The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-08
COUNTS NOT.
HOW BRITISH ARMY PROMO
TIONS ARE MADE.

h Whole System OF Civil and Military
Promotion a Delusive One-Aristocratic
Youths Pushed Ahead of Veterans
General Foreign News.
Recent debate in parliament on the army
estimates has brought out some interest
ing facts. Although promotion in the
British army is no longer obtained by pur-
chase, it is still retained IN the hands of
the aristocracy by methods that would give
points to an American politician. For in
stance, during the past year some twenty
promotions to the rank of commissioned
officer was made from among the enlisted
men. This seemed all very good and en-
couraging on the surface, but inquiry
shows that all these twenty officers are
young men of arlstocratic families who
enlisted with the understanding and SUBJ
~stantially the promise that, after a brief
period in the ranks, they would be pro-
noted. This is not very stimulating to
veterans who find themselves put under
The orders of callow youths from the uni
versities. The fact is that the whole sys-
;em of civil and military promotion in
England is delusive. While competition
is nominally open to every class, conditions
are attached which practically confne ap-
pointments to the upper orders.
The condition of the British army and
navy is of much Importance just now when
history is repeating itself in the east.
Armenia is another Bulgaria, and as Turk
ish atrocities in Bulgaria were the pretext
| for the Russo Turkish war, so the out
RACES in Armenia may give another pre-
text to Russia for interference in the af-
fairs of the sultan's domain. The Turk
seems to learn nothing by experience. All
that the christian subjects of Turkey ask
is decent government. As it is they ore
victimized in such an inhuman manner
that the better sentiment even of England
is aroused in favor OF the oppressed popu-
lations aud The ear is enabled to pose as
the champion Of humanity in carrying out
his schemes of aggression. The story Of
the Armenian atrocities is only beginning
to be told. The christian population o.
Erzeroum is wailing, not alone for fathers
and brothers slain, but for wives ant
daughters missing. Since the day of the
terrible massacre scores of Armenian womer
awe disappeared and there is no doubI
that they are prisoners in Turkish harems
Among the Russian forces on the Asiatie
frontier are several Armenian regiments
and it is reported that the men are wilt
with ardor to march against the Turks
Bulgaria has offered to sustain Turkey
with 50, 900 men in the event of war.
A meeting of the members of parliament
interested in the condition of Armenia was
held in the conference rooms of the house
of conmons. From the information thai
reaches here from Constantinople it is
learned that matters are fast assuming q
critical complexion. War material is con-
stantly pouring into Batoum by night as
we'll as by day, and Clifford Lloyd, British
consul general at Erzeroum, has tele-
graphed to the British embassy at Con-
stantinople that the Turkish garrisons in
should be strengthened. Brig
andage all over the Turkish empire has ex-
tended to an alarming extent. It arises
from the visibly increasing poverty of the
of the population. In the imme-
date vicinity OF Constantinople brigands
havo made their appearance in strong
bands and carried off several captives.
Most distressing accounts come from
Salonica, where, in three Of the districts,
tho harvest is a total loss, no rain having
fallen in fourteen months. The conse-
auence is general restitution and want. 1t
is estimated that nearly 100, 900 persons
will have to be furnished with the means
OF Subsistence until next harvest and tn
necessary seed for their next sowing. I'm
less immediate measures are taken to re
lieve the people the country will be give
over to anarchy and disease, which may b
turned to political account.