The Order in Council remodelling the War Office appeared on
Thursday, and is in the main satisfactory, though there is on one point a certain ambiguity of language. The Com- mander-in-Chief is invested with general command over her Majesty's forces, and will issue Army orders," and as "principal adviser of the Secretary of State," will be charged with all patronage, and the "general supervision" of all departments ; but in describing the functions of the Adjutant-General, Quartermaster-General, Inspector- General of Fortifications, and Inspector-General of Ordnance, it is added in each case that the officer holding the appointment shall advise the Secretary of State. Does that mean that while obeying the Commander-in-Chief each member of the Military Board is to have independent official access to the Secretary of State ? If so, whenever the Secretary and the Commander-in-Chief differ, there will be a great opening for friction. However, the improvement so far is very great, and Lord Wolseley is strong enough to protect the Service if we ever get a Secretary for War who wishes to enfeeble it.
