THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48, 29 November 1900, Page 5

THE NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

The appointment of the soldier who has carried our arms to victory in South Africa to the highest post of honor in his profession (says the Catholic Time*) will be welcomed by the people of this country with delight. Lord Roberts has fully earned the distinction now conferred upon him. His long service in India, as well as his more recent services in South Africa, made his succession to Lord Wolseley's office a foregone conclusion. When he sits down to work in Pall Mall he will find enough to do. Red tape to be cut down on all sides ; obsolete methods to be replaced by new ideas ; improvements to be insisted on in men and material ; these difficulties and others will tax his energy and resolution But doubtless, with Lord Kitchener's help, he will put in order that museum of antiquities. And when he comes to deal with his immediate staff, we hope he will not fail to do justice to Sir Redvers Buller. That general had difficulties to face such as did not meet even Lord Roberts, and we hope that the new Commander-in-Chief will not forget the one man whose dogged perseverance enabled our forces to hold their own in the most trying times of the struggle If he did not win success, Sir Redvers deserved it. The nation owes him a debt which we hope Lord Roberts will pay.