The Washington herald., 1915-10-23
The British "Crisis. :"

To those who are familiar with the British
habit of thought and above all with the British
method of conducting their affairs the alleged
crisis" far from being alarming, is a cheering
sign of healthy mental activity in nation too
prone to assume that everything is lovely. The
English still playing politics. They will con-
tinue to do until the end of the war. To imagine
that they would do otherwise is to overlook the
extent to which in the British Isles politics is
bound up with the most vital things OF life Com
pared with them politics is the merest
dabbling by amateurs in a business that has long
since been exclusively in the hands of profess
sional class stockbroking medicine. A Brit
ish general or admiral is responsible to Parlia-
ment, not to a chief executive as with US. That,
pso facto, throws him into politics at once. 1t is
not very good system, but it has worked we'll
because the English have always played the polit-
cal game clearly. The executive officers critics
arc also his employers, in fact if not in theory.
Sir Edward Carsons resignation is regarded as
grave" by many of editorial writers who de-
clare themselves unable to understand exactly
what it portends but predict strong attack the
cabinet from without. That is entirely incorrect.
The coalition cabinet was formed and made to
include all the best ability that Britain could mus
ter in order to avoid that very thing. And Car
sons resignation is simple enough. 1t means that
the government is getting ready to establish con-
scription. Carson. whatever his private views
may be- represents constituency and is the
acknowledged leader of group-thc Ulstermcn
who do not want CONSUMPTION any more than the
natonalists do. He does not wish to prejudice his
position by taking any stand in the matter. He
rctires from the cabinet for the same reason that
more astute politician, John Redmond, stayed
out Of it. The cabinet is undoubtedly split on
the question OF CONSUMPTION. but the cleavage is
not on party lines and if a decision is reached
the minority will simply acquesce.
The recall Of Sir Ian Hamilton is likewise con-
sidercd by some newspapers to presage grave
things but it is clear that he is recalled simply
for the purpose of getting his ideas to the
question of abandoning the Gallipoli campaign.
Sir Ian is one of England's most distinguished
soldiers and if the GalIipol campaign has proved
failsrc-and in many respects it has served its
purpose-it is not his fault but that of the men
who called for the undertaking. 1t is doubtful if
it will be abandoned. If Turkey is to be attacked
from another quarter it is obviously desirable
thing TO continue the pressure at Gallipoli so as
to divide the Turkish forces.
One cannot escape the suspicion that Britain
is OVERRIDING the business of registering crisis
in respect to the Balkan situation. One would
not be surprised to know that secretly the allies
arc delighted that events should have turned out
as they have, although the refusal of Greece to
participate undoubtedly an unpleasant sur
prise. 1t is not only for the German and Austrian
forces that Bulgaria offers a road to CONSTANT
nople. Nor is it to be supposed that. once it is
established that the Austro-German forces can
be held in Serbia, Bulgaria will allow herself to
be destroyed for the sake OF Euver Bey and his
friends. II the allies force Bulgaria to "quit,
Turkey, with British and French troops hammer
ing at the Chatalja lines we'll at Gallipoli is
a gone goose. Germany knows that and must
make heroic efforts to throw enough troops into
the Balkans to control the situation 1t will take
"a tremendous effort on her part. At present the
game is in doubt, only the opening move having
been played with no great advantage to either
side. The whole campaign is by far the most
thrilling that has been undertaken SINCE the COM
mcncemsnt of the war. There arc so many things
that mar m,vssot happen. The participation
ei Italy, with men as well as SHIPS, the possibility