Thank you for correcting the text in this article. Your corrections improve Papers Past searches for everyone. See the latest corrections.

This article contains searchable text which was automatically generated and may contain errors. Join the community and correct any errors you spot to help us improve Papers Past.

Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. [From the Times, September 25]

It will be seen from the General Order, in another part of our columns, that the opinions which we expressed on Monday last have already received the sanction of official acceptance. Lord Hardinge is now General Comand«isr-in-Chief of the British army. Until we are informed to the contrary, or until the requirements of professional etiquette are satisfied by the promotion of Lord Hardinge to the full rank of General, we shall consider this title equivalent to that of Commander-in-chief, and we now proceed to offer a few remarks on the appointment. Tbe first sentiment of the country, under the peculiar conditions of the appointment, will be that of sincere admiration for the wisdom which brought it to pass. It is now clear that desires of a different tendency were either never entertained or were magnanimously relinquished, and, in either case, a tribute of respect is due to those patriotic considerations which prevailed over tbe suggestions of natural inclination. But, in the next place, we can unhesitatingly assert, that a nomination more completely justified by circumstances or more generally satisfactory to the country could not have been nude.. In tbe present position of parties it will not be without a certain gratification that the public will recall tbe political connexions of the new Commander-in-Gbief. Lord Hardinge is officially identified with that last administration of Sir Robert Peel, to which so vast a debt of gratitude is due, and it is understood to have been with some sacrifice of his private feelings to considerations of State that he accepted office under the present Government. Passing onwards, however, from this reflection, it cannot' be denied that bis Lordship unites in his own person, with singular good fortune, tbe variety of qualifications required for his appointment. He is a soldier of tried professional ability, and of such ancient experience that bis resolution decided one of the most desperate battles of tbe Peninsular war. He was a friend and comrade of the Great Duke himself, and in one respect, indeed, be enjoys an advantage even over his illustrious predecessor. The Duke's active service bad ceased with the dethronement of Napoleon, and nearly forty years bad elapsed since be had commanded troops in the field ; but Lord Hardinge has, seen and conducted one of the hardest cafnpaigut of the present generation, and is personally familiar with the existing work of a soldier. Under the circumstances of tbe times out Eastern empire may be considered to furnish at least onehalf of the duties of a Cormmander-iu-Chief, and ot this empire and its requirements Lord Hardinge has acquired an intimate knowledge in the capacity of its Governor-xGeneral. It has been represented that our chief military deficiencies lie in the imperfect character of our regimental equipments — • in our antiquated muskets, our clumsy rifles, and our scantily sefrved artillery. Lord Hardinge comes to bis new office from the •command of the Orddance — the very department directly engaged in these reforms. Finally, we are at this moment occupied in raising and training a large auxiliary force for the internal defence of tbe kingdom, and it is obviously desirable that the Commander-in-Clrief of tbe Army should be qualified to enter cordially and effectively into the details of militia organization. Lord Hardinge was tbe immediate military adviser of the Cabinet by which tbe Militia Bill was introduced, and tbe arrangements which he will be called upon to perfect and develope are in a great measure his own. Such a remarkable union of qualifications could have been found, we believe, in no other man. In enumerating these points we have almost anticipated the services which the country and the army will expect from its new Commander. Tbe foremost condition is that of national security. Without entering into the question of European perils or pacific prospects, this much at least must be clear, that the military force which we maintain should be strong enough and effective enough to furnish at all times a safe protection for our own shores. If it is not .necessary to convince the French, it it at least desirable to assure the English, that these islands are not helplessly exposed to invasion. Putting hazards out of the question, there should at least be an end of panics. The resources of the kingdom should be so organized that nobody could reasonably represent it as defenceless ; and if the Commanderin- Chief will only state from his place in the House of Lords, that he, from his own knowledge and bis own estimate, caa vouch for the defensibility of the country against all probable attacks, the whole question, with all its annoyances, will be set at rest for ever. The efficient armament of the British soldier is the next point of interest ; though, indeed, it may be .practically considered as comprised in tbe former. We should not be wise, perhaps, in abruptly exchanging our rude but serviceable firelocks for instruments of more scientific promise, but less approved fitness for the various exigencies of the field. One high authority, at least, has pronounced itself for the retention, with certain improvements, of the musket now in use. On this question tbe country will be satisfied to receive an assurance that all alleged reforms in military practice have been submitted to the test of impartial consideration aud experiment, and that, if they have not been adopted, tbe result has been due, not to any bigoted preference of ancient usages, but to reasonable grounds of distrust. The general agitatiou on these subjects has y been due almost exclusively to tbe uncertainty in which the public w*s left with regard to the genuine truth. There seemed no means whatever of ascertaining what was really the available strength of the army on home service, what could be exDected of the artillery, or what were the true chances of the British bayonet against the newfangled projectiles of the day. Nor was the perplexity on this "point confined to the general circles of society. In the debates on the Militia Bill there was no accordance whatever between the representations even of those officially instructed, and tbe variation in the figures thus given positively exceeded 100 per cent. Whether we had 30,000, 20,000, 15,000 or even 10,000 men, producible in tbe field against an enemy, was what nobody seemed able to certify ; and we

are still substantially in the dark as to the truth ot error of what is alleged respecting our general armaments. Lord Hardinge is eminently qualified to cletrthe subject of this obscurity, and we trust he will remember the obligation. The stern integrity and impartial discipline of the Great Duke left little, perhaps, to be doneat the Horse Guards in the way of administrative reforms ; but it is plainly desirable that the recent improvements in the soldier's condition should be cordially carried out, and tbtt the moderate qualincalions exacted of late in the applicants for commissions should not be lowered. These conditions of the service, indeed, are closely connected with each other. If soldiers and noncommissioned officers are raised by kindly treatment and better education to a position above their foimer selves, it becomes imperatively necessary that their superiors should make a like advance. Regimental schools and barrack libraries will soon make corporals and sergeants more than a match for ensigns and lieutenants of the ancieut quality. The army must move in a body or confusion will ensue. We do not know that any complaint has occurred respecting the general disposal of commissions, but there may be room for some reform in the control exerted over those who hold them. The scandalous outrage at last year's races was not visited with all that severity from the Horse Guards which the public would have approved, and our Irish intelligence the other day reported an "elopement" as. a venial excess of high military spirit. We think we should not be overstating the opinion of the country if we desired that amoDg the proceedings henceforth to be accounted as "unbecoming an qfficer and a gentleman" should be reckoned the seduction of another man's wife. The qualities anticipated in a Comroander-in-Chief of the present day are only those which the spirit o*f the age now exacts from nil public servants. A more exclus-ive regard to the immediate good of the service, a greater amenability to public opinion, and a readier responsibility to that council of the nation in which that national will is represented — these are the characteristics of administration which we should recapitulate as desirable, were it not that the remark might seem to intimate their absence in the last administratrator. But, in truth, as there was no man more rigorous than the Great Duke in the discbarge of his duty, so there was none who saw more clearly what circumstances demanded, or who conformed^ himself more cheerfully to the need. In these respects Lord Hardinge can do no more than emulate the example of his predecessor, and if to the model he adds the deductions of his own more modern experience the country will soon find itself indebted to the Commander-in- Chief.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZSCSG18530302.2.11

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 791, 2 March 1853, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,518

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. [From the Times, September 25] New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 791, 2 March 1853, Page 4

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. [From the Times, September 25] New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 791, 2 March 1853, Page 4

Help

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert