GENERAL HARINGTON.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1922, Page 9

GENERAL HARINGTON.

PHILIP GIBBS’ PEN-PICTURE. Sir Phillip Gibbs, the noted war correspondent, in an article in an English paper on the Near Eastern problem, thus referg to General Sir Charles Harington, the British Commander:— One man holds for the time the fate of Constantinople in his hands, and it is a task that will put his nerve and statesmanship as well as his military genius to the highest test. That is General Sir Charles EDarington, com-mander-in-chief of the Allied Powers at Constaninople. During the -war in France and Flanders he was chief of staff to the School Brigade Army and by common consent of British officers and men he was the one General who made staff work a perfect success. Well do I remember many battles when General Harington outlined all preparations he had made for attack and revealed the minute detail with which he had organised the whole vast .business involved in movements of masses of men and guns with transports and supplies. He had a cold precision which was wonderful, an intense nervous energy, absolute knowledge of his enemies, disposition, strength and moral state. I remember night time in headquarters at Kassal, once for hours under a glass roof upon which always the rain beat down, and though I hated the thought of the bloody business in hand I was always filled with profound admiration for the master mind of Harington. His command of Constantinople is not enviable. That magnificently » beautiful, disgustingly dirty gateway between East and West, with its thronging population, is not easy to handle at a time of passion and unrest. Every Turk there is for Mustapha Kemal as leader of victory against the Christian people who hold the Sultan in their power or who have dwelt in their midst. When I was there it seemed to me the most fantastic city in the world in its contrast between the European quarter at Paris and the Oriental one in the lower town and its wild assembly of nationalities and races ranging through every type />f humanity. Now Constantinople is under the wise and stern rule of General Harington, patrolled by marines and military police. British and French troops are being massed in the greatest strength for defence against a menace which comes closer. One cannot tell what fires will be lit at this bridgehead to Europe, which stands guard against the mystery of the East and its parlous.