Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/81

ENGLISH WAR ADMINISTHATION. 37 needed supplies any country in the world that chap. lie chose — any country at least except one. 1_ And even from England — for that was the excepted country — he might endeavour to draw supplies ; but the difference was that, when doing so, he would not be commanding subordinates or directing mere agents, but addressing himself to the Treasury — in other words, to his official supe- riors, and by them his expressed desire to have things despatched from home to the army might be criticised, disapproved, and resisted. The practice thus in one respect limiting Mr Filder's authority was destined to be a source of evil. The Commissariat, officers and men, serving with our army were amenable in a general way to military rule, and enjoined to obey any order that might be specially given them by the mili- tary chief, or by any other man so placed over them by his military rank and seniority as to be their ' commanding officer ; ' but, subject to that obligation, they owed all allegiance to their civilian chiefs in Whitehall; and accordingly, the Commissary-General corresponded direct with the Treasury. He was armed with authorit}' to address, when occasion required, the Govern- ments of foreign States. From the Commissary- General down to the clerks of three years' ser- vice, every Commissariat officer in the field had a rank which (according to his grade), corre- sponded with either that of a brigadier-general, a lieutenant-colonel, a major, a captain, a lieu- tenant, or an ensign, and they all wore a military uuiform.(^i) 432734