Lord Kitchener's Position.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 September 1910, Page 4

Lord Kitchener's Position.

GOVERNMENT'S DIFFICULT

SITUATION

"A UNIQUE PERSONALITY."

The military correspondent of the Lotion Times writes as follows in a recent issue of that newspaper, and ? in view of the cables published in, the Chronicle in connection witib Lord Kitchener's decision, to be relieved of the Mediterranean command, it will be read with more than ordinary interest: — The Government announced in both Houses on Monday afternoon that Lord Kitcheer had asked leave to throw up the Mediterranean Command. The late Comniander-ijt-Chief in India has never concealed his dislike for the post which was offered to him last year. He only accepted it, as in duty hound, at the express wish of his late Majesty, -who shortly before his death released Lord Kitchener from his obligation- Lord Kitchener's reasons for disliking the appointment are no doubt n°t widely different from those which induced the Duke of Connauglit to tender his resignation- The difficulty of dealing with n° fewer than five separate departments of Govorn.mon.fc at ;home, the clashing of responsibilities which seemed inevitable on tho military side, and the absence of real power, and especially of the power for doing good, were all calculated to debar a man of Lord Kitchener's character from accepting the appointment. His decisiojj, no doubt, places the Government in a position of some embarrassment. It will not >he easy to adduce reasons for retailing an appointment winch is considered useless by the

TWO FTELD MARSHALS who have been -nominated to hold it. Nevertheless the Government is ]\ot likely to recede. It has boon found practically itnpossible for the Tnspcctor-Gcricral of the Forces tu supervise Uie training of troops at homo and at the same time to inspect those in the oversea garrisons of the Empire. The absenco ol Sir John French Canada at this moment at the -request of the Dominion Government has, for example,- entailed the postponement sine die of liiany inspections whciih were due to have been carried out at home; and, as the Inspector-General is a hard-worked man, this interruption of 'his labous must recui whenever lie leaves England upon some distant mission. fv» principle the absence at any tiino from the. .British Isles of the General Officer who is best qualified, if not designated, to command the Expeditionary Force in time of war is much to be deprecated, for it is oi)Ci] to very real and very serious objections. The Inspector-General of the Forces is naturally more in ton oh with the whole body of troops at home than other commander, and it is very inexpedient to risk the employment of intricate machinery with its maiinsp n'nK removed. Considering the progress made during recent Imperial Conferences in the unification of iihe armed forces of the Empire, and considering also the need for frequent inspections as the best means for securing comfort effort for a common purpose in the

OVERSEA POSSESSIONS of the Crown, the appointment of some adh'.tu.s to Uie Inspector-Gen-eral imbiifvl with his views ajjd prepared to co-operate with him uj prolonging his work overseas, has become an indispensable 7>eed of t!.e ti.nes.

The difficulties and worries which might very likely arise from attach' ■■US to the Mediterranean. Commas i the so me. what honsonific and n fl t is'•ispessablo attributes of High Coiuiuissio||er.shii> might very readily be )vorcome by absolving the Com-•iiander-in-C'.i'ef i» tihe Moditorran • tan from all oivil functions, and b, ■•oii'iji'ig him strictly to Irs mili tary role. This role is large cnoug , ! is il r>t;i|,:is, though it must depend ip :;i the Governments of the varims self-governing dominions wiliciher, and, it so, how oftcji, they seek assistance and advice. The 1-utie.s of the appointment will rc'|ii!iv> t::e exercise of much tact and ju<l'.'r?>o|;t, but in Sir lan Hamilton, whoso name is mentioned in connection with tf'.e post, the Government will J l]ic 1 a popular and ex-•)Oi:rjj-.'o'i f-'!i!ii:ui->''or, w!io \\iiil combine nil the qualities necessary for the successful 'performance of a difli"iiU mission. Tliorc , wiM be- o>jly ene opinion in the Army in deploring the .{act that, by reason of his decision, Lord Kitciiener's active connection with the Army must, temporarily at all events, conic to an end. The Army without Kitchener is like Hamlet without, the Prince of Denmark. But it need not be imagined that there exists any POLITICAL INTRIGUE

to exclude Lord Kitchener from any military office . The t'nutnh is that there is unfortunately n° military position in the Army at home which Lord Kitchener would care to fill. When the country is pleased to ask (him to take off his coat to carry to its final stage the great work of military reorganisation which Mi Haklane has so well begun, m oi) c ' can doubt that Lord Kitdhener will respond; but it is futile to suppose that be will be content to play subordinate parts and to sully a great reputation by accepting responsibility without power. ft may be that the Government will be able before long *° provide Lord Kitchener with a high office, which his distinguished services have merited. England is not so ricth in great men who inspire general confidence that she can afford to see his unique personality and undimmed talents lost toy the country which he has served s.) well.

No one -need think that Lord Kitchener will either rust at homo Iμ idleness, or adopt the role of military critic of this or any other Aomiiiistration. Thoso who love the East return to the East. But whatever Lord Kitchener may decide to do, and however far afield his predilection for wandering may tempt him, the public may rest assured that his services will at all times be available .for his country, whenever there is work to be done, and power married to responsibility for THE MAN who has to do it. From the broad standpoint of bur highest military interest, an<) in view of the fact that the decisive battle for military efficiency is yet to bo fought, the temporary withdrawal of Lord Kitchener and his detach* ment from all parties and policies have certain compensations which we may n°t improbably appreciate more highly in the future than wo can n<»v.