The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-12-03
"THE PLAGUE OF WOMEN"
A Disease with which Britain's War
once Has for a Long Tinse
@ Been Infected.

THE plague of women, complained OF
by Mr.. (now Sir Frederick Treves in the
course of the late war in South Africa
seems not to have been confined to the
Cape Colony. If we are to believe the
word OF certain apologists, says the New
York Sun, who have arisen to the de-
tense of the British government since
the publication of the facts brought to
light by the commission appointed to
inquire into the conduct OF the late cam
paign, the disease is and has long been
endemic in and about the war office.
These worthless, with perfect candor,
have pointed it out as sort OF excuse,
or at least extenuation, of the general
lassitude, apathy and apparent lack OF
Judgment displayed by those in power.
They show that where necessary Dusi-
ness was overlooked, and where men OF
small attainments were put in RESPONSE
BILE places, it was not always the fault
of the great men in authority, but rather
Of the great ladies who advised the
great men.
It must be matter of satisfaction to
Englishmen tC know that all the re-
cent talk about the degeneracy OF the
race, the deterioration of the national
physique and the rest of the dismal dis
coveries Of the pessimists is pure nom
sense 1t is evident now that the bung-
ling and incompetence SO largely exhib-
tied during the late war cannot be at
| tributed to these defects. There is no
| reason to suppose that England could
| not produce the right men in time OF
need, and if the right man does not
always happen to be in the right place
at the right moment, his absence. as the
candid apologists point out, is often due
| to an amiable weakness on the part
| of his superiors, laudable ambition to
be on good terms with the great ladies
and great lords who have equally laud-
able ambitions in regard to their grow
ing sons and heirs.
!. This admirable fidelity to the grand
old English system of aristocracy ap-
pears to spread from the bottom to the
top of the war Office; the commander In
chief himself is true to the tradition
MdJ. uCu ID oOoLOSs Aou6AOA eJPO
with little respect for the value OF titles
in the presence Of the enemy, spoke az
follows in his testimony before the com.
mission: Il was furious at the idea
of officers going home before the wal
was over for private affairs. forbade
them. / refused them leave, but ther
they went to Lord Roberts, and if they
had any family interest they got theil
leave" Lord Kitchener's point of view
was more nearly like Gen. Brabazon's
When an anxious and influential paren
telegraphed to him: my son is.urgent
ly wanted at home; please let him come,
Kitchener replied: "Your son is more
urgently needed here; he cannot come.
There are some in England who shar'
this attitude, regarding the business Of
: soldier as something more serious thai
popular diversion of the aristocracy
But British traditions are persistent, an,
it may be some time before the war OF
flee can bring itself, in time OF bust
ness, to forget distinctions and returl
to the simple social equality that pre-
J vailed when Adam delved and Eve span