New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-07-23
WAR EPILOGUES.
WHY THE WEST END WANTS SOME
THING FRESH To TALK ABOUT-RE-
ORGANIZATION OF THE SERVICES

cered almost exclusively by men OF rank v,s.I.,
and fashion. and IL has not been well led 49,.
eight months Of campaigning Lord Roberts q, :.
Pretoria and Sir Redvers Butler has c1a.-..
Natal of Dutch invaders: but Generals Eo.s-
and De Wet are still in the field and ara -
Quoting guerilla warfare with brilliant s,,oo.--
and there Is a long record OF Boer arobBsc,s--
captures Of battalIons. raids on lines o. 60
munications. seizures OF guns and adroft -.
noeuvres- The two feeble republics. with 49,
unframed burghers and rough riders. have ~.
a wonderful stand against the resources % 49,
British army: and although outnumbered tws.
ty to one their commanders are stin ban,t-.
on the TANKS Of the advancing armies rai5t-s
the lines of communication. swooping down No.
isolated posts and conveys. and eluding p,,-s-t.
and capture Lord Roberts's success IN car,
ing the flag 10 Pretoria has been brilliant s-5
he has been well supported by Generals Fra,.b
Ian Hamilton. Pole-Carew. Hunter and Bade,
Powell; but South Africa has been a wall
stocked graveyard OF military regulations. ana
the prestige Of the army has suffered from n.
failures. sIuggishness. lack Of adaptability ara
general incapacity Of the officers.
There is mourning in all the great houses ov.-
relatives and friends who have been Iosr n
battle or in fever hospitals: but this is nor tbs
real explanation Of the silence prevailing -
West End circles and country houses respeetinv
the war. It is considered bad form for anv o,a
TO talk in dining room or drawing room abo,,
the war; and even clubrOoms are ernptied :,
anybody attempts to poach upon these forbidden
preserves This is because the smart sets and
the privileged classes have been tried and touBa
wanting. and because they are Inundated nv
their failures. The officers who have been or+
maneuvred and tricked by Dutch farmers Fla
Botha, De Wet and Olivier have been the d.,
and darIings OF society. and have repressBta5
the titled. wealthy and fashionable classes. oulv
one among all the generals IN the field has risss
from the ranks. and only thirty-eight private
soldiers have been promoted TO the dignity ~
officers since the opening OF the caupsiz,
Tommy Atkins has stood for the masses ana
has done his work with patience. gaIlantry and
fortitude The classes have supplied the gan
erals and officers and after nine months Of can.
paigning there is a widespread feeling that TIA
army needs to be reorganized from the bottom.
and that it must be reofhcered with fresh blood
The reconstruction Of the army was one OF the
urgent works required after the war in the
Crimea and the Indian Nutiny. but II was de-
ferred from year 10 year through the raluctancs
Of the privileged classes TO have any change
made in the system OF promotions. Officers OBJ
tanned their commissions by purchase, and pro-
motions with few exceptions were secured IN the
same way A commission when purchased BE-
came a personal asset or property. and could be
disposed Of whenever the officer was pleased TO
retire from service; and II he were rich he
could avoid the slow processes OF advancement
and buy his way from grade TO grade This
anomalous system was one Of the vested inter-
ests Of the aristocratic class. and reform meas
ures were obstructed in the House OF Lords as
the stronghold OF privilege. Mr.. Gladstone BE-
gan by introducing a complex scheme OF army
reorganization. and ended by retaining only
those clauses relating 10 the abolition OF pu--
chase. Under these conditions the Lords hung
up the bill under the pretext that the complete
scheme must be laid before it. Mr. Gladstone
astonished the country by having recourse TO
the prerogative OF the Crown and canceling The
royal warrant by which purchase OF comns-
sions was Iegalized. II was an audacIous stroke
by which a most iniquitous system OF trading in
commissions was abolished without the aid Of
Parliament
The classes have retained their control over
the army, Notwithstanding the loss OF their
vested interests in commissions. The army has
been the favorite calling OF the younger sons q
dukes and earls, and the Guards and other
privileged bodies of soldiers have been ohcersd
almost exclusively by men OF rank and fashion
During the present campaign the Aldershot So
with its powerful social supports. has been con
victed of incapacity- II failed 10 forecast ne
magnitude of the struggle. started with an n
fantry army when an immense mounted fores
was needed; scattered its battalions and d
lowed itself to be outmanpuvred and hlocSsl
in three fields OF operations. and has been idsn-
titled with frontal attacks. bad strategy. an
buscades, captures of battaIiOns and sTsai
many unpleasant and discreditable epls'cs~
Even when the heaven sent General had been
found and the campaign had been transtorms4
from defeat to victory. there was blunderns %
the TANKS and in the rear, and cumulative e'-
dence of defective training and lack or praei'A
intelligence among the petted and spoiled aA-
lings of society. II is not strange that she sna'
sets have dropped the war as a duh and aSf
greeabIe subject.
There are some acrid rnorausts who are asa
ing for proofs respecting the capacity anu
cheney Of the naval officers. What reAS'N
they ask. lis there for thinking that the 10"
would come out with more credit than me a.
has done If it were subjected 10 suple-
test? The fleet is Offered TO large extern
the privileged classes, and there may 'e
many serious defects in the training OF H.
officers as those which have been broushl
light in the military service These cr0aAs
appear TO be borrowing trouble unnecesSAlS'
The army rather than the navy has been =
favorite profession OF the carpet knights y. :
world of fashion. The naval officers nave -
constantly at sea; they have been worAlAs
steadily the problems OF modern warfare =
sea power; and they have not been consp'-.
figures in West End drawing rooms and Gun.
houses. Unlike the army officers. they nav.
been ashamed of talking shop but nave
deeply interested in their profession
hearts have been in their work and not = -
recreations Of smart society The adap'A',-t
OF the officers when a sudden emergency