The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-12-19
THE BRITISH WAR OFFICE.

Unlike Charles Lamb, war officials do ,Aot sigh for the sweet shady side of Pail Mall" and probably the whole staff could scarcely muster among them single pang of regret at moving from the old offices into the magnih- cent new building in Parliament street. Buckingham House. as the old mansion which is now being deserted is called, may have been all very well as the headquarters of the Tory party in the days of the struggle between Pitt and Fox; 1t may, no doubt, have served well enough when the secretary for war had only just become separate entity in the administration, but as years advanced it grew gradually more inconvenient as to it's architectural dis position, and more uncomfortable as to it's powers of accommodation. From being positively crowded 1t became con- gested, and the staff and their concom- itant office paraphernalia overflowed In various stages to 2S Pail Mall Win chester house, Cleveland house, St. James Square and No. 6S Victoria street. Tn the first named building, which Is opposite the main office, are housed part of the quartermaster-gen erals office and that which deals with contracts, while No. 6S Victoria street is the medical department
 The work of moving is really a gi- gantic affair, and now that it is in full swing the whole of the contents of the building, from the dustiest bundle of archives to the smartest young clerk, may without any stretch of the imagi- nation, be pictured expressing in their various ways the words of that popular music hall song, Its Moving Day" Let 1t be understood, however, that the war office does not undertake to move itsef-at least so far as it's in- animate objects are concerned. Among its other duties, the office of works per- forms what may be styled that of re- mover to the government departments, and it has been relegated the task of devising the best means of conveying the contents of the various branches of the war office to their new home. The valuable old Adams fireplaces were re- moved some time ago and fitted up in incest rooms of the Parliament street building. Tons-literally tons-of pa pers and books have to be removed, and these are being taken, as far as possible, as rooms are got ready for them. It is not quite certain when the clerical establishment will begin to move, but it will probably be about the middle of November All the old office furniture will be used in the new prem- lses, and the depletion will begin at the main building A removal on such large scale has never taken place in the history of government departments.
 Probably the only person or thing to whom the departure is a serious matter is the statue of sidney Herbert" as Lord Herbert of Lea is known, which stands in the little courtyard of the present main building, and will be re- moved to the center of the quadrangle ing figure, which has the appearance of pondering with some satisfaction over the good work he did for the army medical service during his labors at the war office, will practically have to be uprooted. The soil beneath the granite pedestal is already being re- moved. a protecting case is even now being erected, and soon the thoughtful simulacrum will be ignominiously carted away to continue it's musings amid more splendid, if less historic, surroundings.-Lon Globe