Some Men of the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16370, 15 November 1918, Page 6

Some Men of the War.

Like every other great campaign in history, the great war has made or marred many reputations. That applies not only to Great Britain, but to all her-Allies, and necessarily so. In evory belligerent country men have proved incapable of filling adequately in war time positions which they occupied with complete- success under tho less strenuous conditions of peace.' And inversely the war has fortunately thrown np to the surfaco numbers of men who only needed the stress of a great emergency to prove the stuff that they were made of. History las yet to record its considered verdict as to who have been tho greatest of these men—we are too close to the scenes in which they have figured to estimato with perfect accuracy and unbiased judgment the rolative value of their services. But it is not difficult to choose, out of the multitude of men in all departments of life who hayo helped to bring about the triumph of liberty and right, somo whose names will be honoured for generations to come. Among the soldiers who will have, a place in this gallery of fame will bo Kitchener, whose organising genius brought into being an army that was of incalculable service in the earlier part of tho war; Haig, whose steadfast endurance and skill as a leader have not yet perhaps received their full rooognition, and Foch, whose patient strategy precipitated the catastrophe that in the end overwhelmed Germany. Of statesmen, Lloyd George will come first to many minds. He has been so prominent as Prime Minister that one ia apt to forget hia fine work

as Minister of Munitions. His has always been the voice by •which Britain has expressed her confidence and deter, mination. Perhaps, however, Mr Wilson will obtain the largest suffrage of all. He was late in entering the war, and his reasons for delay can he better appreciated now than they were understood at the time. When, however, he reached the point of joining the Allies, he became a great figure of energy and persistence, and an inspiration not only to America, but also to the world. His supreme achievement has been, perhaps, his attack upon Prussian militarism from Uhe rear. It is nearly two years since attention was drawn in "The Press" to the appearance in one of his Notes of a distinction between the German Government and the German people. This was the beginning of the fissure which he sought persistently to widen, thrusting over stronger wedges between the German nation and its rulers. The remarkable insight displayed by the President in this matter is one of the great things of the war. Clemenceau tfie septuagenarian lireeater, who has been Prime Minister of France during the last phases of the war, will assuredly deserve remembrance. Two men whom Britain will not forget arc Generals Smuts and Botha. Each had fought against us less than twenty years ago, yet Smuts after putting down a rebellion in South Africa and helping to conquer German East Africa, went to London and has remained there as a valued member of the British "War Cabinet, while Botha's ability as a soldier was proved by his conduct of the campaign that swept the Germans out of South-west Africa.

The lesser lights—some of them almost of the first magnitude—are so numerous that reference can be made to only a few of them. It is 'difficult to overlook in this company the lato Lord Rhondda, who as Food Controller fought so successfully the danger to Britain's food supply arising out of the submarine campaign, and whose devotion to duty brought about his death. Passing mention is all that is necessary for Mr Hoover, who, as wo mentioned yesterday, performed equally valuablo service in the same direction in America. Sir Erio Geddes, the ex-railway manager who rules the Navy, and liis brother, Sir Auckland Geddes, the College professor who organised Britain's man-power, cannot be neglected, while a place is assuredly due to the Labour members, Messrs Barnes, Hodge, and Clynes, who as Ministers have won distinction. Lord Reading, British Ambassador to "Washington, Dr. Page, American Ambassador in London, and Mr Gerard, American Minister to Berlin, are diplomats who have rendered admirable service during the war, and Sir George Buchanan, who represented Britain at St. Petersburg before Russia sank into anarchy, deserves honourable mention. Sir David Beatty might have proved himself a second Nelson had the German Fleet given him the opportunity that he desired; as it is, his work before he came to the command of the Grand Fleet is worthy of all praise. "We referred yesterday to the place that King George had won in the regard of his people, and it would be invidious not to make mention here of King Albert, the idol of the Belgians. The, list of men who have distinguished, themselves above their fellows 'during the war could, of course, be extended almost indefinitely, and as we have said, it remains to be seen what estimate future generations will place upon their work. Those of whom we hare made individual mention must, however, bulk large in tho records of th© great war.