New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-14
WAR OFFICE REFORM.
With Parallels and Contrasts b
t5ceen England and America.
London. September s.

/ areF That exclamati ton from one OF the prons
est spirited Englishmen IN the kingdom. smart
ING under sense OF humiliation produced h,
Puoic discussion OF the War COmrnissior',
report reveals the state Of irritation and exas-
| peration now existing Yet dare saw thai 4s.
angry Briton voted without a single r,isui,,,-
I ior the Unionist Government when a persr,l
election was prematureIy ordered aftsr ~ -.
patton Of Pretoria and the fight OF Preside.
| KRUGER from the TransvaaI; and when h a.,
| so IL must have been with the convictio, a.
| ministers had entered upon a costly and bf,btu
hazardous war when the country was unp-.-
/ pared for Il. and that misuanagement Ia.
characterized every branch OF the military sa~
vice The damaging proofs OF official fnap.s,rs.
and ineficiency are more conclusive Uhs, 81.
Is a thick blue book filed with tssti-,on,, a, :.
sponsible witnesses but the bad work VA. ,s,.
/ putable and fragrant when the army corps vyb,.,
/ was TO go anywhere and do anything VA, -
4 iessly blocked at COlenso and Nfarers,,,...-
three months after the declaration OF war w.
Information respecting the lack OF maps. INT
IOIIhs' rihes' artillery. cartridges. ammunition
/ horses and medicine may be more urecfss -,
/ the publication Of the commissions report. hr.
when Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener w..
/ dispatched TO the Cape after the dsn1o-,b1. "a
aster OF December. 1892 il was eviden, a.,
everybody at the War OfTce and al heaaop,--
/ ters IN London. as well In South Africa 80
Numbered. and that a crisis had been bro,,,s.
about in the fortunes OF the empire through So,
/ mtscaleuiations and Incompetence and utter H.
Of preparation for war
The War Commission has supplied s..,r.
With cumulative effect but the essential 80
| was known when the last general elections -.
| held Why then. have the disclosures p-o,4roa5
profound feeling OF dismay and hopelsssn.s,,
obviously 1t is because the country IS con,-,nrs5
that the military administration is quit. a. a
fecttve as II was; that officials have not proatsa
by a humil'ating national experiences. ana .b.+
| the empire. apart from sea power, Is as unprs-
pared for war "a II was when either the Criusa,
| campaign or the South African conflict was an
tered upon. II Is this consciousness OF wastss
opportunity that whips the Indignant Rr,to,
| into a prtckly state Of indignation when Mr.
BrOdrick's futile scheme OF creating six army
corps on paper is mentioned. He reads the .v1-
dence taken by the commission. and "a con-
WINGED that the government has been abusing
his confidence by making hollow pretencs OF
army reform and by neglectirg to place the en-
pire in a proper state Of defence He knows
that the evils OF divided responsibility. political
and social influence and complexity OF organiza-
| tion remain. and that Mr.. BrOdrck's schsrs OF
army reorganization is a pretentiOus sham
which does not involve rational preparation for
war. The nation Is heavily taxed for military
expenditures in time Of peace. but there is no as
surance that in another suprsms emergency the
army will be IN readiness for war John Bull Is
not getting his moneys worth, and knows It.
Consequently he is IN a bad temper. and insists
upon having the War Ofics reformed and the
military administration conducted on business
principles.
The Admiralty offers strong contrast 20 the
War Office IN unity OF direction and efficiency
OF management. The British Navy Is governed
by board OF SIX members. who have eo-or-
dinate functions and responsibilities There are
two civilians; the First Lord, who Is a mem
Der Of the Cabinet and chairman OF the Board OF
Admiralty. and the Civil Lord. who Is a mem
Der Of Parliament The remaining four mem
bers are naval lords, who picked men and
veterans Of the service. The chairman can be
outvoted by his associates. and the business OF
the department is conducted by a majority OF
the board. The navy is virtually self-sovern-
ing body. with civilians TO represent II IN the
Cabinet and IN Parliament. The four naval
lords are in readiness to give the best profess
sional advice based upon practical knowledge.
of the requirements OF the service Parliament
arv control over expenditures and policies Is
secured but the ordinary routine and discipline
are maintained on business principles. and the
Admiralty with It's majority made Up OF sea
Ids "a never without the best technical ad-
vice. There are reformers. who advocate the
renodeIling OF the War Office on Admiralty
lines. but they are embarrassed BY the necessary
for aboIishing the Office OF commander IN cnieI'
and are not prepared to recommend the German
4syfcA OF restricting the functions OF the MIN
,star Of War 10 financial administration ana OF
making the Chief OF staff responsible to the
procedure WOQlQ
,,ev,tabIy be incompatible with the principis
q, Parliamentary control and would place the
gins and the Chief OF STAFF IN supreme com
r,s,d og the military forces. 10 would not n
vo1ve the reproduction Of the Admiralty rne-nou
Of governing the navy by a board OK SIX H'si'-
bers having coordinate powers, -,
7ba American system. recently introduces
nv Secretary Root. with the hearty approval u
the army. may provide a useful preeeuei' 20
the reform OF the War once here. IL DISPENSE
with the services Of COMMANDER III oN''-
creates a general STAFF with recognizes nee
and leaves the Secretary for War Tespoi''i'
20 the President for the details OF mii'1aIy a.
,,,,is+ration. II cannot be doubted that
measure OF this kind would impart uhltS -
efsciency 20 the work Of the War once he
ct,,,,,a, head would have the best technical al
vice for the chief Of star would have tne a.
sistanca OF forty or more trained men, repre-
senting every branch OF the service ana M ~
,vouId be the fullest means % consultation W.
military authorities. and a minimum OF rea q q.
and bureau routine. At the same time ths pr
clnIe OF Parliamentary control over H l'''
sxpendltures and policy would be riso1O-ss
maintained Whether this procedure ~
be preferable 10 close reproduction o.
admiralty system Is an open question It -.
tainIv would be a vast Improvements upon -
Brodrick's inept War once Council. anu a.
upon Mr. BalfOur's clumsy Cabinet Coi'''''