The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-09-04

ICc Ou lie COuuuCC VI tu6 ToCeuC WdT
in South Africa have filled all England
with CONSERVATION and indignation,
and already there are vigorous de-
mands for the resignation Of Lord
Lansdowne and MI. Brodrick.
Lord Lansdowne, who was secretary
Of state for war during the campaign,
comes in for whitening criticism. The
Daily Mail says: lone lesson blazoned
on every page Of this report Is that
our national interests can no longer be
intrusted to men who regard states.
manship as a. pleasant occupation for,
the leisured classes. The day of such
men as Lord Lansdowne and Mr.. Brod-
rick in English craftsmanship is over,
They are courtly, dangerous Injuries.
The reputation Of Lord Lansdowne is
blasted hundred times over In the
pages OF this evidence
The Times says in regard to the re-
port: 1T is a sweeping indictment Of
our military unpreparedness - unpre-
paredness, be it observed, which there
is no reason to think has been materi-
ally lessened in. the period since the
war;
The Morning Advertiser sarcastieally
remarks: There is only one thught
likely to trouble the mind of the patri
otto Britisher as he reads these remark
able volumes, that is the notion that
they will be OF greater service, posi-
bly,, to our military friends on the
continent than they will be to our own
war Office and army
According; to the testimony of Gen.
Nicholson, the, intelligence section of
the war office relating to South Africa
before the war, was run on the two
men and boy principle. The two
officers. one, Of them: clerk in, the
treasury, against the united recommen-
dalton of the war office, refused any
increase, hence it is not surprising that
when England went to war there was
no effective, maps whatever, Of the
Orange Free State, the Transyaal or of
Natal. To quote Lord sKitchener's own
testimony, the field intelligence depart
ment had to be created from the be-
ginning. .,sa e,!: Y.i 4
Gen. Nicholson is responsible for
the information that there practically
was no valid connection between the
intelligence department and the de-
Tense COMMITTEES Of the cabinet Col.
Altman testified that every Boer gun
was known and traced after the war.
The British local defense schemes were
however, based on inadequate force.
Experts prepared q plan Of a scheme
of mobilization In the early summer,
but the government would not vote the,
necessary extra money until It was
forced to, do SO, was, the testimony Of
Cen. Sir F., stopford, and from official
memorandum and. Col. Altham's testi-
mony it is apparent that Lord Lans-i
downe knew there were $4,000 mounted
Beers waiting to oppose the British.
yet almost without exception infantry.
were sent. ILL.,, ,,.... *. ID. ,sse,,,
Il Nearly all "a the, military witnesses,
notably Gen. Kelly-Kenney, lay stress
on the fact that representations Of the
commander in chef did not meet with
sufficient compliance. Viscount4 Vol
seleyS lays great stress on this and the
way Lord Lansdowne treated him and
his advice in 1893, which he absolute
lily disregarded. refusing to sanction
even the most urgently needed expen-.
ditures, His refusal delayed the First
army. corps, mol. did they send out the
reinforcements he urged. Lord Rob
erts also condemns the initial prepare
lions! Cd.
When finally the mobilization Of the
First army corps was ordered II was
SO late that II was not possible for
Sir Redvers Butler to be ii position
to take the field until the end Of De-
cember. The Beers, however. invaded
Natal the second week in October. The
hasty, mobilization on; the part 81 the
British caused disorganization.
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