SALVATION ARMY. AFFAIR

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17611, 16 January 1929, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY. AFFAIR

GENERAL BOOTH’S REPLY. DRAMATIC LAST-MINUTE CHARGE. LITIGATION’PROBABLE. (By Telegraph—Press assn.—-Copyright.) (Australian Press Association). (Received Jan. 16, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. A dramatic last-minute change in General Booth’s reply to the Council is likely to bring the final settlement to the Courts. His refusal to retire, according to the Daily Mail, was strengthened as the result of telephonic communication between the sick room and London. Owing to a delay, Mrs Booth will not leave Southvvold with the General’s letter for Council until the morning.

A HIGH-HANDED COUNCIL. DISCIPLINING THE OPPOSITION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.-— Copyright..' (Received Jan. 16, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. There has been a further clash between the General’s supporters and the Council. Adjutant Herbert Bubbers, of Kingston, addressed a letter to 1100 field officers appealing to them to pledge support to General Booth’s proposal to establish a new Council during his illness. Directly the Council heard this, it despatched telegrams costing £IOO condemning the letter as unauthorised and stating that those replying to it would do so at their own risk. The Council has summoned Adjutant Bubbers to Sunbury, and given him an opportunity of apologising; otherwise it states he will be transferred. Adjutant Bubbers says he is acting in accordance with his conscience and with the support of his brother officers.

SYMPATHY WITH GENERAL. ACTION BY HIGH COUNCIL. A MOVEMENT SUPPRESSED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Jan. 14. The fact has been disclosed that a London officer of the army issued a circular to 1500 field officers suggesting that they should forward a message of encouragement and affection to General Booth during the present trouble. The High Council discovered the circular and sent 1500 telegrams to the recipients ordering them to ignore the appeal. • ■ It is understood that the High Council intends to place the next General on a salary basis. A British official wireless message says that when Staff-Captain Dr. Hart arrived at General Booth’s residence at South wold, in Suffolk, he endeavoured to arrange a compromise. Dr. Hart said his plan was to promote the General to the rank of field-marshal.

It is thought that Dr. Hart may induce the General to modify his attitude of a flat refusal to retire. Mrs Booth, the General’s wife, has delayed her departure from Southvvold, it is believed as a result of Dr. Hart’s efforts.

Mr John Rockefeller, junior, has established a £200,000 trust, which will yield to the Salvation Army in America £II,OOO a year. Commander Evangeline Booth, Commissioner for the United States, comments that this shows unabated trust and confidence in the Army.

The New York correspondent of the Daily News says the American councillors have been greatly strengthened in their attitude by the Rockefellers and other millionaires emphasising that they would not support the Army while the present autocracy was maintained.

MRS BOOTH’S DRAMATIC DASH. i WORLD-WIDE PROTESTS. AT HIGH COUNCIL’S ACTIONS. (By Telegraph—l-ress Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.; (Received Jan. 16, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. There arc all the elements of a drama in Mrs Booth’s motor dash from Southwold to Sunbury this morning. She started in a blinding snow storm to cover 126 miles in three and a-half hours. The general only added his signature al midnight to his reply to Lhe Council’s ultimatum. Mrs Booth's car arrived at 11.30 a.m. at Sunbury Court, and an elderly woman stepped out with a large envelope in her hand. The authorities at Sunbury are receiving hundreds of telegrams from all parts of the world protesting against the attempt to remove General Booth. These have not been placed before the High Council, and there is much conjecture whether Mrs Booth will be allowed to appeal to the Council with her eloquence, which has won over thousands, in the hope of saving her husband. ’>

The High Council resumed at three o'clock to consider General Booth’s letter, in which connection an announcement is expected at five o'clock. A REMARKABLE HOAX. SPURIOUS CABLE MESSAGE. PERPETRATOR DISCOVERED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) (Received Jan. 16, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 15. A remarkable hoax has been revealed in connection with the despatch of cablegrams to Held officers as cabled yesterday. The cablegrams were despatched from the London telegraph office on Monday to 83 foreign headquarters, including Australia and New Zealand, and were signed in the name of Commissioner Higgins, chief of staff and second in command of the Army. The messages suggested that Commissioner Higgins desired an unsolicited reply appealing for the retention of General Booth. A printed letter in similar terms was sent to 300 British branches. The small, staff at Sunbury Post Office was over-

whelmed with the replies. Some headquarters were suspicious and repeated back the text of the cable asking for confirmation. The High Council was not aware of the sensation until the Post Office requested a considerable sum from Commissioner Higgins_as a surcharge on the messages. It is learned that the High Council accepted Commissioner Higgins’ explanation and later as the result of a conference the Post Office officials discovered the perpetrator of the plot.