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West Coast Times, 24 November 1915, Page 2

WAR NOTES. Aminat. I,ohd Fisher lias rebuked his adversary in a way that admits no answer, and for himself has chosen the hotter part by refusing to reply at present to aspersions cast on him by -Mr. Churchill. His record of service, he declares, nan take care of itself after all the years that it has lasted. “It is not fitting to make personal explanations affecting the national interests when the country is in the midst of a great war.” So the Roman general rebuked the accusations of his enemies when he reminded them ; “Seventeen years ago to-chty I defeatod Hannibal at /nma. Let us go and give thanks to (he god?.” Mr. Churchill's defence of his war conduct was a highly interesting one; so no doubt would he Lord Fisher’s, if he eared to make it; hut more important and more worthy matters claim the nation’s energies at this time than the forcing and hemming of apologies from men who have given great services to the State Lord St. Davids has attacked the British Headquarters Staff in France, 'accusing it of “general incompetence and laziness.” Now who is Lord St. Davids Mis name was formerly John Wynford Phillips, he has had some experience as a barrister, and sal in the House of Commons for sixteen years before being made a peer seven velars ago. His survey of the war from Pembroke, England makes him now military critic. Happily t(here are some English men ami women who have not yet exorcised their undoubted right to tell the Rritish Government and Sir John French how they should conduct the war—the Hishop of St. Davids, Mr. Hall Caine, Mr John Kensit, and Miss Corelli for example . Some of these must have put a wonderful restraint upon themselves in the last twelve months.

l.ord Halane was the organiser of the Territorial Force, and as against the violent accusations of Lord St. Davids, we prefer to trust his statement that the General Staff in Franco has done the “work of tho highest order.’’ The suggestion that incompetent stall’ officers Have been thrust upon Sir John French by the power of patronage does not accord with the character of the man who la few months ago retired a leading general, praised by him formerly and very popular in Kuglard, without a word of explanation. It does not accord with what else is known of Sir John French’s career. The last time a change of patronage was made it referred to Air. Lloyd George's son, who had not received the rank attributed to him. As regards the failure of reserves at Loos, which seems to have provoked the outburst of Lord St. Davids, a military enquiry is being held to find out who blundered. The tribunal al the Front will do its work better than any civilians.