Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-22

fashionable. will almost surely become
commander-in-chief of the British army
on October 81, when Lord Wolseley's five
year term expires-or soon thereafter as
he leave his present engagement in
South Africa. If the Beers not well in
hand by November /, the date now set for
the practical end of the war, it is intended
to prolOng Lord Wolseiey's term for a
month or six months, the may be.
so that Lord Roberts shall find the seat
warm.
WOIseIey Really Tried.
One result of this move will be that Lord
Roberts salary will go up with a jump
from $4,000 a year to 500, JO0-only So, 500
less than If he were secretary for war. An
other result is likely to be shaking of
dry bones at the British office.
What e does not know O. war,
You can arst the shop next door
Can they, Bobs?
Oh. e's little. but e's wise;
'E's terror for Is size.
An 'e-dOes- nOt-advertiSe-
Do yer. Bobs!
But although "Bobs" is terror for his
size, the chances are that he would not
have made much more Roadway against the
red tape of the war office than had Lord
Wolseley If he had become commander-in-
chief five years ago. The gallant Wolseley
was put in with great popular hope That he
would stir up things, and he went at 1t
bravely. He was going to turn out of their
comfortable berths a lot Of officials whose
only qualification was a society pull; he
was going to put in the empty places men
who really knew something about the needs
of the army and sufficient energy to accom-
plish something; he was going to cut off
lot Of heads that had no brains in them
leave the useless places empty and save
that much money for the government: he
was going to reduce the power Of the civil
ian and Of the war office up In the Pail
Mall and was going to see to 1t that the
army end of the concern down al the Horse
Guards had something to say about purely
military affairs.
Got Himself Disliked
And thereby Lord Wolseley merely got
himself disliked The secretary Of state for
war, the Marquis of Lansdowne knew far
better what was suitable and becoming in
fashionable department than Lord WoIse-
ley did. The marquis had been an under
secretary in the department long before he
became its head. His wife, a daughter of
the Duke of Abercorn. was one of the most
exclusive hostesses in London society His
father and his grandfather had been of per-
sonal service to the queen. His friends
and his wife's friends and the queens
friends friends were all interested in the
social success Of the department. and TO
have some of the biuest blood in the place
spilled by an ambitious fighting man whose
father was mere major and whose wife
was simply the daughter of Mr. A. Erskine
was not "convenable," CONNIE il faut' or
de rigueuer."
came to sudden end. His suggestions
were not approved, and without the war
minister's approval he found he could do
precious little, even in matters that per-
ldihed exciuslVely 10 the army and not at
all to the civilian end of the wal depart-
ment Public opinion was not much CON
cerned with the army, and 1t appeared that
there was no good making a row. So little
Inv no IL
down to his routine; red tape bound itself
about him and he proceeded to make the
best of a bad situation, like the wise old
general he was.
A Pretty Plan.
1t Is now pretty we'll known that Lord
Wolseleys only important appointment for
the Transvaal war was that of Sir Redyers
Butler. The communicative is re-
ported to have said when the war broke out
that the Beers could easily be disposed Of
with $4,000 men. Butler was to wipe them
out in month or two and then come back
covered with glory and loaded with honors
If public opinion should oppose the appoint
ment of the Duke Of Connaught, Butler,
being a popular hero. would get the lob
when Wolseley stepped out, Lord Roberts
being a back number and too old to take
the place to which he might suppose him.
self residuary legatee. Red tape was not
such a bad thing after all.
fut II QlQu tnat way. A cab
met war council suddenly met and ap-
pointed Lord Roberts to supersede General
Butler, and it Is said that the commander
in-chief knew nothing about 1t until he
read the news next day in the morning
paper. "Bobs" went down, brought order
out of chaos. became a popular hero and is
coming back presently with public opinion
behind him and the post Of COMMANDMENT
chief waiting for him.
VIII the fact that he is backed by public
interest enable him to succeed where
Wolseley failed? The question Is Of inter-
national interest. for 1t affects the whole
standing Of the British army, and it will as
sumo a tremendous Importance II the long
predicted war with France breaks out this
fall,
A keen and thoughtful politician of rather
radical tendencies says, In answer to my
question, that IL Lord Lansdowne remains In
office not even "Bobs'' can do much as
commander-in-chief HE could effect a few
reforms of course but the tremendous old
system would eventually swamp him."
New Secretary Needed.
But 1t IN not at all likely that Lord Lans-
downe will remain In office. although his
party Is almost certain to be returned to
power at the approaching general elections.
1t IL said that he II not really anxious to re-
| main In the place. and even II he were the
government wouldn't dare to keep him. He
In mt ramon atfa1n fnys khn rad tann IN, thn