COMMANDER OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10488, 22 June 1910, Page 4

COMMANDER OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

SIR lAN HAMILTON'S STRANGE POST.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.]

(Pep, Press Association.)

Received June 21, at 9.15 p.m

Lo*ndon, June 21. Official.—Sir lan Hamilton has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of: the Mediterranean and Inspector-General of the oversea forces.

Replying to Lord Northcote, Sir C. Lucas remarked that it was not proposed to ascertain prior to the holding of the Imperial Conference, whether the self-governing colonies approved of inspection by the Comman-der-in-Chief of the Mediterranean.

Received June 21, at 10.30 p.m. London, June 21. Sir C. Lucas said that whatever the Inspector arranged could only be at the dominions' request. Earl Crewe said probably the : dominions would welcome inspection when they considered it was necessary. The matter was not urgent in view of Lord Kitchener's and General French's recent inspections. Lord Middleton asked whether the Commander-in-Chief .would inspect all parts of the world, and would also command the 'troops in Egypt, Malta; and Gibraltar. He asked .whether the multifarious assortment of duties would be continued;.what functions the Duke of Connaught found it impossible to.discharge with advantage to the country, and what duties Lord Kitchener found incompatible with a Field Marshal's position? Sir C. Lucas hoped to table papers on' the subject shortly. Mr Haldane has issued a statement regarding the inspections of the dominions. The Government proposes to discuss the arrangements at the Imperial Conference in 1911. Major-General J. Ewart has succeeded Sir lan Hamilton on the Army Council, and Sir Archibald Hunter has been appointed Governor of Gibraltar. The effect of the reorganisation is that General French becomes InspectorGeneral of the Home forces.