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Press, Volume LII, Issue 15612, 9 June 1916, Page 6

The appointment of a suitable successor to Lord Kitchener as Minister for War is a task of no little difficulty. The practice in modern times has been for a civilian to hold this post, hut with the outbreak of war it was felt that a soldier in whom the country had implicit confidence should control the War Office, and the appointment of Lord Kitchencr gave profound satisfaction. the more so because he had never identified himself with any political party. Unfortunately, there is no other rreai soldier suitable in other respects who could be spared from his military duties to be included in the Cabinet at the present juncture.

Sir William Robertson, in whom the nation has entire confidence, cannot be taken from his position as Chief of Staff without grave peril to the successful military conduct of the war. It is hardlv likely that he would consent to take orders from any soldier inferior either in rank or experience to himself, who might be placed, technically, at any rate, over his head as Secretary of State for War. It looks, therefore, as if it will ho necessary to revert to the former practicc of appointing a civilian as political head of the War Office. If this policy is once more adopted, it will, we think, be generally agreed that Mr Lloyd George ii the best choice that can be made from the present Cabinet. The country admires the earnestness and "driving power" which he has exhibited ever since the war began. If, therefore, lie has the' good sense to leavo the military strategy of the war in the hands of his chief expert advisers, and devotes his unquestioned abilities to seeing that the general administration of the Wa r Office is kept up to tho mark, and that everything necessary for tho efficiency of the Army in the field is provided without stint, he will be able to justify his appointment.

The redoubtable Henrv Ford, who discovered that the war is not what he imagined it, has lately come into prominence again in America. In the Presidential primary election in Michigan, Mr Ford defeated by OIS6 votes Senator "\Y. A. Smith. In Nebraska ho was only narrowly beaten by Senator Cummins, who is a really influential Republican. Several leading American newspapers made serious endeavours to explain tho significance ot these Tidiculoiis events. The chief Michigan newspapers agreed that the support given to Mr Ford was evidence of tho strength of tho feeling in favour of peace and unpreparednoss. They added, however, that many people are impressed by Mr Ford's generosity and his reputation for "handing )ive-

" dollar-a-day jons to the unfortunate "and needy." But perhaps the true explanation is that put forward by tho "Boston Transcript":—

"German-Americans in the West are evidently voting entirely cvnicajly and derisively in the Presidential primaries, as if tho affair were none of theirs It was their votes that #ivc his lead in Michigan and Nebraska to Henry Ford, whose candidacy is a joke. At one place in Nebraska which iy strongly German in population, their vote was given to a local livery stable beeper who had filed his name for the Presidential nomination. In other words, the superior fidelity of these voters to the Fatherland leads them to make use of the electoral opportunity to satirise our institutions. This spirit is not likelv to be gratefully appreciated by such of fellow-citi-zens as centre their thoughts and interests in the United States of America. It indicates a contempt of our eonntry nnd its political affairs which will not be without an influence when the election comes."