The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-30
Head of War Department Re-
sponsible for Military Crisis
in Ulster Situation.
ny LA MAnauIsE DE FoNrENoy.

Secretary of State for War, has
- been saddlcd with the blame for
,he military crisis of the past week,
and who has been compelled to ac-
knowledge in the House of Commons
at Westminster that in giving certain
instructions TO tho commanding officers
or the troops In Ireland, he had acted
on his own authority. without the
knowledge of the Premier. nor yet of
the King. who liz the constitutional
head of the army. was appointed to tho
head of tho War Department about
eighteen months ago. on tho elevation
or Lord iialdane to the woolsack.
Lord IIaldane. by reason of his pro-
found knowledge of chemistry, was an
expert iii everything concerning cx-
plosives; yet he realized his limita-
tons in military matters. and Az a
civilian pure and simple was willing
To seek and follow the advice of pro-
fcssonal soldiers. His counselors,
unfortunately, were selected from
among the most wrong headed oppon-
cuts Of such OF England's foremos,
generals, as Field Marshais Lord Rob
crts. Lord Kitchener. Lord Grenfci,
and Sir Evelyn Wood, all OF whom had
commanded victorious armies i'm the
dcld. and whose ability and experience
entitled them to consideration. 1t can
not be denied that his administration
tunatc In the extreme. and that when
removed to the lord chanc,olorship
he was regarded both IN England and
by army experts on the Continent as
having graveiy impaired the military
efficiency OF Great Britain.
Ills successor. John Seely. has not
improved matters. Io has had tho
misfortune to have been an amateur
soldier having served as subaltern
of Nn,u
War with such Eallantry. IL is true.
that he won the Distinguished Service
Order. His brief campaigning expert.
ence in the conflict with the Beers
has. however. had the result OF rem
dering him extremely opinionatcd
where army matters are concerned
lie has all the cocksureness OF his
friend and crony. Winston Churchill,
and is so convinced OF the superiority
of his military knowledge that. unlike
Lord iIaldane. he has been quite above
seeking or accepting professional
counsel
Apart from that, he is 81 very fine
fellow. and as admirable in private life
as he is Objectionable ;ta Secretary of
state for War lie has plenty of pluck,
and as "A member of the lifcboat crew
OF Newport. on the Isle of Wight. has
done splendid service, taking part III
m-nt. indeed. bestowed upon him some
years ago the Cross of The Legion Of
Honor and the gold life saving medal,
for swimming out with life line
through tho surf in q terrible storm to
a French ship that had struck on the
rocks just beyond the reach OF the
rocket apparatus BY this means he
was instrumental in saving a dozen
lives He is a younger son OF Sir
Charles Scely, FIRST baronct OF his line,
ana was married TO the late Emily
Crichton. OF Nctley Castle. Southamp-
ton. Il anddaughter OF the Earl or
Erne.
The other scapeGoat of the admins
tratlon. Field Marsha! Sir John French.
spent some weeks in the United States
and Canada in the fall of 1912, and
has been for the last three years first
military member OF the Army Council,
ana chief OF tho general staff OF the
military forces Of the empire, with a
salary OF $4,000 a year, in addition to
All sorts of allowances.
The position is one which. according
10 the statements of The Liberal gov
eminent in Parliament. carries with II
the supreme command OF the army IN
the event Of war. Yet popular senti-
ment in the United Kingdom has al
ways hccn In favor OF intrusting this
chief command in the event of war to
Lord Kitchener, and 1t Is no secret
that French's appointment. and, in
deed, his presence at the War Depart
ment in London. contributed more than
anything else to the RELOCATION of Lord
Kitchener to diplomatic and admins
trativc employment in Egypt.
Sir John, the son and grandson OF
naval officers, was originally intended
for the church. was sent against his
Will into the navy, and after attain
ing the rank Of sublieutenant, quilted
the sea in order TO join the army as
iiussar officer. He enjoys the we'll
mcriLcd reputation of being the most
able cavalry leader of the Brit. Sh
army, and won fame as such during
the Boer War. But. with all that, lie
still rides like n sailor. that'is 10 say.
very ungracefully. Indeed, he is not
Il good rider. which is all the more as
tonishing in view of his prowesses
while a young suba;tern in rcgimcntal
stccpiechascS.
French first saw active service In
Egypt. and took part in the unsuccess-
ful Nile expedition under Lord Wolse
ley for the relief of General Gordon
at khartoum Later on. while sta
toned at Aldershot, he incurred a good
deal OF criticism, and even censure, on
the part of his military superiors, for
enbarking in cavalry tactics that did
of the old school, and his career was
regarded by many, in consequence
thereof. as ended. But the late Gen
eral Sir Rcdvers Butler gave him his
chance when the Bocr War broke out,
selected him as member of his stan,
and ended by placing him in command
of his cavalry.
II WAS at the head of the latter. by
means of forced march. that French
relieved the siege Of hiulse.icy, ana
further assisted Lord Kitchener In the
crushing of CronJe. ana III the capture
of his entire force. There has always
been a good deal of discussion as to
whom the chief merit OF Cronje de-
feat really belonged. and the i'll feel
ing that has VIGOROUSLY existed on the
part of French towards Kitchener
dates from that time.
Sir John is Il very short, stout man,
of barely five feet five. with a white
mustache. and Is not popular in the SER
vice, where he has been accused of
undue favoritism, especially where Of
Ulcers of birth and title are concerned.
lie is charged with being extremely
amenable TO social influences, present
ing striking contrast in this respect
to Kitchener: and, since his position
as chief member of the Army Council
has invested him. ipso facto. with the