ank formerly used in many armies, still survives in
the German service, a colonel-general (_General-Oberst_) ranking between
a general of infantry, cavalry or artillery, and a general field marshal
(_General-Feldmarschall_). Colonels-general are usually given the
honorary rank of general field marshal.

COLONIAL OFFICE, the department of the administration of the United
Kingdom which deals with questions affecting the various colonial
possessions of the British crown. The department as it now exists is of
comparatively modern creation, dating only from 1854. The affairs of the
English colonies began to assume importance at the Restoration, and were
at first entrusted to a committee of the privy council, but afterwards
transferred to a commission created by letters patent. From 1672 to 1675
the council for trade was combined with this commission, but in the
latter year the colonies were again placed under the control of the
privy council. This arrangement continued until 1695, when a Board of
Trade and Plantations was created; its duty, however, was confined to
collecting information and giving advice when required. The actual
executive work was performed by the secretary of state for the southern
department, who was assisted, from 1768 to 1782, by a secretary of state
for the colonies. Both the Board of Trade and Plantations and the
additional secretary were abolished in 1782, and the executive business
wholly given over to the home office. In 1794 a third secretary of state
was reappointed, and in 1801 this secretary was designated as secretary
of state for war and the colonies. In 1854 the two offices were
separated, and a distinct office of secretary of state for the colonies
created.

The secretary of state for the colonies is the official medium of
communication with colonial governments; he has certain administrative
duties respecting crown colonies, and has a right of advising the veto
of an act of a colonial legislature--this veto, however, is never
exercised in the case of purely local statutes. He is assisted by a
permanent and a parliamentary under-secretary and a considerable
clerical staff.

As reorganized in 1907 the colonial office consists of three chief
departments: (1) the Dominions Department, dealing with the affairs of
the self-governing over-sea dominions of the British crown, and of
certain other possessions geographically connected with those dominions;
(2) the Colonial Department, deali