WHO IS TO BE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN INDIA? [From the Times, March 5.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 413, 18 July 1849, Page 3

WHO IS TO BE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN INDIA? [From the Times, March 5.]

The anxiety, verging upon impatience, which the public has long, felt upon Indian affafrs will be worked up to a species of paroxysm by the last deplorable intelligence. Ever since the bloody " reconnaisance" at Ramnuggur, and the bloodless " triumph" on the opposite bank of the Chenab, everybody has been asking his neighbour by what mysterious law or fatality Lord Gough is still continued Com-mander-in-Clvief — who is to succeed him — what is the manner of the appointment — and with whom is vested this fearful responsibility. We never remember a subject of such high importance on which there have been more rumours, and more announcements pretending to a degree of tuthotity. At one time it had been intimated, so it was said, to Lord Gough that his period of service having expired, he might retire with honour and propriety. The result of this would have been that MajorGeneial Gilbert or Thackwell would have taken his place. We need scarcely say how, often the hero of Scinde has been mentioned as the roan for the crisis. — Since that seemed impossible, his brother, Sir George Napier, was brought in to fill up the gap, and the public were positively told, that though an invalid at Nice, an offer had been sent to him. The last report was that Sir W. Gomm, now at the Mauritius, had been actually appointed to supersede Lord Gough. The' fact, th« only fact, we believe to be as follows : — Sir W. Gomm has been directed to hold himself in readiness, in, case of bis being wanted. It is almost unnecessary to remind those who are acquainted with the geography of the eastern hemisphere that a resident at Mauritius might be wanted very long before he could be forthcoming ; and that no rapidity of intelligence, no celerity*' of operations, no fortune of war, could' possible give the army of the Punjaub Sir W. Gomm's services befce the long period of half a year, dated from the late' slaughter on the banks ol the Jhelum. So, even if we. had' nothing more to say on this subject,' the only fact we are able to, mention would be no great relief to the public. ,\ ( * ',- , { But_Sir f C. Napier is the man ta whom all eye* have been most anxiously turned, i6d to ffhohrall' suffrages, excepting 'tho«emoirt6°the f |

purpose, have< Been most freely rendered. Of his capacity' there is no doubt in any quarter. His very name is as good as five thousand 1 men, and were he appointed, we 'confidently believe that Government might countermand the two regiments ordered for India immeJiately on the receipt of the disastrous news. His daring, his coolness, his skill, his science and his success, have rendered him the greatest of all the great Napiers. Then why* not send out such a man ? Unhappily for the East India Company, Sir Ch.irles, in common with others of his name, possesses a tongue and a pen as sharp and as reckless as his sword. His indignation once aroused, justly or unjustly, knows neither friend nor foe. Were it the point of his sword We had to encounter, we would rather not be an ameer of Scinde. Were it a controversy of words, we would rather not be bis employers. The Napiers are ail sons of Zeruiah, and Sir Charles is the Joab of the family. He is loved by the Directors of the East India Company much as Joab was loved by his master. He will have both his way and his say, and there is no holding him in. Our own columns could furnish a recent example of his bearing to the greatest notabilities, when he feels himself aggrieved. The august Senate of Leadenhall street, after deliberately weighing the two alternatives of losing the most splendid do minion under ttie sun, and saving it through the instrumentality of Sir Charles Napier, have came to the conclusion that, after the usage they had received from him, they would rather lose the Indian empire than employ him again. ' So at least says report, but we hope untruly. If idle rumours and impertinent gossip seemed to satisfy the public till the day before yesterday, it was only because it was probable that the present campaign would soon come to a natural end, and the inteival would give time for a deliberate choice. Now, however, it is felt that the man whom we send out to the Punjaub, or whom we may select from those now in the field, instead of having half a year to prepare for his future campaign, may possibly be called on at once to turn back the tide of Sikh invasion from the very gates of Delhi. The credit and the prosperity of the British empire are too deeply concerned to permit any trifling with so terrible a crisis. Why are the destinies of India, why is so much British blood and treasure, at the mercy of a man whose sole qualification for that trust is mere animal courage? It i* not for want of warning. Three years ago all military men, both here and in India, and all who knew anything of military affairs, were aghast at the reckless precipitation of Lord Goughs attacks. Battles they were not, but rather the rude onslaughts of valiant but desperate men, It seemed a mere rush at the enemy, as if all tactics and all proper application of the several arms of the service had disappeared before the brutish instinct of personal combat. The British animal showed the more " pluck," and proved the stronger of the two. At an awful sacrifice of precious blood we pushed the Sikhs over the Sutlej and right through Lahore into their own country. Gough was well seconded by better men than himself, and, as the victory was followed by a peace, and the Com-mander-in-Cbief rewarded with a peerage, be might have been removed from the actual command of the army with honour. But no sooner had the Sikhs shown a disposition to repeat the game of the Afghans than Lord Goughs peculiar mannner of fighting became a subject of painful recollection. The army of Runjeet Singh had recovered from its surprise, and measured the strength of its conqueror. For months there was an evident want of a ruling mind in the Punjaub. There bad been no forethought or preparation, so it was now found we had to re-conquer the country, and could do so but slowly. The climax of a series of disappointments was, that the Com-mander-in-Chief sacrificed some of the i est officers in his army in a hasty attempt to ford a river where it could not be forded, in the face of an overpowering force, where, also, he did not even allege that he wished to effect a passage ; and that he subsequently succeeded in letting the enemy escape without damage. Of the feelings excited by that intelligence it is enough to say, that Saturday's Indian mail does little more than realize a melancholy apprehension. Then what has beeu done to rescue India from the fell grasp of such headstrong temerity ? Why is not a ! successor appointed ? The difficulty is soon told. Government nominates the Comraander-in-Chief. The Directors approve him. The former very naturally hesitates to select from the -whole ; British army ' Without official assistance. There is the rub. At the Horse Guards seniority is excellence. ' The venerable Com-raander-in-Chief knows not age, except as j recoramendatibn for service. The Duke was barely 34 when he fougiu the battle l bf As- V| saye, and he closed' his military career at 45. : Bonaparte; was J 27 when, he overran Italy, and defeated' htfra'aozenAustria'n'.arraies. Alexandfer was atiout t^'e, same age 'when he van-"' qufsßd^PWuf h W that' %>t where

Go ugh did" not vanquish -Sbere Singh. Condi won the battle of Rocroi at a yet earlier age. In a word, nearly all great commanders have proved themselves great commanders in their youth. It stands to reason that they should be so. When a soldier has passed the flower of his days in subordinate service,- he has had no opportunity of acquiring that independence of action, that self-confidence, and that comprehensiveness of view, necessary to the man who commands the whole army. Hovr few of the Generals whd adorn the Army List, and stir up the bile of financial reformers, have ever had an independent command, or done anything but execute orders ! Such, however, is not the way in which the Horse Guards' view their long roll of military worthies. Suffice it to say, that General Elphinstone, that gouty old gentleman, who strangely closed a long life of fashionable gaiety by perishing with an entire British army in the snows of Central Asia, was thrust by 'the Horse Guards upon the remonstrant Board of Control. Elphinstone, however, went to Cabul in what seemed days of peace. Will it be believed that the Horse Guards have now produced a fellow to that unfortunate appointment for the conduct of a difficult anddisastrous war ? Sir W. Gomm, who has been directed to hold himself in readiness for the Punjaub, has never commanded a regiment, and has not seen service in any capacity for thirty-five years. He has spent all that time in semi-civil employments, and has not shown therein any remarkable administrative capacity, but rather the contrary. The whole empire demands the appointment of the very best man that can be found. To find the best man the Horse Guards must lay aside its " long service " claims, and the Duke remember that be, too, once was young ; Government must remember that it is responsible for the nomination ; the authorities of Leadenhall-street must remember that the Indian empire is not a personal affair ; and, if our words could reach Lord Dalbousie in time, we would also remind him of certain powers vested in him for such emergencies. All the parties concerned in the government of India must be reminded that when the supreme hour of that empire shall come, they will be called to account for the discharge of their several responsibilities. They must now send out their best man — one in whom his army will feel confidence, and whom bis officers will respect, understand, and obey ; one whom the enemy will fear, and whose tenor will retain in subjection even those whom his arms do not reach. We carnnot believe that the honorable Board of Directors have acted on the pique that has been ascribed to them, and so precluded themselves from full liberty of choice. They are good subjects, and are bound to administer their high trust in subordination to their still higher quality as loyal and patriotic men.