New-York tribune., 1900-10-02
THE NEW BRITISH COMMANDER

The appointment of Lord Roberts 10 succeed
Lord Woseley as Commander-n-Chiefo of the
British Army is widely regarded as meant for
political effect. That judgment may be correct
IN minor detail The time of formally an
nouncing the appointment and of promising a
radical reform of the military administration
could not, at any rate. have been adj
vantageously chosen. 1t was at the very begin
ming of the week in which the bulk of the poll
ing for the new House of Commons is to take
place. There was just time for the nation to
be stirred to the heart with the magic of
"Bobs's" name. and to be aroused and encour-
aged with the prospect of such reorganization
of the army as will make it in all its parts COM
parable in readiness and efficiency with the
famous corps which caused the world to hear
the measured roll of English drums beat at
the gates of Kandahar"; and there was and is
not enough time for the depressing realization
10 filter through the British mind that some
thing more than a great Commander-in-Chiefi is
needed to reform the red tape bound War Office
The appointment of Lord Roberts may well
mean the gain of a number of seats for the
Government and general strengthening of Gov
ernment lines, especially IN Ireland. It's effect
upon the general military administration re-
mains to be seen.
For the fault has lain not so much in the
fashionable to blame the Duke of Cambridge
for all the faults of the army. That was grossly
unjust, for the Duke, despite his reputed con-
servatsm, was sincerely devoted to the well
fare of the army as any man could be- Rid Of
him, men said unthinkingly, the army would
speedily be raised to ideal state of efficiency
They did get rid of him, and put into his place
the man whom many had called "Englands
only general" and who certainly was one of
The ablest generals and perhaps the ablest ad-
miniStrator in the whole service The result
mas been in the South African campaign an
amount of faultfinding, deserved or undeserved
not paralleled since the wretched days Of the
Crimean War. Now some unthinkingly rail
against Lord Wolseley as having been always
greatly overrated man, and acclaim Lord Rob-
crts as the coming savior Of the army, in which
they are about as far from right as before
The fact is that Lord Wolseley undertook to
do during his administration a splendid and
much needed work, and was frustrated and
defeated by the i'll devised and illogical sys-
tenn OF organization under which the nominal
Commander-in-Chi j. made subordinate to his
own underlings, and the real control of the
army is vested in a clique of civilians who
scarcely know howitzer from hedgehog If
Lord Roberts is made Commander-in- Chief in
fact as well as in name, with full authority over
dIl coLnInlSSlOne0 O1ncerS and IN purely military
matters not subject to the whims and nterfer-
ence of civilian clerk, he will doubtless do
great work Of reform-as Lord Wolseley would
have done in such circumstances. If not his
administration will probably prove as disap-
pointing as that of his predecessor.
We have said that in the minor detail of the
time OF formal announcement the appointment
of Lore Roberts is highly advantageous to the
Government from political point of view 1t
might be unjust to conclude that the time was
chosen for that purpose. For it will not escape
attention that the day selected was Lord Rob
erts's birthday anniversary, a most fitting time
even to the most practical and unsentmental
Briton. OF the general fitness of the appoint
ment no question can be raised. Lord Wolse-
iey's term Of office has expired and the law re-
Quires the appointment of his successor. and by
universal consent the one man most worthy to
succeed him is he who for years has been the
idol of the army, and who is easily the most dis
unguished and, Judged by his achievements the
most capable and successful soldier now wear
Ing Her Majestys uniform. The appointment is
above criticism, and must command the ap
proVal of the whole British Empire with the
exception, of course. of Mr.. Labouchere. as well
as the disinterested commendation of thought.
tul observers throughout the world