Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-06
WARM FIeHT ON KITCHENER
ComnRnder-in-ChIef said 20 ride
RouRh shOd over Native
Preiudicea.

CALCUTTA, May 5.--(specal Cablegraiu
to The Bella series of attacks has re-
Gently been made upon Lord Kitcheners
administration In india The sum and sub
stance OF the attacks referred to Is that
Lord Kitchener is riding rough-shod over
native susceptbilities and religious preju-
dices and so estranging the native army.
1t is claimed on behalf of the commander
in-chief that while he may not possess the
charm of manner which endeared Lord
Roberts to privates and sepovs alike he IL
nevertheless trusted implicitly by both Eng
lish and native troops in India Reorgan-
ization of the army has undoubtedly Gre
ated difficulties. but everywhere 1t is rec
ognized that Lord Kitcheners EFFORTS are
in the interest Of efficiency and mobility
Contrary to widely circulated statements
recruiting difficulties, it is asserted by ad-
mirers Of Lord Kitchener, are practically
nonexistent
Bus the controversy IL raging fierceiy
from one end of the country to the other
Lord Kitcheners critics have not been con-
tent to reiterate without any fresh at
tempt to justify the well-known allegation
that recent changes have tended to
strengthen the military as against the civil
power. The commander -in-chief is pictured
as grasping eagerly at military autocracy
1t is also insinuated that Lord KItcheners
personal bearing toward native officers is
deficient in courtesy and lacking in the
spirit Of good fellowship. But the friends
of the commander-in-chief are pointing
with pride to the fact that at the maneu-
vers at Rawal Pindi Lord Kitchener con-
stantly visited the various brigade camps
and manifested an intense personal interest
In every section and branch of his COM
mand.
1t is also asserted that an IMPRESSION ex-
lists that the commander-in-chief regards
the peculiar customs and traditions of the
native regiments with Impotence and that
various suggestions emanating from head
quarters have tended Ito arouse appre-
tensions Of far-reaching changes in army
organization"
One Of Lord Kitchener's soldier admirers
calls attention to the fact that IL is al
ways surmises and differences and insjn-
nations as to what may happen in the fu-
ture that are dealt with by the opponents
of the commander-in-chief, not the things
accomplished by the man himself The
fact that there is scarcity OF recruits is
explained on the ground that there are GER
tain districts where the increase OF aRri.
| cultural prosperity enables the tiller OF the
ground 20 earn larger profits than I'm former
years when the regular pay of the soldier
was wont to offer greater attraction than
the slender and uncertain pittance deriv-
able from the soil And it is argued il
from this same cause soldiers are less
willing to re-engage there is at least the
counter advantage of the greater prosperity
of the Indian empire.
IL is brought as charge against Lord
| Kitchener that his policy of forming fresh
camps of exercise and Of multiplying train
| ing maneuvers shows an unfeeling disre-
| gard for the native soldier for whom these
| things mean a severe drain on his nav
in making good the extra wear and tear
OF his uniform and equipment Even the
critic himself does not venture to deny
that the more strenuous training is neces-
sary to Keep the Indian army efficient
according 10 modern standards The fact
is that Lord Kitchener is most anxious
that the government should sanction some
measure by which the native soldier may be
reimbursed his additional expenditure That
this object was not carried out long ago
is largely due to the delay in settling the
main question Of army administration.
| CRITICISM has been leveiied at the COM
| mander-in-chief for certain observations he
! rs stated to have made as far back as the
! coronation durbar OF 1908 The accusation
is that being devoid of Indian experience
Lord Kitchener brought his views of army
| reform ready made" with him from Eng
land. On behalf OF Lord Kitchener Il is
claimed that there are certain great funda-
mental principles which underlie all milf
/ tary efficiency, whatever be the special cir
cumstance of time or place. II is asserted
mat 1t needed no special Indian experience
10 justify Lord Kitchener in declaring that
the army should be, not means of pleas
ant recreation for those who have made
soldering profession. but an eficient
machine equipped at all points-that IL
should he prepared, not for the mere rou-
| tine of peace, but for the more serious
business of war.
This will give some idea of the con-
troversy which has been raging during the
last Few days-a controversy which re-
minds one OF the palmy days OF Lord Cur
Ioh' 30 far It must be admitted that the
partisans OF the commander-in-chief have A
| shade the better of the controvars,,