The Washington herald., 1915-11-06
Premier A.quith's Defense.

Ihose VINO understand the Englisn CHARACTER 10
not doubt that the English governing classes
would still be playing politics. whatever they may
say to the contrary. though the Germans were
within twenty miles of London. Therefore it is
not surprising that Premier Asquith's promised
explanation to the people should materialize as
challenge to his political adversaries, piece of
special pleading that admitted much but explained
nothing. The premier admitted frankly that the
FIRST attack on the Dardanelles was aifailure and
by inference that the military expedition was
nearly as disastrous. He admitted also that Brit
ish diplomacy in the Balkans had not produced
successful results, and that possible failure of
diplomacy had not been guarded against by mill
tary precautions. His excuse for these failures
was the ancient to the effect that the govern
ment had reason to suppose" Now 1t is axio-
matte that in time of war excuses for failure are
not accepted. If results are not produced heads
must fall. A general who as the result of acting
on transformation loses a fight does not get an
other chance. 1t must be the same with cabinet
to which is entrusted the national safety. How
ever excellent may have been the reason that As
quith and his colleagues had for "supposing" this
or that, the outstanding fact is that they blum
dered. Therefore they should, according to the
rules governing such matters, go. Therefore in
all probability they will go.
In order not to go they putting up politi-
cal fight. If resolution were introduced into
the house of commons tomorrow calling for a
vote of confidence in the government it should
of course be defeated the ground that the
government had not produced results emitting it
to the nations confidence. But that is not what
would happen. The CONSUMPTION issue would at
once be raised and the government would appeal
to those who do not want conscription to keep
them in Office though the fact may actually be
that their blunderings are capable of losing the
war for England with or without compulsory
service 1t is to be noted that the question Of
CONSUMPTION was not raised beyond the making
by the premier of the feeble statement that rather
than lose the war he would order compulsory
military service.
He refrained from telling his hearers how
many soldiers the empire had under arms, or what
the weekly recruiting figures were, or what were
the needs in men estimated by Lord Kitchener or
the allied commanders. These facts were withheld
on the plea of military necessity, but really be-
cause they are the ammunition of the conscrip-
tionists. An official admission of less and less
recruits than the nation vaguely believes to exist
would be fatal. But CONSUMPTION is not the vital
issue at the present time as Sir Edward Carson's
speech clearly indicated. Lord Northcliffe, how
ever has done the great disservice to his country
of making bugaboo out of it by brandishing which
an incompetent cabinet can keep itself in othce
The vital issue at the present moment is to
get rid of Lord Kitchener. How can it be done
gracefully? He is still the peoples idol but those
in a position to know realize that he is failure.
His feet of clay have been propped up from time
to time, first by making Lloyd George minister
of munitions and again by turning over the re-
cruiting to Lord Derby. And Cen Joffre has been
called upon more than once to prevent an open
break between the secretary OF war and Britains
generals in the field. But Kitchener will not re-
sign-probably his colleagues do not care to ask
him to-and the only way he can be disposed OF
is for the whole cabinet to 60 If Lloyd George
or Sir Edward Grey were asked to form cabinet
tomorrow they would not include Lord Kitchener.
direct attack on Kitchener has already proved
out of the question. He is still too much of al
popular idol Therefore, if for no other reason
the whole cabinet must go. But they naturally
do not want to go. And so the political game
goes on. each one charging the other side with
self-interest or incompetence and each side-thls
is the pathetic part of it-really striving to do
what it believes to be best for the country.
But it is idle if chivalrous of Sir Henry AS
quith to assume responsibility for Lord Kitchen
er's shortcomings. 1t was not for the premier
nor vet for Sir Edward Grey or David Lloyd
George to gather data upon and decide upon the
possibilities of military expedition to Gallipoli
1t was not for them to decide as to the vulnera-
bilitv of the Saloniki-Nish Railway, to consult
with the Serbian authorities to its defense and
as to the advsabity of building light railroad
from the Albanian coast. These things were for
Lord Kitchener and those under him. 1t was for
them to tell the cabinet what should or should
not be done, not to wait until the cabinet in
formed them that diplomatic negotiations threat
ened to fail Britain has been all too sanguine in
her expectations that other nations would and
should fight her battles for her. The British war
Office had no right to indulge in such misguided
hopes
But Britain's enemies need not expect to de-
rive much consolation from this state OF affairs.
The English are too old and wise in politics to |
allow them to interfere materially with the final
object in view The war will 60 on and the
blunders that have been made by one set OF men
will be remedied or perhaps added to by another
set of men, But they are not vital plumbers,
probably not more serious blunders than others
have made Certainly they cannot compare with
the blunder that cost the Germans the battle OF
the Marine or caused the French to be unable to
defend their northern frontier at the outbreak