The Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1901. BULLER'S DOWNFALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7236, 24 October 1901, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1901. BULLER'S DOWNFALL.

The news that General Buller has been relieved of his ofiioe as Oommamder of tha troops at ALdershot and plased on half- pay can scarcely do otherwise than oause a pang of regret throughout, the Empire. Even General Buller's deta*actors must, feel sorry that his military career has coiwe to sticli an unpleasant end. For there can be no question that Sir Reivers has done many valuable cervices for -the nation. For many years he was literally afc the forefront of nearly all England's "little wars."' and wherever tbs Union Jack went and the British bugles sounded* he was generally lo be found. By sheer merit, courage and persistence he climbed from the lowest to very nearly the highest rung of the laddar, and only those people who know that he just mi sped being appointed Commander-in-Chief whe-n tho Duke of Cambridge retired know how close hs actually was to the highest rung. Buller's critics have always found in him many admirable qualities, such as courage and persistency, and not a few Jess commendable ones. Unfortunately, a« lie has grown old^r, tfc» latter have asserted themselves. The courage of his prime never deserted him, but the pertinacity wliich distinguished him in his early days grew into unreasoning obstinacy, and the spirit, of enterprise which carried him so near to the pinnacle of his profession developed into an impatience of control. Strangest, of all, perhaps, the stem, indomitable man of the seventies often showed in the late nineties symptoms of irresolution. When Buller went out to take command in South Africa his critics, one and all, acclaimed him as th© man for fche position. There would be no wavering, they said, Buller would pound away until he had pounded the Boer resistance, to powder, and he would persevere until he accomplished' his task to his own satisfaction, as well as that of 'the nation. The critics were wrong, nob because they had miscalculated Buller's capacity, but because they had not allowed for any deterioration in his mental powers, They know ifow that their man of resolution was only kept up to sticking point by the insistence, of his superior officer, and that he counselled an action which would have resulted in the most shattering blow to British prestige since Cornwnllis's capitulation at Yorklown. Buller not only advised General White to surrender Ladysmith to the Boers, but he was ill-advised enough to attempt to justify h§s action on a public platform. Ib was the latter aofc which brought aiboufc his downfall. The British) public will stand a good deal without murmuring, and the War Offioe has Shown, over and ever again, that i-k is not easily startled! cut of its dormant self-complacency, but when a British General j openly acknowledges and glorifies an act, i afc the bare thought of which the whole Empire shudders, the tione for forbearance has passed. Buller has accordingly been dismissed from his post, and however much i his countryme-n may regret hi'S* disgraoe, ! they must admit thaifc it is not undeserved.