THE WAR COMMISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 195, 31 August 1903, Page 3

THE WAR COMMISSION.

BTABTLING DISCLOSURES. GREAT INDIGNATION 0/ USED. OUTOBT AGAINST THE WAR OFFIOE. BIOONBTRUOTION BY LOBD KITOHJENKB URGED. Per Press Association. Eeceived 31,1.13 a.m. Losdoh, August 30. Ths evidence taken at the Elgin Commission has been published, and has caused intense indignation throughout the country. The newspapers of all parties condemn the Government's ■apineness.

The evidence shows that Sir John Aidagh, director of miliary intelligence, applied to the War Office for an annual allowance of £18,009 for ten years for the extension of survey work in South Africa, and ha was offered 2100.

The total amount alloca f ed for intelligence work in South Africa for three years before the war was £2OOO annually, while the Traxsvaal was spending £94,000.

Colonel Grant state 1 that when he, entered the intelligei oa department he formed a rooted idea that it was use less to ask for money for survey of the colonies.

Other witnesses deposed that there were no war maps of Natal, the Transvaal, or the Onnge Free State, and no ITeld Intelligence Department. No instructions were given ei'her to Bir George White or Sir R-dvers Boiler, and though Lord Lansdowne knew there were 43,000 mounted Beers ready, he almost without exception sent infantry.

Ie Jane 1899 the mobilisation of the frit army corps was p< spared, aod on August the 12th Lord Lansdowne submitted the same to the Cabinet, but financial approval was refused till October, the Government, for political reasons, not desiring to aggravate the situation. Lord Lansdowne was of opinion that war was net imminent till September, 1899, when the franchise w.s withdrawn. The evidence reveals that Sir W. F. Betlar resigned the Gape command because he could not agree with Lord Milner. Some papers demand the recall of Lord Kitchener to reconstruct the War Office.