Is General Tilney really a serving officer or retired serving officer. If he was a General serving in the Brittish Army how could he be anything but short tempered at not having his orders or routine followed. The idea of deception in the lower ranks would also be upsetting and harsh punishments the norm. I can not see a retired military man of that age and army as being anything but severe. The only thing that could be worse would be a retired ship captain.