In the House of Commons on Friday, July 21st, lir.
Arnold- Forster criticised very severely the organisation of the War Office, and quoted Sir Redvers Buller's evidence before the Decentralisation Committee :—" I should like to say clearly and openly that I start from this ;point, and I think I have verified it sufficiently, that the whole system of reports, regulations, and warrants under which the Army now serves, has grown up entirely for the benefit of the War Office clerk, and to find work for the War Office rather than to provide control over the Army." What business, asked Mr. Arnold-Forster, had Sir Redvers Buller to make that statement? It was made after he had been in full control for ten years. He was entitled to ask whether any explanation had been demanded of that statement. "The conclusion they arrived at was that until they had a transformation of the manner of doing business at the War Office, they should get no advance in the British Army at all." We entirely agree as to the seriousness of this matter, for we cannot believe that Sir Redvers Buller would have made such a statement without warrant. But that being the case, surely there should be a thorough overhauling of the War Office. Now that the average officer is quite as well educated and as efficient a man as the average civilian clerk, we cannot see the need for a civilian element in the War Office.
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