3 APRIL 1909, Page 3

We note that Lord Minto declared that this new arrange-

ment, while giving the Commander-in-Chief "wider adminis- trative authority," actually decreases his independence. The Military Finance Department, he pointed out, informs the Viceroy at once of all expenditure by the Commander-in-Chief. It "informs," we know, but does it control expenditure P The fact also remains that the Governor-General's Council now contains no man who knows the native Army intimately,— knows it as it is known to a man who has been for years the officer of a native regiment, and who can say instinctively how any given proposal will be regarded by the native soldier. In the lack of such knowledge on the Council we cannot but note a very real source of danger.