has Been FoolishIy
Expended in
Supplies.

LONDON. Feb. S.-The apparent incom-
petence. and. Il Is claimed. possible dis
honesty. which permeated the purchasing
departments OF the British army. as re-
vealed this week in parliament. have
caused a public agitation that augu=S
badly for the war once.
Judging from recent and promised dis
closures. scarcely any OF the supplies for
the army IN South Africa were secured on
business principles. Specializing contrac-
tors are now known 70 have made hun
dreds or thousands OF pounds by reselliug
contracts.
The opposition vainly endeavored TO
get details regarding the new contract
for the supply Of meats. announced by
the government N the house OF commons.
with the view OF ascertaining II a saving
over the former methods will really be
affected.
The government successfully avoided
answering. but the Associated Press I'M
derstands that the contract in question
was first sold at El0.Olo premium and then
at E40.0o0 while Cecil Rhodes and the De
Beers group handed over s200000 and thus
secured the privilege OF supplying the
troops IN South Africa with fresh meat.
These figures are likely 10 be published
here soon. and when known viii doubt
less add fuel 20 the FIRE Of public indig
nation. which threatens to centre around
vscsously as II did around Lord Lansdowne
when the latter was sponsor for the early
plumbers Of the war.
A dozen OF more committees OF investi
cation are now sitting OF are in process
OF formation, but. as The Saturday Re-
view says. these are only too often
SYNONYMS OF oblivion
The fact remains" adds the Saturday
Review. THAI we have been swindled on
a very large scale"
While these stringent criticisms OF the
war ONCE are being publicly aired. there
Is proceeding beneath the surface a re-
volt which threatens 10 be Of even greater
importance The leading authorities OF
the leading volunteers. including many
of-the commanders OF the best known
regiments. several OF them being titled
persons and nearly all wealthy. are hold
ing frequent MEETINGS 70 decide on the
best method OF defeating Mr.. BrOdrick's
new volunteer regulations. The commit
tee which Mr.. BrOdrick appointed 10 hear
the grievances only aggravated matters.
The commanders of.the leading regiments
had previously formed themselves into
deputaticn 20 wait on Mr. Brodrick ano
he. temporarily. declined 10 see them;
but the secretary for war stole a march
on the members OF the deputation BIZ an
nOuncfng n the house OF commons that he
had appointed a committee OF his own. in
AANAG % AAE 4cNAA&AAlM was &lGAA-
ced- His action created intense feeling
among the members of the original depu-
taticn. who privately declare that the new
volunteer regulations and the 'dead-head
eommittee" were introduced for the sole
purpose OF making CONSUMPTION possible
The colonel OF one OF the London regi-
ments said 10 a representative OF the
Associated Press:
We know Mr. BrodrIck wants cOnscrip-
ton, though. perhaps. in a modified
form IL his ideas win the day. the volun-
teers VIII gradually cease TO be an ef-
fective force. and viii thereby supply the
war ONCE with its strongest arguments
IN favor Of compulsory military service
or the enforcement OF the old ballot laws
Rather than see that come about, we in
tend 20 break up our regiments / have
a letter from a distinguished nobleman.
urging me TO take that course. and many
other commanding officers contemplate
disbanding their regiments