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Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1932, Page 6

aVervant of his country, Th© death of Field-Marshal Viscoimt Plumer lias 'broken a link with Victorian days and Victorian army methods and traditions. When he became a subaltern the “good old” /system of purchasing an army appointment had only just 'been ended arid the, regulations for officers and men were as rigid aA in th© Napoleonic wars. Plumer fought in the dreary days of the first Soudan campaign, which ended with the death of Gordon and with little credit to the British Government. In the South African war Lord Plumer was one of the first to realise that a mobile .enemy could not he tackled by drill-yard methods, and his organisation of a mounted rifle corps was of considerable service to Great Britain. His response to changing conditions and his willingness to adapt himself to new methods of warfare were shown again in the Great War. He had a reputation for “hanging on,” and it was this characteristic which gained for him the post of adviser to the Italian forces vrhen they were preparing for their second attempt against the Austrian troops that had repulsed Italy’s first efforts. A strong if not •particularly brilliant military leader, Lord Plumer manifested the same faculty of “sticking it” when he went to Trans-Jordania as High Commissioner four years ago. The conflicts there between Jew and Arab, between Turk and Bedouin, and all the political crosscurrents in that turbulent region held plenty of opportunity for mischief unless wise and firm control Were exercised by Great Britain. Jn tins Lord Plumer was more successful than a more brilliant man might have been. 9 It is said he regarded all Levantine people as children to be guided rather than as men and women in whom the spirit of nationalism was at work. At all events, he kept th© peace and maintained the prestige of Great Britain. To have served his country for over half a century and to have kept in harness up to the last six months of his life is a record most men would think worth while.