Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-01
Kitchener Resigns High Sound
ing Command of No Value.
DESIGNED TO SHELVE HIM
British Government in q Quandary
as to His Future.
S NOW OUT OF WORK
Plans to Keep Him From the Heart
of Things in the War Of
flee Of the Empire.
Foreign Correspondence of The Star.

Foreign Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, June IS, 1910.
Lord Kitchener has thrown up that
high-sounding command of high commits
sioner inspector general of the forces in
the Mediterranean and South Africa, to
which he was appointed in place of the
Duke of Connaught, who resigned the
post because there was not enough for
him to do
The history of the Mediterranean COM
mand is at once one of the most dis
creditable and most unfortunate in re-
cent British military history. 1t will
rank as perhaps the worst creation of
the present government. 1t has always
been a cardinal feature of liberal policy
to discourage the employment Of men,
bers of the royal family in any really
responsible military position. To this un-
Willingness to employ a. distinguished
soldier merely because he happens to be
OF the blood royal can be traced the
story of the Mediterranean command.
New Post Created.
On the retirement of Lord Roberts the
unionist government abolished the post
of commander-in-chief and in its place
created i'm 1904 the new inspector general
of the forces, to which Office the Duke
Of Connaught was appointed. Liberals
silently resented this step and bided their
time. Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman
became prime minister, and an agitation
mediately started. In this connection it
may be recalled that Sir Henry. when he
was secretary OF state for war had caus
ed. against the wishes of Queen Victoria
and her family, the retirement of the old
Duke of Cambridge. No one grumbled
much over this move, however, as the
duke was antiquated
History repeated itself; the king sup
ported his brother, and Sir Henry Was
for the time compelled to wait. He re-
turned to the charge. and after a con-
siderable period Of negotiations got his
way. To provide something for the duke
to do the Mediterranean command was
called into being The duke regretted his
compelled vacation of the inspector gen
eralship. and SO did the country. He was
popular and distinguished soldier who
had done his work we'll and had ably
carried on the tradition of the alliance
OF the army and the crown.
HIS new post was as valuelesS. from
the military point of view. as it was pre-
tentious in title, and was merely designed
to give his royal highness something to
do. The duke was given a large salary
at the expense of other officers In the
Mediterranean-a yacht and fine resi-
the important station of Malta. with u
governor and commander-in-chief al
ready In possession. Gibraltar also had
it's garrison and it's commander -in-chief.
Egypt had its sirdar and its insufficient
garrison. The duke was thus to be COM
mander-in-chief Of those commanders-in-
chief who were. however, severally re-
sponsible. not to the duke. but to White
hall
AS military expert wrote at the time.
The dukes appointment carries with it
nothing but the barren honor Of prece-
dence at state and other functions -
There was reserved for the dukes control
the inspection and training of troops-al-
ready provided for-and questions Of
strategy-the province of the defense COM
mittee. Doubtless it was hoped that the
duke would be content to enjoy a kind
sof royal retirement in his palace Of Va
letta. The duke. as almost verybody
knew, did not like the post, but. like a
loyal soldier, went to Malta, did all he
could find to do for a couple Of years and
then threw up the appointment, giving as
his reason that there was not enough
work. That was in the July of last year.