THE WAR COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 193, 28 August 1903, Page 3

THE WAR COMMISSION'S REPORT.

PEE PRKBS ASSOCIATION. \ London, August 26. The Earl of Rain's War Commis*io 's report has been published. The Commissioners disclaim h-ivicg been instruct* 1 to deal wi'h >h« whole tail tan s-stem in detail or io submit an elaborate scheme of reorganisation 1 heir dctv whs confided to recommtn atio.s reg.rding the inefficiency or defeats in Army a 1 i.inistration a-i disclosed by the war, ani to indicate their caote. Henc« recomm ndationa are incidentally ec-itter-d th ough the repurt, but b? sustaining a definite Dropoeal the • ooomistionershad sacceeded in giving absolute unanimity jn the strongest terms, leaving the Government to fiad a remedy. Similarly the strategical and tactical lemons of the war were left to the military autaorities. The report deahj with the "appalling state of mprepa ednets," and indicdtes that the In'elligenoe Pepartment obtained (airly accurata information as to the Boer strength, their armaments and the disport on of their forces. It quotes memsran a, bitbertn regarded as confidential, by Ueutanßni-Colonel Altham in 1898 and 189", aid Sir John Aidaah, of the Intelligence Department, in 1837, giving warning of the imminence of the danger from the growing' Boer hostility end their preparations, but the Government and its military advisere formed an inadequate conception of the reinforcements required in ths event of w;r.

Oo'o-el AHbam, in 1893, reportad that! tbe Beef States bai design* on N»tal ana | that "we should decide on strategical points." He reported in 1893 warlike moveme.ts, and "that the situation denunded that troops should be reiwdy to mobilise quickly. At present there would be much delay in mobilising. Colonial defence tcbemen should be prepared anl instructions given the General coKm-mding in South Africa in the event of an outbreak t i wa\" Mr Chambsrlain in 18U7 and IK9B iepoattdly urged the War Offi. e o prepare. He directed tUt'n ion io ihe In. mil iukl and increased expense if thei f-iiltM. Lord Wolsel-y, in iß9ti, t-ie retention of a consid.--:i.b!e field forco in Hi.ath afrieaon broa'igruu.. sofimiein sfa egy and j,d quate traii,i g He rg d vigorous measures in the suim er of '8 '9 Lord Lansdowrn inforred the (V-mis-sioner that Colonel Aitlum's n>e uoiauda waa neve' cfhcially commit ed to him. The basn of any proposals eame through th j regular ehaijne), namely the Commander inCh'irtt

The report describes as extraordinary that Lord Lacsdowne's attention was first di-i rected to War Gffioe pipers by Mr Chamberlain. Under such circunmances it is not remarkable thit no plan of campaign was arranged, and nothing thonghfc of. Keinfoicemeots and stores were limited for poli-' tical reasons, although ihe strr-ngth of the 1 garrison a-, the outbreak vmt a" Urge as the nrlitarr a 'vi-e-1 ; nm, i.ho C-uumissioners are onab'e to shv r.h-it 'lie Cabi: ei, in estimating the fdmit o'i iiUw ihe.ir po'.icy ! g*v* due coasido.atim to the knowicga tnat the Boers were organising. They were not satisfied that enongh was hiing now done to improve matters in the event of another emergency. The lesson of the war w*s thit no military is satisfactory unless it obtains powers of expansion outside the limit of the regular forces. Tbe report ea'ogises the auxiliary colonials. j The tend-ncy of therepirt is towards a reconstruction of Ihe VV.ir Offi e •. n the linps of tne Board of the and the abolition of the { o.r.mander-iu- hief's post. The Commission su^g■ sts »hd appointment f iii«hly-tra ! net experien od olGc!>rs to train colonial troops.