New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-05

sugurating the radical changes recommended By
the commission 10 be enforced at onoe by virtue
OF a royal warrant signed By the King. instead OF
by legislative vote after prolonged parliamentary
discussion.
The ofice OF commander in chief has really only
sEbslsied since the days OF the lunacy OF KING
George II. when the government OF the DAY was
anxious to restrict much possible the powers
OF the then Prince % Wales Regent IT'S
financial necessities we're such that he was in con-
slant negotiation with the House OF Commons Tor
the purpose OF obtaining further remittances and
was therefore not In position TO make any hgn'
for RS preroEatives. The same conditions con
tnued after his accession TO the throne as kine
George ". His brother, William ~. popularity
known SILLY BiHy.' d!d not think It worth
while 20 make any change during his short reign
and when Victoria succeeded 70 the crown her sex
rendered IL polite and reasonable 20 continue the
then existing arrangement
Ever since Edward VII has become King he has
had IN view the recovery OF the command in cher
% the army but without exciting any angry dis
cussion IN Parliament which from the days or
King Charles / has always been Jealous OF the
prerogatiye OF the sovereign In this respect In
fact ever since the establishment of the Office OF
commander ir chef there has always been q Gues-
ton as 10 whether he was primarily responsible TO
or 10 Parliament. and OF late years the ten
dency has certainly been 20 subordinate him to the
Secretary OF state for War. and consequently TO
the national legislature.
The King has now put an END 20 this by abolish
ing with stroke Of his pen the once OF com
mnnder IN chief and by substituting FOR the present
system at the War Department organization
almost identical with that OF the Admiralty. And
in order 20 emphasize his rights n the matter the
monarch instead OF referring the AFFAIR 20 PaTa-
meut. has cTectec the changes by means of
royal warrant. against the OF which there is
likely % be as uttle popular opposition sc on the
occasion when Il was last employed by Queen Vic
toria &c abolish the system OF the purchase Of
commissions in the army. Every is satisfied
reeEg reform and that
Il r. skn to an Augean stable. The idea 10 place
Il the lines tie Admiralty, universally
recognized the most succcssfil Of all branches
Of the government adnlri strat:on commends Itself
every That the King should assume the
responsibility for this change after Parliament has
tinke7ed In vain With the problem o. War Depart
meat reform for hfty wears with the result Of in
yariably making things worse than they were
before. Is likely % excite 40 protest.
The monarch virtually resumes the corn-nandershp
In chief cf the army ia tie same manner as he
holds that o. tire navy, and the new Office OF the
inspector general q the army is TO be filed by the
Kings brother. the Duke OF CornauEht whose duty
VIII b. to report tho efficiency OF the forces.
alone the War Department but to the
sovereign. who viii promptly call the department
TO unless the recommendations OF the in
spector general receive attention. II may be re-
mernbered that Lord Wolscley complained Bitterly
that While commander In chief his protest. and h!s
warnings were ignored by the Secretary OF state
for War. and that ne had no means OF appealing
70 Parliament. 10 the public or TO the crown In
the matter. the limitations Of his once requiring
that ali his dealings The subject Of military
matters. both with the monarch and with Parla-
ment. should paes through the Secretary OF State
/ Tor War, whose subordinate he was. and with
whom he wss AZ odds There viii be no further
possibility o. any such trouble under the rev ar
4 -auce-1eat Tor The Inspector general vii be
re.norgible not alone 10 the department but also
! 70 the monarch to whom he owes his appointment
4 ard the creation 81 his Office.
! There II not the slightest possibility OF Lord
Robots being appointed frst Inspector general
I Although a gallant onlcer and successful com
1 nander IN the Seid. he has been lamenta5e FAIL
ure as commander in chief. and the reform com
mission makes strong point a urging the sp-
pointnent o. entirely men who have not
1 hitherto teen closely connected with existing
methods at the War Department. ard who are
therefore. not likely TO be eanbsrraPsed by tradi-
lions OF system Witch = 20 - radically changed"
MARQUIsE DE FONTENOY.