ARMY SUPPLY SCANDALS

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 34

ARMY SUPPLY SCANDALS

SIR W. BUTLERS REPORT. 60^IE SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. LONDON, June 14. Sir. William Butler's report on sales and refunds to contractors in connection with the South African "war has been""fe6u«d. Mr Arnold-Forster, in a preface, declares that further investigation is necessary ; ' hence matters affecting individuals men- • tioned in tlie report are still sub judice. Several whose conduct is impugned have jjqt yet been heard. The report contains startling disclosures, jilso grave indictments. It emphasises the Evils of divided responsibility and joint administration, wherein Colonel Morgan, Director of Supplies, was the predominant partner with or over Colonel Hopwell. A month after a letter had arrived in Pretoria to relieve him, the report declares that an extensive loss or destruction of documents occurred. It censures the Vbsence of the regular methods of peace Administration in disposing of surplus Btock. It declares that in one instance there was selling to the same contractor of forage on the one hand and buying from liini of the same article or of a similar 'description on the other hand. Meyer, formerly connected with the cold storage, iras a daily gainer in oats alone of £2000. jDolonel Morgan's brother, Meyer's servant, us agent of mushroom companies and a )alaried seryant, favoured the farms. The Evidence fills 500 pages of a Blu© Book. j June 15. There is tremendous indignation in the newspapers and among the public of Great iJritaia over General Butler's report. "Many accuse the War Office of • sheltering the culprits. CAPETOWN, June 16. Pretoria news says that the ugliest feature of the war stores scandal is the press cen&or's refusal to permit correspondents in Pretoria to warn the public, pre-

tending that the refusal is in the best interests of the army.