New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-14

Cabinet falls. Another Is formed,
usually from the Opposition. There IS
only one way to evade this downfall =
to form some kind of new Cabinet. The
ink was not dry on Northcliffe's attacks
before the government had decided on
a coalition Cabinet, representing not
only the Liberal government which has
served England so long and think
so extremely we'll, but the Conserva-
tives or Unionists.
There was a strong side issue-the
Dardaneiles affair, and the consequent
quarrel between Churchill and Fisher,
his First Sea Lord. But the main
question was the subject of munitions.
That Kitchener would be shorn of his
power in this regard TO one in the
know doubted for a moment. A new
office, the Ministry of Munitions, was
created. All sides recognized that this
job was going 10 be the most impor-
tant, the most critical, in the new gov
eminent. II needed not a soldier, but
a business man, or at least man OF
affairs. From the first there was one
leading candidate-Lloyd George. To
this little Welsh solicitor" so hated
by most of the upper class for his
"socialistic" legislation of the past few
years, Britain turned in the crisis. And
when the new Cabinet was announced
it was no surprise TO find Lloyd George
Minister of Munitions.
Lloyd George to the Rescue.
II is a dramatic exemplar of the
times, this appointment measure of
the change not only in the methods Of
warfare, but in the personalities of
warfare. OF a sudden il appears that
the most important branch of warfare
is not going out and shooting an enemy
with a gun, or in organizing and drill
ing the armies which shall go shooting
with the guns, but in setting the re-
sources of a whole nation TO manu-
featuring the guns and the stuff that
goes in them. And out of the impor-
tant post which has control Of this de-
partment goes the great, heroic figure
of old wars, the silent, sphinx-like SOL
der whom the world has made a figure
of romance; and in comes a chapel
going, hard headed, practical attorney
from small town in Wales. That little
man holds in his two hands much of
the future of the British Empire.
Kitchener is still Secretary Of State
for War In that capacity he will go
on gathering, organizing and training
the new armies. He viii have nothing
to do with equipping them and, for tie
present at least, with leading them in
battle. That will be the function of
Sir John French. There is another task
of army organization ahead for Kitch-
ener Probably CONSUMPTION is coming
The British have performed wonders in
raising a volunteer army. As | have
said. they have done at least as well as
he -, H., T,,.H DE- -
North had 10 come 10 the draft-and in
this war, which no one now expects 10
be a short one, the British must even
tually take TO the same method. At
least, so most Of the far-seeing Britons
believe. II is interesting TO see how
often the Britons cite our Civil War as
a parallel to this. No piece of English
literature has been so widely and COM
monty quoted as Lincoln's Gettysburg
speech. And the experience of the
North in the Civil War figures every
week in the British pres
Overlooking the Superman.
In the mean time Kitchener, as al
ways, keeps his mouth shut. In this,
the first setback of his career, he re-
mains the sphynx. Doubtless we shall
never know, while he lives, just what
sotI OF man hltchener Is. Doubtless
we shall never know while this war
lasts the secret Of that muddle over
explosive shells. Did the super
man bite of more than even super
man could chew? Was he lacking in
huidity, 40 that he, the soldier. failed
when 1t came to pure question of big
business and business administration
Was he over-ambitious? We know not,
and until the "reminiscences OF this
time come 10 be written we shall never
know.
AS for the rest of the Cabinet. that