New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-24
TIE BRITISH STAFF
40 a Proof That Disumom~,
Not Coming Prsmat,rsh
London SSus,-<

"s' 80 80 '1so1'Sos oh miit1rism d,s,-
Hsne needs more oratoria. fsrvor even -
tns Versa1ns NE. sryan commands rhs R,,,sS
Frlne minister Is In ths right attitude ,ov..s
ana - anxious 70 set good example "a, -
peace conferences at The Hague: bu, rs~ns
omy implies increased efficiency. ar-nar. sa-
come steadily more formidable ana $50
peace remains a cuckoo song. plsa..r. Ms
Gar. but with hollow note OF rnock.--, -
construction OF oattleships Is a vs.s -vss
when the Dreadnought now undsrxoI,. .-.-'
Is an experimental ship with turbine .,x,..
unique battery; but II the claim, =, - .a'
signers ara justified the present lea, 80
ing millions upon millions IN sxuend,,-.-
Be obsolete. ana there VIII be utcls I,.. ~.
revolution In naval construction throuxhor. -
maritime world Mr.. Haldans at ras Wa =.
fee. has started out with the idea Of r.srus,-
q the number OF oattalions IN the rexula- -.
and OF cutting down the cost OF the uil,,a-,
tablishment; Jet the men nomfnaIiy di.b.,..1
will remain In service TO stifrsn dsplstaa 49,
mands. and with thu militia liable scr ,,...-
service there viii be larger sxpedltionarv 49,.
/ available for emergencies There viii pa ~.
strength In the bow. whether cheapnss. n. -
cured or not; and there win bs more tr.,n.1 -
teliisencs IN directing the deadlisr srrovx 4, =.
CULVER. Mr.. Haldane. while LEADING n.r,..
Of a Radical Ministry. committed 20 r.sr.rOs-
ment and reform, looks 70 Berlin for inzn,-,..-
In the art OF war. Disarmament nay b IN ~.
with humane civilization and progress I'm, ".
Haldane considers It necessary for The sr,-,s
army 20 have a thoroughly efficient general ,.r
organized on war basis and trained for .h.,.
aufrec>snts Of blood and iron"
The Esher committee which. under susou,,.-
ment from King Edward. proposed ss.ls, !,
comprehensive reforms IN military aarnin,,,-s-
ton. cleared the ground by abolishlng tia a.,
OF commander in chief creating an arrny ,ou,.
ell similar to the Board OF Admiralty ana ,r.,.
forming Cabinet COMMITTEES OF defence inn !,
hybrid body with permanent military and naval
advisers. II also recommended the formation ~
a general staff on Continental lines but cOD.
coded the necessity for caution and deiiberaton
in effecting so important a change IN method
In America. when Secretary Root carried or,
the practical reforms required by experience |.
the war with Spain. there was less delay in max.
ing as close an approach 20 German scisnta.
methods as was possible under republican inst.
buttons The services Of the commander n
chief were dispensed with; a general star n
trained officers was formed. with It's own chic.
and the Secretary OF War was left responsible
to the President for the details Of military ad-
highly organized a stan as the German star bc,
IT represented the expert talent Of all branches
OF the service and impaired unity and practical
efficiency 10 military administration The WASH
ington government set IT'S house IN ordsr sy re-
moving any chance OF divided responsibility be-
tween the commander in chief and the civilian
Secretary, and by supplying the waz Depart
ment Office with the best technical advice IN
England there was the same necessity for organ
izing well trained star with an executive Of Is
own. but the processes OF reform were mors
laborious and confused. The dual system q
control was brought TO an end when Lord Rob-
erts. who had saved the empire IN a terrible
crisis was relieved OF command IN the inter-
ests OF administrative unity. and the anonAAOns
Office OF inspector general was created FOR 70
Duke OF Connaught- The Army Council was~-
ganized. with four military and two civil men
bers; but there was no staff recruited from men
OF active and trained ability IN the service. and
there was no officer corresponding to the ehista
star IN either the German or the American
army.
What Mr.. Haldane after his conferences with
German officials has now undertaken to DO isn
supply the British army with what win be essen
TALLY war staff In general order issued this
week he defines the functions and composition Of
a STAFF. which will be divided between army
headquarters and district commands. and s-
plains its uses in peace and in war. NOthinss
added 10 the crude proposals OF the Eshsr rsO1
and points which were left IN doubt are not
cleared up. He does. however recognize rs
necessity for having at headquarters a cody d
trained officers ito advise the stratesical ds-
tributton OF the army. TO supervise the sdusa'lon
OF officers and the training and preparation o.
a.
fensive and defensive. 20 collect and eoIlats nsi'
tary intelligence. to direct the general policy u
army matters. and TO secure continuity OF ae-
ton in the execution OF that policy" This de-
scription Of general staff is diffuse and lacking
In precision. but it is proof that the Secretary
for War has the German model clearly IN view
and that IL Is TO be adapted for use IN the Bri'sh
army. Time will be required before the neces-
sary adjustments can be made so that tne
spOnsioility for planning operations aoroao anu
the details OF home defence will not be dNi1e+
and one Secretary for War after another VIZ
have TO try his hand at the problem on e'i"
mating useless factors and reducing the system"
simplicity and efficiency. A beginning. hoss'e'
has been made. and II will not be long befo's
first member Of the military council ins'eah
being a sloUiied director OF intehsenes
with three associates response.
for personnel. supply and armament. viii . -
Of the walk. with all the executive functions'
chief of staff. -,
The adoption OF the stan system was rss'.-
as detail of scientific organization az "s'".'
ton. and so IL win be here. IL came s0V-s
Prussia because the military martinets Ps''1-,
that war had been rendered many times "a
complex by the introduction OF railWSss
and the Improvement OF mecaAa
for conducting campaigns ON a large seA'
pre- pairing for them by thorOughness OF "s
Ization. Sedan Witnessed the ascendaney '. ~,
general stan as well as the triumph OF the -.
gun. and the German system OF orsaniSa"oA