COMPROMISE WITH DEVIL

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1930, Page 9

COMPROMISE WITH DEVIL

GENERAL’S ATTACK ON WAR

SO-RDBD ASPECT OF SOLDIERY

WIDE CRITICISM OF BOOK

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.

Rec. 11.30 p.m. London, April 24. Brigadier-General Crozier’s book “Brass Hat in No Man’s Land throws more harrowing sidelights on army life in the field which the critics condemn as slanders on the men who went to France.

■ -General Crosier describes the execution of a soldier for cowardice and desertion. Enough spirits were left beside him to sink a ship. He was unconscious when tied to a stake. A volley was fired, but presumably was ineffective, and after that a subaltern dispatched the man.

Reviews also quote General Crozier as saying that free love was inevitable for many celibates of both sexes engaged in war . work in 1914-1918.

General Crozier is the centre 4>f considerable criticism. Particular objection is made to his references to soldiers’ relations with women. Many women prominent in war work repudiate the suggestion entirely. General Crozier, replying, emphasises that the book does not disparage fighters, but attacks the system, which, he maintains, is vicious. “It is impossible to invent fairy tales of-how the disease hospitals were filled in war time, or how canteens made millions selling spirits to boys who should have been at school,” he writes. “People are such humbugs. They will not face the truth. Critics are well aware I have told the truth. War is a gigantic compromise with the devil, and a Christian country ceases to be Christian. Hence to maintain chaplainsHs out of place in war.”

lan Hay vigorously attacks a war book depicting soldiers as beasts. “Apart from their untruth, the anecdotes are distressing to the relatives of the fallen. I know from correspondence there is great resentment in the Dominions, particularly Australia. Let us end all these books.”

Similar views are held by BrigadierGeneral Critichlcy, who disputes the accuracy of the book. “I have seen court martial death sentences carried out,” he says, “but never anything like the execution General Crozier describes, and I have not heard of the victim being drugged.”