New-York tribune., 1917-12-25

norso,aIi,ioe Generals who have proved
themselves in this country are not lacking on
the allied side 10 make a fight against hInd-
cnburp. Ludendorfr, Mackensen and others
This is not the question. But shall translate
tho sentiment which arises out OF the MIL
tarv situation in the history OF TINS war. ~
is the French army which, in spite OF IT'S
losses. steadily supplies the most considera-
bIe oFort II is thanks TO this effort, sus-
tained BIZ that Of the entire nation whlcn inc
German military and political chiefs oeieVed
10 be incapable Of resisting them-itis thanks
IN France that the English have been able 70
make their splendid and tremendous chor''
tba, the Western front has not broken since
the Marnc. that honor has been saved IN the
Near East by Salonc@ that America to-day
prepares. however tardily, that effort wnicn
will be decisive. Finally, that Italy, VINO
has too eagerly sought to supply her proud
motto. "By my own strength will raise her
self after the unexpected blow that has fallen
upon her.
France has earned the admiration of the
world. The world fights at her side for her
and for civilization.
The French army is then the centre Of the
Allied armies. Those who fight beside her
on her invaded soil and on that Of Belgium
are those armies in which her divisions are
mingled in Italy and in the Near East. Could
there be any question that the generaliss'me
ought to be a French general? In the alb
sence of a responsible ministry and because
of my fear Of the censor, do not dare 10 go
further.
The Inter-Allied staff
At Rapallo, in the excitement of the pres
ent hour, it seemed as if there had been de-
sire to hasten and give satisfaction to PUBLIC
opinion by creating not an inter-Alliei stan'
but a technical military council Of the Allies
Three generals have been selected This IS
not what one understands by an Allied staff.
Such a triumvirate would take the place OF
the generalssime and play at being the un-
known power With French generalissime
actually indicated there would still be needed
an inter-Alied staff under his orders pre-
pairing and executing his decisions. Each ma
ton will be represented by many officers, but
this is staff, not another Aulic Council. The
generalissime must remain master of its
wishes and its decisions. 1t will always be
easy for him to communicate personally by
telephone or directly with the general in
chief Of the Allied armies, as we'll as with the
governments. Let no one confound the inter-
Allied staff, the organ of communication and
of relations with the actual staff of the gen.
eralssime, the direct organ of his thoughts
and his personal work composed of officers
possessing his confidence.
There will, am aware, be a double fear
which will be felt, that one has already
a priori in certain military and political
quarters.
One too easily associates the word "dicta-
tor" with that of commander in chief, and
on the other side one can intrust the fate OF
the war to a single head, which may weaken
Here again | must avoid discussion which
touches on the personal. But it is certain
that the. separation of the powers of the gen
eralissime of the Allied armies and those of
the governments responsible for the conduct
of the war has been the chief obstacle which
has up to now interfered with the unification
of command. The political regime, demo-
cratic in principle, of the western Allies
lends itself badly TO this sort of subordina-
tion of parliamentary government to mill
tary chief. however high his repute, as it
exists in Germany. However as this may
be, all of the uneasiness which has been felt
in recent months in France, in Italy and in
England, an uneasiness which one attributes
70 war wearness, and to an unreasonable
hour for an early peace, comes in reality
from disagreement between public opinion,
which feels the necessity of a form of COM
mand capable of finishing the war by de-
feating Germany, and the governments which
cannot make up their minds or are not able
70 take this supreme resolution, destructive
as it seems to their responsibility and their
political rights.
Still as, above ALL it is necessary to con-
quer in order to get this desired peace, there
is no other solution than to arrange the con-