8 NOVEMBER 1902, Page 3

We have noticed elsewhere Lord Rosebery's speech ma de at Edinburgh

on Saturday last, but must mention here his extraordinary suggestion that Lord Kitchener ought not to have been sent to India as Commander- in-Chief, but kept here as Secretary of State for War. The notion that Lord Kitchener has been, as it were, banished is, of course, ridiculous. He was given the command in India partly because of its intrinsic importance, and partly to give him experience of our Indian Army which he has never hitherto had in any form. He has seen service in most parts of the world, but never in India. When Lord Kitchener has added knowledge of the Indian Army to his other immense stores of military knowledge, he will be fit to take up the posi- tion to which universal public opinion has designated him,— the office of Commander-in Chief. When age shall unhappily have made it impossible for Lord Roberts to hold that great office any longer, Lord Kitchener will, of course, succeed him, and succeed him with far greater efficiency owing to his having been Commander-in-Chief in India than if he had never held that command.