The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1902. ARMY PROMOTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7589, 24 December 1902, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1902. ARMY PROMOTION.

That Lord , Koberts has thought fit to publicly express his opinion that promotion in the British Army is not won .by favour, suggests the appropriateness of the Erefich proverb, "He wbo excuses himself ■' accuses himself." In spite of his lordship's expostulations, there is a feeling at Home, and a growing- one, that the evil of partiality does pervade the Army. Indeed', we might go 'so far as to assert that it is notorious that it does exist. Many of the foremost English newspapers have conimented on jt, and not a few have protested agaihst it in vigorous language. Por instance, the " Sat- I urday Review," in an article which it published a few months ago, referred in unmistakable terms to the corrupt system of pro-^ motion, and went on to accuse Lord Roberts of conniving at it. It savours of the shattering of an idol to find the Hero of Khandahar charged with pandering to the aristo- j cracv in using his position- as Commander- 1 in-Chief of the Army to give undue promi- I henco to titled officers; but the fact re-mahi-i.that the assertions made by the " Saturday Review " liave never been dis- I proved. Moreover, it is difficult to -believe that a journal of the standing of the " Review " would bo guilty of publishing statements calculated to do infinite injury \o a distinguished soldier unless it had fir-it j made sure of its facte. After reading its ! article and then reflecting on Lord Roberts's speech to tjie Sandhurst-Cadets, we are left to the conclusion that either his lordship was trying to make the best pf a poor case, or that he deliberately refrain-ed from joining issue on* the very point on which the " Review " laid special emphasis. In its article the " Review " was particular to make reference to existent evils, while Lord Roberts pointedly referred to customs prevailing when officers at present holding "the highest positions" entered the Army. These two periods are widely separated. The general of the present day no doubt had to climb the ladder by sheer inerit and , hard work under, jhe system prevailing half ai century ago, but that does not follow that 'tha modern junior .officer does not find his pa,th smoothed by the abuses to which the " Saturday Review " has drawn attention.