The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-08-06
How Promotions in the Brit
ish Army Are ut Present
Obtained.
The Whole System Of Civil and Mill
tary Promotion a Delu-
sive One.
Aristocratic Youths Pushed Ahead
of Veterans---General For
eign News,

IoNpoS. Aug. 5.
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, Il is still retained IN the hands OF
the aristocracy by methods that would give
points TO an American politician. For i'm
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 aristocratic families who
enlisted with the understanding and sub
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
vsrsities. The fact is that the whole sys-
tenn of civil aud military promotion IN
England Is delusive. While competition
is nominally open to every class, conditions
are attached which practically conhns APP
pointments to the upper orders.
The condition OF the British army and
navy is Of much Importance iust now when
history is repeating itself in the east.
Armenia is another Bulgaria, and as Turk
ish atrocities in Bulgaria we're the pretsxt
for the Russo Turkish war, so the out"
RACES in Armenia may give another pre-
text 10 Russia for interference in the al
fairs of the sultan's domain. The Turk
seems 10 learn nothing by experience. All
that the christian subjects OF Turkey ask
is decent government. AS il Ii they are
victimized In such an fnhuman manner
that the better sentiment even OF England
is aroused In favor OF the oppressed popu-
lations and the czar In enabled 10 pose rs
the champion Of humanity IN carrying out
his schemes OF aggression. The story OF
| the Armenian atrocities is only beginning
10 be told. The christian population of
Erxeroum is waiiing, not alone for fathers
ana hzothers slain, but foE wives and
| daughters missing. Since the day OF fhs
1 terrible massacre scores Of Armenian women
| have disappeared and there is no doubs
that they are prisoners in Turkish harems.
| Among the Russian forces on ths Asiatic
frontier are several Armenian regiments,
and IL Is reported that the men are uild
with ardor to march against the Turks.
Bulgaria has: offered TO sustain Turkey
with 81, 900 men in the event OF war.
A meeting of the members of parliament
interested in the condition of Armenia VA
held Ia the conference rooms OF the houss
of commons. From the information tina
reaches here from Constantinople It n
learned that meters ara fast assuming
critical complexion. War material is CON
stantly pouring into Batoum by night a
we'll as by day, and Clifford Lloyd, Britisl
consul general at ErTsroum, has tels
graphsd TO the British embassy ct Con
stansinople that the Turkish garrisons II
Armenia should be strengthened. Brig
andage all over the Turkish empire has ex
tended TO an alarming extent. IL arise
from the visibly increasing poverty OF th
masses OF the population. In the imme
diate vicinity OF Constantinople brigand
J havJ made their appearance Ia stronI
bands and carried of several eapstTes'
Most distressing accounts come fror
saIonica, where, in three of the districts
the harvest Is total loss, no rain haviaI
} fallen in fourteen months. The conse
} auen6e is general destitusion and want. 4
is estimated that nearly 100000 person
will have 10 be furnished with the mean
of subsistence until next harvest and tn
necessary seed for their next sowing. On
less immediate measures are taken 10 re
|, lieye the people the country viii be give
over to anarchy and disease, which may
turned to political account.