Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1945. BLAME AND BLAMEY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 October 1945, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1945. BLAME AND BLAMEY.

JN war, as in peace, New Zealanders are easy-going and patient, and do not delight in controversy among themselves. Occasionally, there are times when they say it with eggs rather than flowers, but such irritation is temporary and is soon forgotten. There has been little publicity about lack of harmony, if it existed, between General Freyberg and his officers, and the comradeship and good behaviour of the rank and file, on leave and when travelling, have been maintained remarkably well considering. When incidents occurred that were best forgotten, —well, they were forgotten and not featured in Parliament or Press, with the result, today, now that the campaign is ended and the men. are being repatriated, there is no dirty linen to wash, and friendliness prevails.

In some other countries, there is a less happy state of affairs, U.S.A, and Australia supplying examples of exchange of doubtful compliments among high-rank-ing officers and prominent politicians. New Zealandbrs have little concern with these bickerings about war occurrences, and are in no hurry to pass judgment. Most interest, due partly to more publicity, is taken in Australian developments, where tension is developing. From the war’s beginning, General Sir Thomas Blarney has had his critics, both as strategist and administrator, and it would appear that the time is now regarded as opportune by his detractors to take the gloves off. Some Parliamentarians are especially eager to “have a piece of him.”

A typical example of the unfriendliness, was 'forthcoming earlier this month, when Major Cameron, a. leading member of the Federal Opposition, declared that. General Blarney "was reluctant to serve outside Melbourne. “I was a member of a War Cabinet in 1940 which had to tell him pretty plainly that it was time to take up his command, in the Middle East,” declared Major Cameron. “The excuse that he had so many farewells to attend prompted my observation that if he did not leave Australia quickly he would have more farewells than Melba. Every member of the last Parliament knows of the circumstances in which he went to New Guinea when he demoted Lieutenant-Gen-eral Rowell, and that up to that time his record of service in New Guinea, the most threatehed area from the Australian point of view, was one day and two nights.” General Blarney made a prompt rejoinder. His personal popularity is not excessive among officers and men, and he is alleged to be unnecessarily autocratic. The Federal Labour Government usually upholds him.

General Blarney has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances of Lt.-Gen. Gordon Bennett’s escape from Malaya, after the fall of Singapore, and this investigation is sure to encourage further wrangling. It is a frequent controversy as to whether a. Commander is justified in leaving his troops to surrender whilst he escapes, just as it is whether a ship’s captain should go down with the wreck. It will be remembered that General MacArthur was ordered to make his escape from the Philippines. Convention seems to expect a. display of heroism however useless. In Lt.Gen. Bennett’s case, an inquiry held soon after his return to Australia, exonerated him. However, he was, to use his own words “frozen” out of the Army, and he resumed his civilian profession. The new inquiry has been ordered following a further report from Malaya. Returned soldiers and the Sydney Press are demanding that the inquiry should be public, and that Genera] Blarney should also be asked to explain certain of his decisions. All this may be welcome to the curious, but it is regrettable that the necessity for such investigations should arise.