The Sun.
London, England, 1857-12-19 00:00:00

LONDON: SA,TITRDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1857.

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.

the ties which bind them to the regiment and their
comrades may be seriously impaired,. and the
greatest incitement to professional exertions takex
away. An officer enters the service, whether by
purchase or not, on the condition and with the full
kuowledge,of the regulations con cerningpromotion,
and can have no cause of complaint, if the officer
prepared to purchase, .and considered qualified by
the authorities at the Horse Guards, succeeds to his
promotion, according to these regulations. But a
very different feeling would be occasioned if an
officer selected during peace, not for distinguished
conduct in the field, or from any acknowledged
superiority, was placed over the heads of his com-
mig
rides. His promotion would naturally be ascribed
to favouritism or influence. This take
in a regiment, stationed in some distant and ht place
un-
healthy colony where it would he considered a still
greater act of injustice from the oiler officers having
had to incur the danger of a long and irksome service
while the selected Relit ena nt-colo nelh ad been wining
his promotion by easy service in some comfortable
staff appointment at home. So strong would be
this feeling, in the opinion of his Royal Highness,
that ho could not utdertake to contend with it.
H. R. Highness can conceive no possible standard
on which the army would be satisfied with selec-
tions of lieutenant-colonels, and is convinced that
the attempt would end in promotion to that step,
which it is so important officers in the prime of life
should be brought forward to fill, being wholly
geverned by seniority. Lord Grey, the only other
witness examined on this point, was of the same

The Argo steamship, &pt. Benson, left Ports-
mouth Harbour for Spithead yesterday morning
with 800 troops on board for India. They were
loudly cheered on passing out of harbour ; and on
reaching Southsea-beach the North Lincoln Militia,
who were at the time under drill, rushed to the es-
planade and gave them a hearty farewell, which
was cordially re-echoed by those on board.
The Bth company of Royal Sappers and Miners,
under the command of Capt.. W. F. Lambert, RE.,
120 officers and men of all ranks, will leave Chat-
ham this morning and proceed to Southampton for
the purpose of embarking for China to join the other
companies of Royal Engineers who have preceded
them to that country. The Bth company will be
conveyed to Alexandria in the Peninsular and
Oriental Company's steamship Pera, and proceed
overland to Hongkong. The following officers of
the Royal Engineers will embark with the Bth com-
pany :—Lieuts. J. A. Papillon, E. H. Courtney,
R. M. F. Sandford, and Shearman Bird.
Col. W. H. Eden, in command of the troops at
Chatham garrison, has received orders to hold in
readiness reinforcements for the Bth, 29th, 43d
(Light Infantry), 70th, 75th, and 84th regiments,
who are to embark for India at an early date. A
number of officers will be selected from each of the
corps named to embark with the reinforcements.
The Argus, 6, paddlewheel steam sloop, has been
docked at Chatham for the purpose of undergoing
some extensive repairs, which will necessitate her
remaining in dock until Feb. next.
The Victor Emanuel, 91, screw line-of-battle-
ship, was removed from dock yesterday into the
steam basin, Portsmouth preparatory to trial of
her engines.
The experiments announced to come off yester-
day morning in Woolwich-marsh, with a view of
testing the capabilities of the 36-inch mortar, de-
signed by Lord Palmerston, were partially carried
out. The first shot was not fired until noon. The
external injuries sustained on the former occasion
having been repaired the mortar again presented
an appearance of solidity, and was more firmly
secured by extra lashings, and the divisions more
firmly bolted. The peculiar mode in which the bar-
rel is constructed, it being composed of hoops of
wrought iron 9 in. broad, and 3i in. thick, laid over
each other, has been shown in each of the experi-
ments to be extremely defective. On examination,
after the 6th discharge, the segment nearest the
chamber wherein the charge was contained, was
found to be burst asunder. The damage extended
to the exterior ring alone. The experiment there-
fore closed as soon as the accident was discovered.
Each charge of powder employed on this occasion
consisted of 401 h., which was contained in 8 bags
of 51b. respectively. It had been arranged by the
select committee to fire nine rounds in equal charges,
without variation or progressive increase, as at the
first trial. The bags of powder were also embedded
as formerly in a layer of sawdust, in order to fill in
the superfluous space, and counteract the effect of
the shock on the metal. The elevation of the weapon
was at 42 deg., and it was stationary, so that the
shells were all projeetedin the same direction; never-
theless, the range varied at each shot, the average
distance being about 1,500 yards, the flight over
that range occupying 17 seconds. A 13-inch shell
was likewise fired immediately before the discharge
of the heavy mortar, as a kind of precursor, and to
contrast the velOcity and flight of the two missiles.
The undertnentioned Paymasters have retired with
the rank of Paymasters-in-Chief :—Mr. William Soadv,
Mr. William Bowden, Mr. Thomas W. Parker, Mr.
Walter Burke, and Mr. Henry South.

opinion.
If the object of the proposed change is to secure
greater care in th© appcintment of officers to com-
mand regiments, an object in which we concur,
that may be accomplished by a firm exercise of the
undoubted duty of the Commander-in-Chief, to in-
terpose his veto to the advancement of officers by
purchase whom he believes, or may be advised, are
incompetent to the charge of the higher rank. His
Royal Highness states that a more stringent use of
his authority in this respect would be much felici-
tated by the mined of publio opinion, which we
are satisfied will net be withheld from it. This
check on the appointment of lieutenant-colonels,
if exercised with caution and discretion, would be
much aided by the option of retirement on sale
being reserved to the officer, and would in our
opinion be as great a security against the appoint-
ment of inefficient men to command regiments as
the proposed means of selection.
It is true that this power has always existed, and
that the exercise of it has hitherto been unusual,
but on some occasions it has been resorted to, and
the army would be satisfied with its more frequent
application, although it might be considered a hard-
ship by individuals whose promotion was stopped
by it.
We do not enter upon financial considerations
and arrangements which must be the consequence
of the proposed alteration. It could not be adopted
without the fullest indemnity to field officers for the
money they have paid for their commissions, nor
without some new arrangements for the emoluments
and retirement of general officers, who had been
selected without purchase for the rank of lieutenant-
colonel, and who would no longer have a claim to
the present scale of emoluments, after having re-
ceived compensation for their commissions. It
would be further expedient to provide other in-
ducements to old officers to retire, if the privilege
of the sale of their commissions, alter 20 years ser-
vice, whether they had purchhsed them or not, was
taken from them. These inducements would be
still more necessary if the attempt to select lieu-
tenant-colonels shoulh end, as his Royal Highness
and Lord Grey are of opinion, in promotion to that
rank being wholly by seniority.
It is said the selection of commanding officers in
the service of the East India Company has suc-
ceeded so well that the same practice may be in-
troduced with advantage into the regular army.
That selection, however, only takes place after the
officer has arrived, by seniority, or frequently by
purchase, to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. A re-
ference to the age of these officers will at once show
REPORT OF THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD ELLICE, that the adoption of their system would in no re-
M.P., LIEUT.-GEN. EDWARD BUCKLEY WYN- spect benefit your Majesty'sservice. These reasons
YARD, C. 8,, AND MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HENRY make us entertain serious doubts of the expediency
JOHN BENTINCK, K. C.B. of any partial change in regimental promotion.
We have given the fullest consideration to the We shrink from the responsibility of throwing out
report made to your Majesty by the other members mere suggestions, which may disturb without
of the commission which your Majesty has appointed amending the present system, be unsatisfactory to
to incinirt. intn and rerutrt their opinions on the army, and ixtralyse,- during the suspense they
the presentsystem of purchase in the army. Agree- may lead to, the current of promotion which it
ing generally in the report, we regret that our sense must be the great object •to encourage. Greater
of duty prevents our concurring in the partial stringency in examinations as to professional edu-
change recommended in regimental promotion— cetion and attainments will be an adequate secu-
tbat the rank of lieutenant-colonel should in future rity against abuse of purchase. We are not of
be filled by selection. opinion, however, that the principle of competitive
All the witnesses examined upon the commission examination should be adopted, which can afford
concur in opinion, which opinion is confirmed by little proof of the moral and physical qualities
the most distinguished foreign officers who have essential in military life.
lately served in the field with your Majesty's forces, We agree with the other members of the commis-
that a British regiment, as at present organised, is sion, that the commands of regiments should be
equal, if not superior, to any similar corps in the held for a certain fixed time, as is now the case with
world. We are of opinion that every improvement staff appointments, Such a change would give
should be adopted, every exertion made, still fur- great impetus to promotion, and be accompanied
ther to promote this discipline and efficiency, and with other advantages which it is unnecessary to de-
to maintain the superiority of our regimental force. tail. But even this alteration must be cautiously con-
We also fully admit the abstract objections to pur- sidered with reference to officers who may be still fit
chase. We should not be prepared to advise the for active service, and who would be reduced, with-
introduction of the principle if we did not find it out some further arrangement, to half-pay. A selec-
already established and interwoven with our whole tion from thisclass of officers who would have gained
regimental system. But we have in vain endea- great ex, erience in the command of their regiments,
voured to elicit from the witnesses, most loud in if otherwise qualified, to higher appointments on
their condemnation of the system, any other scheme the staff, would appear expedient. When not so
of regimental organisation which would secure for selected, it would be necessary
allow-
your Majesty's service abetter or so good a class of ante adequate to the to make some
difference of pay till they
officers, accelerate promotion, so as to bring regi- attain the rank of major-general. The option of
mental officers at an active period of their lives leaving the, service, retaining their nominal, or
into the higher ranks of the army, provide indem- even a superior rank, or some payment of money
pity for the officers who have purchased their corn_ equivalent to the value of their commissions, might
missions, and at the same time obviate the evils be an inducement to Officers to retire who had little
of arriving at the higher ranks
been and emoluments '
complained of iu the existing system. Our col- hope, from their age,
leagues so far agree with us that they have. . . emoluments of the profession. All changes of
must entail expense, which will,
however, be borne cheerfully by the public if they
unable to recommend more than a very limited this description .
modification in the system of purchase.
which we agree more cordially than in the necessity We think it right t
There is no recommendation in the reports in contribute to the efficiency
0 advert, with reference to the
and proposed change, to
of adopting an amended system of education
the
between the comparisons that have been
entering made
examination, both as respects officers
.the promotion of the army and navy,
of their service, and between our o of the army.
army and at a subsequent period
security of other countries. own regimental system and that
We think it essential, also, that every
or by rally.
should be taken against the irregular promotion of Allo paronmaloogtiyonexinisttsbe navy is in the service gene-
officers of inexperience by undue influence,
the joint operation of exchange and purchase, N
of a ship and that of •
which has been the subject of complaint in former . . a regiment. The ship is com-
d the between the organisation
times. These complaints would have been the missione , officers and crew appointed for a
same whether purchase bad existed or not, nor do certain period,education and proficiency in militery knowledge officers reduced to half pay,
when the crew are paid
till their services are
off, and the
affect the question. Under a vigilant and honest again required. Selection is less difficult in time of
administration of their duties by the military peace, when opportunities always cccur for the dis-
[ authorities, the same proficiency in this respect play of peculiar qualtties, and personal skill and
would be required on the promotion of an officer, conduct, which distinguish
supe-
whether by or without purchase. the character of a
rior officer.
Our hesitation in agreeing to this partial change A regiment, on the other hand, is a permanent
in the system of regimentalpremotion arises from body, depending for its excellence on the general
the following considerations : fellowship of a permanent set of officers—on their
In the first place, the making the rank of lieu- general relations with the non-commissioned offi-
tenant-colonel the exception to the general rule of cers and men under their command—a high esprit
purchase in the regiment would remove none of de corps—and the preservation of old associations
the general objections urged to the principle. The and recollections connected with its history and
objections to "buying and selling places of emolu- • achievements. The officers during peace have few
ment"—" vicious in principle, and repugnant to opportunities of distinction, and
are often, from
the public sentiment of the present day ; ' " the the nature of the duties imposed on the English
demand of a sum of money from a young man en- army, removed on the most irksome employment
tering the service," his whole means being in- from the scene of active service
and distinction. It
vested in his commission,'' "his. promotion being would be hard if, on that account, they should be
dependent on his purse : the effect of purchase in deprived of their chance of promotion after having
discouraging exertion, in depressing merit," and entered the service on the faith of existing regu-
the habit of extravagance which the introduc- lations.
tion of young men of wealth is supposed to en-
I courage ;if these objections, so much insisted upon in the British army is in no respect inferior to that
by one class of witnesses, and so counterbalanced of foreign armies. Of course the relative state of
by the advantages of the system in the opinion of societytis it
aidnmditfeeedretnhtat
countries--the difference be-
others, are really destructive to the efficiency and tween voluntary and compulsory service—must be
character of the army, neither remedy nor mitiga- taken into consideration iu attempting to form any
tion would be found for them in the mere selection connection between their military institutions. In
of lieutenant-colonels. It would appear more this free country it is essential to the maintenance
reasonable, with a view to arrest those evils, to and popularity of a permanent military force that
begin with the abolition of purchase for the first the independence of our officers should be upheld
instead of the last step in regimental promotion. and respected. The authorities in charge of our
All these objections have been considered by the military administration are called upon to justify
Duke of Wellington and the other high military their advice with respect to appointments by selec-
authorities in the commission of 1840, who, not- tion, and frequently have to explain and defend
withstanding, concurred unanimously in recom- them against the suggestions of partiality and Im-e-
-mending the maintenance of purchase. judice. Our army is suddenly increased on any
Since the report of that commission, the Indian emergency of war, and as suddenly reduced on the
Government, in consequence of stagnation in pro- return of peace. A system of half-pay and other
motion in their service, have confirmed and arrangements necessary to meet the incidents of
sanctioned a practice, which has gradually been this changing condition become necessary, which
growing up, for the officers in a regiment to con- exist in no other country. On the whole, our regi-
tribute to a purse for the purchase of the higher mental officers are younger than those in other ser-
ranks in their corps. We understand that a similar vices, especially in the French. If selection, much
practice, from the same reason, is creeping into some more easy when troops are acting together in large
of the continental armies. We believe that it bodies, and more or less engaged in actual war, or
would be very difficult, if selection for promotion preparation for war, brings forward occasionally
to the commands of regiments were adopted while younger officers to the higher ranks, seniority tends
purchase is generally retained, to prevent the to stagnation in the lower ones.
application of money to create vacancies in cases The commission of 1854 has already recom-
where officers had means of information as to their mended to your Majesty the selection of officers for
chance of succeeding to them. at-
It appears higher rank on the staff, from officers having
. to us that if the principle is to be -Wiled the rank of colonel, after three years' ser-
maintained at all, it is equally 1 essent. •ia it should vice, in the command of regiments. The junior
be .
maintained in the higher as in the lower selection.
mental regi- ranks of the staff are equally filled by select •
mental ranks. If no hope is given to the • - '
junior We entertain a strong conviction that if selection or
officer% of succeeding in their turn to the command, the staff iti judiciously exercised, and the general

regulations strictly adhered to, that no officer shall
be permitted to remain on the staff beyond the
, limited term of five years, that the complaints of
which so much has been heard lately, of the in-
efficiency of our military system, will receive their
, best and most satisfactory answer. The principal
complaint has been, not of the regiments, but
of the manner in which they have been
directed, provided for, and handled by the
staff, on service and in campaign. Purchase
cannot have given grounds for that complaint,
for purchase has only influenced regimental, and
never staff, appointments or promotion-. Whether
the adoption of other reforms and ameliorations,
admitted on all hands to be necessary in our mili-
tary system, may in the end place the army on the
efficient and satisfactory footing expected by the
country, or whether it may still be nessary, at some
future time,
_again to raise the question that has
been submitted to our examination, we do not pre-
tend to anticipate. If the abolition of purchase
shall ultimately be determined upon, we are certain
that the arrangements to be substituted for it will
be best left in the hands of the executive Govern-
ment, unfettered by the suggestions or recommen-
dation of partial changes of doubtful expediency
and. of difficult accomplishment. We submit these
reasons humbly, and. with great deference, to your
Majesty, forcliffering in opinion with our colleagues
in the commission as to the expediency of recom-
mending this alteration in our regimental system,
which, we fear, might only produce discontent
throughout the army, lead to uncertainty and hesi-
tation in existing arrangements, and produce no
adequate benefit to your Majesty's service.

EDWARD ELLICE.
EDWARD BUCKLEY WYNYARD, Lient.rGelleral.
H. BENTINCR, Major-General.
August 3, 1857.

SANDHU.RST STAFF COLLEGE.