Something about an absent Colonel. — The "Lounger at the Club," who writes with a good deal of nous for the Illustrated Times, says ; — The military clubs are ringing with in dignation at the anomalous position occupied by the senior Lieutenant-Colonel of one of the Regiments just orderer from India to New Zealand. The officer in question holds a lucra tive staff appointment, which he h loth to re sign ; and so, by some arrangement incredible to the civilian mind, his corps has proceeded to the scene of uclion without him- It is, I hear, a well known yule of the service that no engage ment on the Staff should prevent a senior officer leading his men into the field, and, as this rule has been opeuly violated, the authorities are blamed for not having at once placed the de linquent upon half pay. Writing without special knowledge of the mysteries of pipeclay, it is with soine diffidence that I hazard an opi nion upon such a delicate matter. Still, it would seem obvious that the officer who can fight and won't fight should be either made to perform his military duties, irrespective of per sonal inclination, or to be relieved of the nece« bity of performing them at all.
