Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-08
SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON
To DIRECT OPERATIONS
Chicf OF STAFF to lie Given Powers
That VIII Insure Freedom
From Interference.
NEW DUTIES FOR KITCHENER
Reported That He Will he Succeeded
by Civilian us Secretary Of War,
and Then He May Go to Saloniili
on Even Further East.

! Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
! LONDON. February TREAT liri-
tain'S war opera tons Will soon be UNI
der tho active direction or Sir William
/ robertson. now chief Of staff accord
! inn TO widespread rumorS tonight.
! London generally accepts the report
that Earl Kitchener will be superseded
las Secretary for War by civilian.
, The name OF Lord Derby is prominently
mentioned In this connection The ru-
morS were given additional color fol-
lowing official announcements that the
/ King to-day received in audience Pre-
! micr Asuuitl. Sir Henry jackson and
/ Maior-Gcncral Charles Edward cald-
. we'll. all prominent factors III Rrtain's
military policy.
! Premier Asnu'th is president of the
imperial defense committee: General
Caldwell is director of military intcili-
. .ence. and Sir Henry Jackson is FIRST
sea lord. 1t is generally taken for
! granted that sweeping changes will
| soon be announced. II * recalled that
| Earl Kitchener WAS recently closctcd
wi:h the King ia secret conference.
The Daily sketch says Sir William
Robertson will he given powers that
will insure him freedom from inter
! ference, except from the cabinet IA "a
whole. II adds that Earl Kitchener
| will undertake duties OF II highly re-
Sponsiblr character elsewhere Some
believe this portcnds the departure of
! the present Secretary for WAY for Sal
! loniki. where Immense operations are
| Impending or for the field of opera
! tioCs even further east.
Provisions have already been made
for tn. grant OF widely EXTENDED
powers /" Roh"rt son. requiring that he
'bc responsible for issuing all orders
OF the government in regard 10 mill
iary operations" Hitherto these or
dcrs larc been issued by the Secretary
OF War. The order In council is merely
a preparation for the separation Of the
administration and executive functions
of the War Secretary. commenting on
this change. the London Daily Mail
says;
since tho creation Of The Ministry
oc Munitions no more important change
in the functions Of the Secretary for
War has taken place
Sir William Robertson. * c. Y. ~
, X. = H. II. :. O., literally rose from
Tho ranks To chief OF stat. II" is
VOL known 10 the army itself. hu; the
outside world knew little Of him. He
won MS position by brave and dis
tincusnod work IN til" Indian and
{ south African campaigns. IT." enlisted
III tho Ninth !.anccrs at tn" age OF
ninctccn. II" educated himself while
4 trooper. NJ The age of twenty mine
ne was given a commission in the
Third braSooU Guards. The average
second lieutenant had about eight
years start OF him in tho army list.
In the course OF lincal promotion ne
could never hope to he moro thHu :.
major. Four years later he WAS as-
signed u The quartermaster' depart
lncnt III India. He gained distinct ION
and was mentioned for Sallamtry in ac-
ton during the Chitral campaign In
1914 he was placed in command of the
army stan college. lie is widely known
as "a lineuist, and I'm authority on Con-
tinemtal army systems.
Sir William Robertson went into
france with the British cXpeditionary
iorcn rs Iuartcrnastcr- general lie
was made chic: Of staff IN Scptcm-
bcr. l"lj.