Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-07-15
and in proportion TO it4 cost. the least


effective IN the world This is the yer
dict of q rs snarkaols report wh;ch has
recently been submitted to the hous,
of commons by Clinton Dawkns. the
chairman OF n committee which ha.
been engaged in an inquiry into the
management of military affairs and
particularly the conduct of the war In
South Africa. Mr.. Dawkins Is not a
military man. but banker, eminent
for his business ability and common
sense. He is one of the partners OF
Pierpont Morgan and the manager OF
the branch of Mr. Morgan's bank in
London.
The Investigations of Mr.. Dawkins
and his committee were, therefore.
not conducted from the standpoint of
military experts, and no attempt was
made to criticise the strategic opera
tions during the Boer war. but their
work was similar to that of the com
mission, of which Gen. Granville NJ.
Dodge was chairman, that investgat-
ed the conduct of the Spanish WIZ un-
der Secretary Algs... The latter, who
happens to be in England Just now.
may read the report of the Daw<ins
committee with more interest than
anybody outside the British govern
ment because indirectly it vindoates
him and the heads of bureaus in the
war department at Washington from
the criticism they suffered If there is
any virtue in comparisons.
The British nation has been train
ed to fight. and has been universally
recognized as great military power.
while the United States was called
the Quaker nation. with no army and
no experience in raising. equpping
and handling troops for thirty-five
years. The Dawkins report makes
our management of the Spanish war
stand out like national triumph
Notwithstanding the mistakes of the
military authorities and the newspaper
criticisms they have provoked. the 10y
atty of the British people to the gov
ernment is glorious page in their
history Everybody supports the
ministry except those who would op-
pose it in any event. The liberal par
ty is practically dissolved. and with
the exception of the radicals and the
Irish members the house of lords and
the house of commons are unit In
sustaining the men who have the re
sponsibility Of the empire upon their
shoulders. II should he said also that
the criticisms of the British newspa-
pers of their own authorities are quite
as candid and much more severe than
those which We're directed at our war
Il
the Spanish war. and most of them
have been sustained by the report
of the parliamentary inquiry.
The Dawkins committee found the
British army a circumlocution office
where business was obstructed by red
tape and sealing wax and antiquated
methods. the growth of centuries
complicated and confusing. absorbed
the time and labor of the officials
The enormous correspondence abou
trihes left them neither time nor en-
ergy for the treatment of importan
problems. "The general structure o
the war department organization" th,
report saws. has been built up piece
meal, as the result Of constant changes
and compromises. Principles of ad
ministration and of business have beer
too frequently subordinated to TEN
porary eXigencies or to personal ant
political considerations"
Nothing in the report OF the Dodge
commission was half so severe con
cerning the war department of thu
United States. Nor Is the condemn
alton of the committee less complet,
in reference to the business manage
ment of the commlssary. quartermas
ter and transportation departments, II
which 1t SAYS that business principles
were consplcuOusly absent"
Sweeping reforms have been recon
mended ito put the empire on a bus
mess footing"
Many OF them are similar to those
adopted In the United States. II Is
recommended that the business admin
istration and military operations bt
separated so far as possible into three
groups, embracing policy. personne
and material For the general cir
culation and control of the army tn,
committe recommends war Office
board, consisting Of the heads Of al
the great departments. civil and mill
tary, with the secretary of state fol
war as its president. Each head o.
a department. as at Washington, is tt
be absolutely Independent in his juris
diction. but frequent consultations ar'
to be held for the purpose OF co-opera
ton. The regulations are to be sim
plified and reduced to a business ba
sis similar to the organization of {
manufacturing or mercantile estab
lishment.
The cost Of the Boer war az ! salt
In recent letter. now reaches $170,
900 900. and the statistics show tina
since 1900 England has spent $4,000.
000,0 for military purposes. Al
most necessarily for two centuries hni
this nation been engaged In iightini
other European powers or agains
barbarous and smi-civilized nations
The first of the wars in the 18th cen
tury was against the French, witt
| III.