GENERAL SIR R. BULLER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 15

GENERAL SIR R. BULLER.

LONDON, November 30.

The draft resolution to be submitted to the pro-Buller demonstration in Hyde Park to-morrow declares that General Buller's speech on October 10 was used as a mere excuse for dismissal, which was due to his refusal to alter the Spion liop despatches.

The Standard, in contradicting the statement, warns General Buller that unless he restrains his injudicious backers the Government will be compelled to breiak its magnanimous silence. It broadly hints that when Sir George White declined to treat for the surrender of Ladysmith and heliographed asking if the instructions to surrender were authentic they were deliberately repeated, but disobeyed. It adds if the evidence supports the charges a profound revulsion of feeling will be created. The Standard says that the only extenuating hypothesis is that the shock of two defeats destroyed a brave man's nerves and paralysed his judgment.

December 1.

The Devonian Society of London entertained General Buller, who said that discipline compelled reticence, otherwise he would gladly tell everything. He dwelt on the hardships the troops were enduring. The Devonshire Regiment had marched 997 miles in 143 days, constantly fighting.

December 2.

A meeting of 20,000 persons in Hyde Park adopted the previously announced resolutions to the effect that General Buller's speech on October 10 was used as a mere excuse for Jismissal, which was due to his refusal to alter the Spion Kop despatches.

A constable broke the processionists' gilt effigy of General Buller. A disturbance was narrowly averted. The gathering was composed mostly of workers. A small minority, raised shouts aoamst

Lord Roberts and Mr Chamberlain. General Boiler's dignified reticence is interpreted as a rebuke to the demonstrators.