But the points selected for criticism in the expressions of Lord Roberts just quoted belong to the fundamentals, common to both military professions.

The generous wish of Sir Redvers Buller to leave his subordinate untrammelled discretion in the management of an operation intrusted to him, was pushed to an extreme, and was maintained, as is plainly evidenced by his own dispatch, after confidence was shaken.
The situation was one familiar, on a smaller scale, to every officer who has ever had command.

It is difficult at times to draw the line between fussy interference and reasonable superintendence; yet more difficult to determine the moment when a subordinate must be subjected to the mortification of virtual supersession in the control of a matter that has been committed to him.

But these are, after all, only instances of embarrassments common {p.263} to life, which increase in degree and in number as one mounts the ladder.

Whatever may be said in favour of the fullest discretion to a subordinate out of signal distance--and very much indeed must be said for this--nothing can relieve a commander-in-chief only four miles distant of the responsibility, not for his own reputation--a small matter--but for his country's interests, in directing according to his own judgment the great operations of a campaign.