Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-06
K|TcHENtR'S VICTORY
Military Party Wins in IL
dian Army Squabble.


Special Cahegrsm to The Star
SIMLA. August 5. 1913
Though there is considerable satisfaction
here In India over the fact that Lord Cur
zon and Lord Kitchener have agreed In Ger
tain recommended lions for the modification
of the new scheme OF army administrator
and though the home government has given
general approval to the arrangements which
they have suggested. the newspapers of In
dfa generally condemn the orders at first
passed by the secretary of state on the
great question of the administration of the
Indian army. and there appears to be 4
feeling that the present movement IL only
the entering wedge which will make the
government of India more military than
CIVIL All the leading journals In the
ordefs OF The secretary of state what the
Ficeroy foresaw-the riveting on the govern
ment OF India of the yoke of military au-
'ocracy' against which. In the absence OF
a more or less independent military sad-
WISER the civilian element must be power
less. Ihough the crisis In Indian affairs
may be said to have passed with the get
ing together of Lord Curzon and Lord
hitchener II is by no means certain that
the trouble may not be renewed any day
since II arises from fundamental differences
OF points OF view. Among the Anglo-In-
dian newspapers. the Times OF India The
floheer' the Englishman. the Madras Mali
ana the statesman must be counted in the
ranks of the opposition. and the Indian
Daily Telegraph alone is quoted as taking
less decided view. OF purely Indian pa
pers the Jam-i-Jam- shed and the Hindu
condemn the original arrangements In the
strongest terms. The Gujarat Punch Is al
most equally decided, while the Indian
spectator thinks that though Lord Kitcnc-
ner VIII have freer hand than before he
need not be allowed to be a despot
Kitchener Stood Alone.
boil fn,-
of India the extraordinary spectacle is wit
messed of a single member OF the supreme
government carrying through schemes
unanimously opposed by every one of his
colleagues. including the viceroy and the
military member of the council Even when
Lord Lytton overruled the majority OF his
council In the matter OF import duties on
Engnsh cotton goods he could claim the
support of the most powerful. and perhaps
Ihe abiest. OF his colleagues. Sir John
Strachey. In the present case Lord Kitche-
ner stood absolutely alone
Even where there Is tendency on the
part of the Indian press to admit that he
may possibly be right 1t is urged openly
that the decision has been arrived at not
SO much on the merits of the question as
on considerations of the military reputa-
ton of the author of the proposals. and
OF the possible results in England from
party point of view. OF his resignation
In Consequence of defeat. On Mr.. Brod-
force, and the uncompromsing terms in
which he has seen At to override the gov
eminent of India in favor of the COM
mander-in-chief are unsparingly condemn
ed Mr.. Brodrick's previous unfortunate
treatment of Sir +. Younghusband Is natu-
urally recalled. In Simla itself, where crit
icism Is necessarily more guarded than else
where, there seems TO be a general feeling
of dissatisfaction among all parties except
that surrounding army headquarters.
where, OF course. there is sense of salts
faction at Lord kitchener's victory In the
great battle.
Among the others than those who think
solely of the military side of the question,
grave doubts are felt as to the propriety of
the settlement. Lord Curzons minute the
general moderation of which cannot but be
admitted, Is held to speak not only for him
self, whose tenure of Office has but few
more months to run, but for his successors
in the high office which he has held with
such success. However much he may be-
wall the position Of ylceroy face to face
with an imperious soldier as sole adviser
regarding military schemes originated by
himself, Ford sCurzon might .be trusted to
rely upon his own judgment fortified by
six years experience in India. With others
1t may be different, especially when the
Yiceroy is newer to the country than the
commander-in-chief.
There is hardly any question. military or
civil, in India in which political consdera-
lions do not play a large part. The neces-
sity for Indian experience always exists
even in dealing with questions which on the
face of them appear to be purely military
1t has been recognized of course here in
India that the great battle fought between
the government and the commander-in-
chief has resulted in the victory of the
military party.