THE WAR OFFICE REFORM.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 March 1901, Page 3

THE WAR OFFICE REFORM.

[by electric telegraph—copyright.]

(per press assoclvtion.)

Received this day at 9 7 a.m. London, March (!,

In the House of Lords the debate of the army system was resumed and quietly concluded in view of the corning reform proposals to be introduced by Brodrick. Lord Lansdowno reserved his defence.

The Duke of Devonshire complained of Lord Wolseley'a action in not indicating an instance wherein ho found himself helpless, but doubtless Wolselcy will bo given an opportunity of replying when the enquiry into operations is opened.

Afterwards Lord Salisbury while denying that Lansdowne intended to make a personal attack on Wolselcy, he emphasised unaltered supremacy of the Secretary of War acting on behalf of Parliament over tho entire administration of the army. The result of the system depends not on machines, but on tho brilliancy, vigor and men employed.

In the course of tho army debate Lord Earl Northbrook declared that according to an order in council tho responsibility and condition of the auxiliary forcer rested on the adjutant General who was responsible to the secretary of war. Spencer said tho commander-in-chiefs duty was to give advice to the secretary of war and if the secretary refused to accept same, the responsibility rested with him.

Ilosebery said all mistakes and frictions originated nominally through retaining the commander-in-chief in the pierarchy while really reducing his to a pale shadow only. The tlow of Wolscley's speech was the recommendation to appeal to the public. The Times commenting on the debate considers that real reform will be found to be decentralisation.

In the House of Lord*. Rosebery suggested that a a secret Parliamentary Committee should systematically consult the representatives of the War Office and Admiralty with a view to testing the efficiency of the forces. The Nationalist refusal to divide in the Commons and based the contents that tho closure was intended to facilitate a vote an account of seventeen miiiionswithout discuss'on of the Irish question.