The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1902-02-15

london. Feb. e-rbe apparent n.
competence. aud. it b. claimed. posi-.
ble dishonesty. which permcatc the
purchasing departments Of the Brit.
ish army. as revealed this week IN
parliament have caused public agi
tafieu that nugurs badly for the var
ollie Judging from recent diselas.
ures. scarcely any ~ the supplies 70,
the army in south Africa were Sc
cured uu huaineas prineiplcs. sPEe
ltNTING CONTRACTORS ARE NoN
KNOWN II HAVE MADE uUN
pnEns or THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
~ REsElLlNG CONTRACTS. rhe
onposiiion ,anle cndeaeor to get
details regarding the new contract
far the supply of meat, announced
~ the government in the house II
commons, with the view of aseer'
thinning II snYuR ovrr the former
methods viii really be effected. The
government successfully avoided an.
s0efinu but it i- understood that
the contract in question vas first re-
sod at ctoooo premium. aud then
a. eiooo0 while Cecil Rhodes and
the DciIeers group handed over
t3Hu.0lO. and thus finally secured the
privilege Of supplying the troops in
south Africa with fresh meat. These
figures are likely ia he published
here soon. aud when known, will
doubtless add fuel to the FIRE Of pub.
lie Indignation. which threatens ic
ecnier around the secretary for war.
Nr Brodrick. as siciously as IL did
afauni Lord Lansdowne. when the
lntfer vus sponsor for the early
bimdcrs of the war A dozen or
more committees of Investigation are
uaH sitting. M are in process of
| formation. but. as the Saturday Re
1iev a}s These are only too often
| ttnan5 ms Of oblivion"
Tho fact remains adds the sat.
nrlns Review. that we have been
sNlNDLED ON 4 VERY LARGE
SCALE"
While thase stringent criticisms Of
the war office are being publicly ac.
cepled. there Is beneath the surface
II revolt which threntens to be oi
even grcaler Importance. The lead
ing authorities Of the volunteers, in
| Guiding many Of the commanders Of
the bcst-known regiments, several Of
| them being titled persons, and near-
| ly all wealthy. nrc holding frequent
meetings. to decide on the method Of
defeating Mr. Brodriclt's new yolun-
teer regulations. The committee
which Mr.. Brodrick appointed TO
| hear the grievances only aggravated
uattcrs. The commanders Of the
lending regiments had previously
formed themselves into IA deputati0n
TO wait ou Mr. Brodrick. and he,
temporarily declined To- see them:
but the secretary for war stole a
march ou the members of the depu-
taii0u by announcing in the house of
commons that be had appointed a
| committee Of his own, in which not
one of the deputation was included.
IIis action created intense feeling
among the members of the original
depuintion. who privately declare
that the new volunteer regulations
aud the 'deadhead committee were
introduced for the sole purpose Of
making conseription possible.
The colonel Of one Of the London
regiments said 70 press representa-
tive: I'VE know Mr. Brodrick wants
eonscription. though, perhaps. in n
modified form. II 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 ballot laws.
Rather than see that come about. We
intend 10 break up our regiments. !
have letter from distinguished
nobleman. urging ine 10 take that
course. and many other commanding
officers contemplate disbandIng their
regiments