Page:Viscount Hardinge and the Advance of the British Dominions into the Punjab.djvu/196

192 anomaly of dividing the management of the army between three departments — the War Office, the Ordnance, and the Horse Guards. The Duke of Newcastle, then Minister for War and the Colonies, defended in the main the existing system, while Lord Panmure urged the desirability of placing the entire administration of the army under the Secretary of State, and on preserving the office of Commander-in-Chief. On this occasion, Lord Hardinge expressed himself very strongly against the creation of anything like a Board: — 'If the legislature attempted to limit too much the authority and power of the Commander-in-Chief as regards the management of the troops, they would shake his authority in such a manner as o produce great difficulties in the event of our having to carry on a war.' Now that the question has again been canvassed, it seems desirable to recall the opinion of one who possessed the unique experience of having held in succession the three offices of Secretary at War, Master-General, and Commander-in-Chief.

It was during his period of office at the Horse Guards that the Militia Bill was introduced. Lord John Russell had been defeated in (he Commons on the question whether the Militia should be of a general or a local character. Lord Derby came into power, and Mr. S. H. Walpole introduced his Militia Hill, which forms the basis of our present organisation. Lord Hardinge was naturally consulted on all the details. During the French War he had had opportunities of seeing how the ballot (or system of