SCATHING ATTACK ON WHITEHALL MACHINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 280, 26 November 1941, Page 8

SCATHING ATTACK ON WHITEHALL MACHINE

ACTION FRUSTRATED

Mr. Churchill's War Policy

Hampered

L'nitPrt Tress Association.—Copyrig-lit. LONDON, Nov. 25

Rcc. 2 p.m

"I was frustrated in every worthwhile offensive action I tried to take,'' declared Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Roger Keves, in a statement in the House of Commons on his removal from leadership of the "Commandos." He added that his appointment was not welcome to one section of the war machine, which he criticised earlier in the war.

"Mr. Churchill in appointing me doubtles hoped that I would assist him in delivering amphibious strokes. We were eager and ready to act a year ago. Mr. Churchill was as keen as I was to act vigorously in the face of hazards to achieve great results which, if we had been allowed to carry on, might have electrified the whole world and altered the whole course of the war.

"No one can doubt Mr. Churchill's will for victory, but he is handicapped by the Whitehall machine. Service committees and sub-commit-tees which have sprung up since the last war have become almost dictators of military policy. By concentrating on the difficulties and dangers of every amphibious enterprise suggested these committees succeeded in thwarting or delaying execution until we were either forestalled or too late.

"We shall always be too late in everything we undertake until the staff system is thoroughly overhauled. The cumbersome machine in Whitehall has either strangled before birth or has mangled by endless discussion all amphibious actions suggested."

Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Minister without portfolio and a member of the War Cabinet, said he had not replied to Sir Roger Reyes because if he did he would disclose information of great strategic importance.