General Butler.

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1902, Page 2

General Butler.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.

Sir Edmund Grey, speaking in the House of Commons, sard it was unfair to publish documents exclusively unfavourably to General Sir , Redvers Bullet, who ought to be allowed to submit his story to a special tribunal. It was possible he might give a fresh interpretation to the heliogram which he despatched to Sir George White at Ladysmith. Mr Brodrick, Secretary for War, said the heiiogram had been interpreted at Ladysmith as emanating from the Boers. Sir George White’s previous message to Buller on the 30th November announced that he had provisions for seventy days, and was able to hold out while they lasted. No documents, declared Mr Brodrick, could alter the fact that the, - attack on Celeow* wai

admitted by all military men as ill-con-ceived - and badly executed. No docutr||fa»- could lessen General fusibility for the loss of the guns and for the pain felt at the suggestion to surrender Ladysmith, which would have been an unparalleled disaster, and a reproach on our children to the third and fourth generations. (Cheers.) Mr Brodrick added that he accepted the responsibility of appointing General Buller to the command at Aldershot, explaining fats technical reasons for the appointment. Hr Brodrick trusted that what concerned the conduct of the generals at the coming inquiry into the conduct of the war would be heard with closed doors. He was unable to promise Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman that a committee of general officers would investigate General Bullet’s case.