The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-10-13

who had fought at the Alma--are to advance
to the deadly contest he is content to so and sit
motoness IN . dRch. An unsupported colonel fights the
battle. We have glimpse of general Of division, but
it is only bewdered and irresoute and telling his
take the Royals" But We win enter no further into
this shameful history. Examples Of heroism not
wanting, and that they may have Their reward We
nesty hope. But to Gen. simpsons opinns OF individual
merit the public win attach little importance. He will
Of course be unable sufficiently to express his approba
viii be due TO every member Of his staff But the
men who died on that fatal day, will bring home
wounds and mutilatons as sore remembrance of it,
must be honored by their country through information
from other sources.
There can be no doubt of the discomfort and anger
which reign among the troops. Officers and men have
lost all confidence in their CHIEF and the only difference
is that the private procaims his opinion with
open vehemence The incapable commander who has
brought on England this last disaster cannot force his
soldiers to look with envy those gallant deeds Of their
ally to which their defeat serves foil, but he
can oppess them with feelings Of deep numlIanon, o.
he shall lead them there will be the conviction that the
day Of battle is likely to be anything but the day OF VIC
tory. Now, too, approaching those operations In
the field which are the test of generashp. Will the
man who could not attack with common skill position
with which he had been for months acquainted be capa
BILE Of combinations and manGuvres on on new and ever
changing groundp
The conclusion is not difficult It is the duty Of gov
Simpson OF the post he holds It Is generally understood
that the present Commander accepted his ap.
pontent with reluctance This does not indeed excuse
him from all responsibility for subsequent failure for no
solicitations Of Minister ought to overcome the resist
which IL honestly founded sense Of incapacty
But the knowledge that his was only minor fault of
rresoiute refusal must soften the Judgment OF the
country Any honor reward which his services may
claim the position in which he has been placed rem
ders seemly, will be grudged by one but let him
longer command our troops In chief French Comman-
der Chief under somewhat similar circumstances, has
been in this very campaign superseded and he returned
with true devotion and an admirable spirit to the
mand Of his division.
We win not suggest any course to General simpson or
his advisers but the nation must Immediately look to
the to provide the army In the East with
general who commands Its confidence and likely to
tain it.
II cannot be often repeated that army requires
younger statesman in either house, lawyer
on the bench, even admiral in his comfortable first
rate, may preserve his efficiency until an advanced age
for he is not under the necessity Of bodily fatigue But
the commander of an army in the field must have ply
steal strength not only for sedentay toll but for riding
walking bearing wind; rain and cold together with all
the personal dsc"mforts Of the camp and the march
These qualities are not possessed by men of the age Of
the British COMMUNICATIVE chief, who sits in ditch muf
fled up in cloak when whole army PUSHES to the as
sault Marshal Peissier wants believe, one two
years and yet his activity Is looked upon extra
ordinary BY his counymen. He brought up the
in person when General Bosquet wounded. The
great body Of the French generals far below this age
Eyre and Markham What is there to prevent the aaop
ton of sirar system in Englandl Nothing but the
military authorities at home for old acqu
the superstions for those who have served
during youth in the campaigns OF past generation.
If the nation is to preserve its rank in Europe there
must be delay In giving greater efficiency to the army
by placing over It men of adequate capacity. English
hardly appreciate how much their military reputa
ton has suffered the eyes OF the world in this
triumphant campaign. Their fame for personal courage
is high ever, but how their government should
select such for high commands, and how the
free British people should acquiesce In the choice,
are the wonder OF foreigners. The Russians say
are army of hons led on By asses. If the
country is to end this war with the reputation
Of forty years since it must be content with
the chivalry of captains and eutenans the stubborn
courage Of the Highlands and Connaugh. We have no
wish to rival allies in the number Of their troops;
content to admit that in all joint operations their
share in the tolls and glores Of the must be the
greater But what the British army has to do 1t should
be enabled to do well. Little is gained by placing
aged officer Of high standing troops keep
ing up afecation of perfect equality, II the French
from superior numbers do nearly all the work of the
seige, while the small part allotted to the English
is maired by the incspacity OF their commander
We know not whether, after appealing to
the public by their duty to their country,
it may not he descent ask them to consider the pri
yate ties which unite individual families to the brave
men whose lives depend generals judgment. But 1t
is appeal to which human nature will give, perhaps
a reader answer. By all that they owe TO the
army, which has fought SO long and so WELL by their
sympathy for those left bereaved and destitute through
the recent slaughter well by their love OF country
and honor, conure Engishmen to brook delay in
placing at the head Of their small but chivarous army
a man who make its vaor productive of something
more than an honorable disaster.