Arizona republican., 1915-11-17
A Thinkino Department

Thinking Department
 Arthur B Markham. who declared in he house of commons Monday. As long Earl Kitchener-the who accepts no adyice-remains the office we will win the war" IS the same Sir Arthur who since 1912 has been 9 member of that parliamentary group of the Liberal party whose idea of statesmanship has been independent criticism" His assertion Kitchener was sponsibe for the blunders of Antwerp and the danoles is open doubt appears both those great bunders upon without a dissenting voice. The further declaration that Kitchener had withheld information public whom he treated dervshes,' " concludes his indictment of the war secretary
 The last count is probably a true and discloses tke only fault of Kitchener for which he was wholly responsible The censorship which a supremely foolish was directed by him. It the result bent of mind by confinement of his duties for SO long a period among peoples whom he could his confidence and the government whom d. mnistered without advice" No doubt his admin istraton the the lack of advice. To Kitchener therefore, all outside office were "dervishes.'
 But were advisers. it appears a very loosely organized indefinite group, not experts or even pretended experts. They mostly poli- ticians bent conducting tue war not for the saving of Great Britain but for the advantage O their respective parties and factions. Social in nuence also swayed deliberations of the ad- visers. In the social world political world Kitchener sea, like of water.
 The "advsrs' seemed think that the great name of Kitchener would somehow the war, the while they played politics and tEe while social leaders dominated the personnel of the army for Kitchener responsible a ali There was nothing for him to do but and a great army without means of recruiting armies; to furnish them with supplies and to furnish munitions of and victories land and. eventually. compel British triumph Kitchener had do Social leaders politicians would do all the rest.
 We do better than to quote from the London Observer which from the beginning taken clearer view Of the war situation any other British newspaper:
 More vita! still means the efficient conduct of the struggle is reorganise War Office. We need above all things create Thinking Department sEch required the assistance of the secretary of state himself less than for the benefit of the prime minister and his chief political colleagues Since Hercules of the the outbreak 0 the conflict caused him stagger stupendous thens than before heaped mortal shoulders Lord Kitchener responsible for everything He was responsible for three diff ferent things which separated in all systems aiming at military efficiency under modern condi- tions. These three things material, personnel and plans. The furnishing be distinguished from the recruiting O armies both from the strategicl employment of armies the field. With respect the first, a fundamental change has been made. Late in the day realised that in our continued innocence of the methods of modern preparation for a scale had expected Lord Kitchener to perform sheer possibilities. A separate ministry of munitions created. and it has developed into a partment, taxing the whole energies of Mr. Lloyd George and his increasing staff.
 The Balkan situation has proved that still went on expecting Lord Kitchener to perform sheer mpossibities. When the Germans attacked Serbia and the Bulgars threw off the mask had the Vestige of real plan, and it has taken three weeks to reach fundamental decision. The storm burst. For it had been predicted For months all the contingencies urgently obvious Plans to meet them ought to have been ready for the touch of button. But Thinking Depart ment had been authorised to provide Lord Kitchener beforehand with what every government ought to be able to consult demands definite and thor. oughly thought-out plan for dealing with verY serious emergency of
 There has been the of British woes, the absence Thinking Department" It is no wonder that every British in the a bundcr, the Dar'laneIes campaign, the costly and ephemeral victory Neuve Chapelle, hesitation n Balkans and the present plight the allies darker than without a gleam into Q brighter outlook. Apparently everything devoves upon Russia. A breakdown there would the triumph of the empires.
 In the early days of the heard much of the Russian Cossacks, the German Uhans, the