Newport weekly independent., 1902-02-14
HE NAR 0FF|C[ SCANDAL!
Speculating Contractors Made Hun- dreds Of Thousands of Pounds
 Reselling Contracts.
RHODES AND THE DE BEERS RAKE-OFF.


 War. MT. Rodericis, as viciously
 ns It Did Around Lord Lans-
 downe, for Early War Blunders.
 London, Feb. 9.-The apparent in competence, and, it is claimed, possi- 8se dishonesty, which permeate the purchasing departments of the Brit ash army, as revealed this week in parliament, have caused a public agi- tation that augurs badly for the war office. Judging from recent disclos- nres, scarcely any of the supplies for the army in South Africa were se- cured on business principles. SPEC DLATING CONTRACTORS ARE NOW KNOWN TO HAVE MADE HUN DREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS BY RESEI.LING CONTRACTS. The opposition vainly endeavor to get details regarding the new contract Tor the supply of meat, announced by the government in the house of commons, with the view of ascer- taining if saving over the former methods will really be effected. The government successfully avoided an. swering, but it is understood that sold at e1o,00o premium, and then nt s40,000, while Cecil Rhodes and the DeBeers group handed over E200,0o0, 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, MT. Brodrick, as viciously as it did around Lord Lansdowne. when the latter was sponsor for the early blundeTs of the war. A 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"
 The fact remains.' adds the Sat- Hrlay Review, that we have been SWINDLED ON A VERY LARGE SCALTI'
 While those stringent criticisms of the war office are being publicly ac- cepted there is beneath the surface revolt which threatens to be of even greater importance. The lead ing authorities of the volunteers, in eluding many of the commanders of tho best-lSnown regiments, several of them being titled persons, and near ly all wealthy, are holding frequent meetings, to decide on the method of defeating Mir. Brodrick's new volun- teer regulations. The committee which Mir. BrodriclS appointed to hear the grievances only aggravated matters. The commanders of the leading regiments had previously formed themselves into a deputation Go wait on NIr. Brodrick, and he, temporarily, declined to see them: but the secretary for war stole a march on the members of the depu- tation by announcing in the house of cVliiiuonS ildt nc Hdd appointed committee of his own, in which not orc of the deputation was included. His action created intense feeling among the members of the original Reputation, 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- siwa: We know Mr. BrodriclS wants cons eription, 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 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 Tntend to break up our regiments. I have letter from a distinguished nobleman, urging me to take that rourse, and many other commanding officers contemplate disbanding their regiments"