New-York tribune., 1900-12-30

! HALF CENTURY OF ACADEMY
PICTURESQUE BYRON LET
TERs TO BE UNsEALED.
Copyright; 1900: BY The New-York Tribunal
/ [BY CABLE TO THE TEIsUyE.I
London. Dec. 29-1IoraIists with century as
| we'll year behind them are making week
| of it, Everything is reviewed. from finance to
/ football, and pessimism is the prevailing note.
| The English Diogenes at the close OF the year
may find honest man. out not an oprimst.
| The English are the severest critics Of their
own shortcomings. and expose themselves with
stark naked candor. The impression created by
/ columns of croaking and foreboding is that
/ everything is going wrong. that the South
| African War has been bungled from first TO
| last. that British prestige has been impaired.
/ that the finances of the campaign have been
i badly managed, that the Government has been
| compelled to borrow money at rates nobody
would have believed likely that the Americans
| and the Germans are taking away a large por-
| ton of EngIands foreign trade. that the conn-
| try is wofully behind other nations in mechani-
cal invention and electrical enterprise. and that
| everybody, in the slang of the day. needs TO
| "buck up at the opening OF the new year and
| the century. The chorus of grumbling and
croaking is the characteristic refrain of ma
ton of faultinders at the dawn OF
4 III ISdlAlS every E4u6AASuAldA hhONS Ihdl tIG
Empire never stronger than it is at this
moment. with the loyalty Of the colonies in
vigOrated, and imperial interests centred, and
that while competition is steadily increasing in
foreign commerce, home trade never better
nor the financial stability Of the country more
certain. While the is stin dragging on. the
Dutch governments have been overthrown be-
yond a chance Of restoration. and the richie :
gold fields in the world have been conquer
and brought under tribute to British prosperity.
The most controversial question at the close OF
the year is the real stronghold Of military ad-
ministration. The Duke of Cambridge was for
a long period COmmander-in-C Chief of the Brit
ish Army, with almost autocratic power over its
officers. When he reluctantly retired Lord
Wolseley entered headquarters as a reformer.
but a civilian Secretary Of War in reality took
command of the army. Lord WoIseley has gone
out and Lord Roberts is coming in. but II is not
yet clear whether Mr.. Brodrick intends to re-
lax his civilian grip upon the service. The recall
of Sir Henry Colvile to London and the resigna-
tion Of Colonel Spragge indicate that the new
Secretary of War considers himself responsible
for the enforcement OF discipline among
officers and does not intend to shirk his
duties. Two officers who we're apparently ex-
onerated by his predecessor are now forced
to abandon their posts, and he has de-
clared that there are others whose conduct IN
the field is to be investigated The fact that Sir
Henry Colvile is guards general and is
strongly supported at Court renders Mr.. Brod-
rick's assumption of supreme authority more
significant Sir Henry COlvile upon his return
can demand military inquiry. but Mr.. Brodrick
can refuse to grant it, and by all precedents
and rules of the service the General will have
no chance of defending himself 1t is probable
that Colonel Broadwood will be dealt with. and
possibly Colonel Clements WELL for his share
of responsibility for the recent reverse in the
TransvaaL A point which interests military
men is whether Lord Roberts as Commander
in-Chief will be left under the thumb Of the
Secretary of War as Lord Wolseley was, or
whether Mr.. Brodrick, with the House OF Com
mons behind him. will assume the responsibility
for making and unmaking military regulations
as well as reforming the entire administration
of the army. The Queen is generally believed
to hold strong views of her own respecting the
command of the army. She considers the
services Of some member of the royal
family necessary. and would be well pleased IL
the Duke of Connaught were made Adjutant-
General and placed in the line of succession to
Lord Roberts. This is Objectionable from Par
liamentary point Of view. since the frank dis
cussion of military affairs is impossible when a
member of the royal family is the Commander
in-Chief.
Veterans in the service are more deeply con-
cerned with reform Of officers than reform 81
system. They take 1t for granted that lanceS
and other antiquated weapons will be aban-
doned, that mounted infantry will be brought
in on a large scale, that the artillery will be
improved and that the art of intrenching will
be mastered by the common soldiers. What they
consider of paramount Importance is the dis
missaI from the army Of incompetent officers.
who may be the pets of society and favOrites
of the titled class. but who are not leaders OF
men experts in the methods of modern war
fare. II the British officers in South Africa had
been conspicuous not only for courage but also
for foresight. adaptability. discretion and prac-
teal sense. there would have been fewer mishaps
and failures The best ally of the Beers has
been the pampered and hattered carpet knieht
in the field. who always ready to ride with
pluck and dash to his death, but never prepared
to learn anything. There is a general and wen
informed opinion that CoIenso. Sannas Post and
other battles OF the war lost at AIdershot
and in the English barracks. where high placed
officers had won their commissions through Ia
voritism and had fattened on the idea that il
was unnecessary for men of superior social in
fiuence to know the business OF war.
The most significant feature of the monetary
situation is the shrinkage OF the reserve in the
Bank OF England. Old fashioned bankers have
shaken their heads grimly over the reduction OF
the resources of the bank and the ability OF
American, French and German capitalists 10
subject the financial system here to a severe
strain but the man in the street has not been
alarmed. for he has know that the bankers OF
all great money centres support one another
The banks reserve viii naturally be increased
during the next two months. but there win in
evitably be another shrinkage at the end OF