New Britain herald., 1918-02-18
BRITAIN STIRRED BY
 LOSS OF ROBERTSON
Press ArraiSnS Lloyd George for
 Dismissing Chief Of Staff
REORGANIZATION DEMANDED

London Times Declares IrcmIcr'S
 Speech in Parliament Was Unsarjs-
 factory-Post Halls General As
 Greatest British Soldier of His Day.
 London, Feb. 18.-The idea that the public is attempting to dictate to the government what their military policy shall be or who shall be en- ployed to carry it out is criticized by the Daily Chronicle in an editorial on the situation brought about by the announcement that Gen. Robertson had been retired from the imperial staff.
 '"The task is one for the respOnSi- ble minister's it says, "und while it is open to parliament to change the ministers no circumstances have boon disclosed in the present instance which warrants such an upheaval"
 The Times, remarking that the pre- mier's recent speech in tho house of commons failed to carry complete conviction, says the result has been a storm of indignatios and political in trigue of what seems to have been a most natural and common sense ar engagement.
 News of Robertson's removal, the Morning Post says, will be received with consternation by the public and army. It eulogizes Gen. Robertson, not only as the greatest British sol dier of his day but as the highest military genius the war thus far has produced.
 Tt is impossible to eNaggerate,' it says, +'how much efficiency and suc- cess the British arms owe to Gen. RObertson.'
 Declaring it is evident Gen. Rob- ertson has been dismissed and those who dismissed him find it difficult to confess, the Post says parliament will insist on knowing why the dis tinguiShed soldier is treated so scurV- fly. It continues:
 eff the summary dismissal of Gen. Robertson were not enough to shat ter our confidence in Premier Lloyd George and the government, the cir cumstances of the dismissal would have done it. We have had enough of premiers of the Janissaries type, ready at the lift of his eyebrow to tOWstring any distinguished soldier or sailor who dares to cross his arbitrary will. The need of the hour is d pre- mier, who, knowing heretofore of no interference with what he does not understand, will know how also to throw his whole weight in the prosecution of the war"
 James w. Lowther, the speaker of the house of commons, and Gen. Jan c. Shuts are mentioned by the Post as the type of men fitted to head the government.
 Robertson Denies Resignation.
 Robertson did not resign his post as chief of the imperial general staff, according to statements made in two London Sunday papers.
 The Sunday Times publishes an in terview with him, given last evening, in which he says:
 "I have not resigned. The only statement 1 have to make is that it is quite true that I will not accept either position" (referring to the posts of chief of the imperial gen. eral staff and British representative sailles).
 The political correspondent of The Sunday Times says:
 General Robertson considers he has been dismissed I hear that be-
 
 general staff) was given to General Sir Henry Wilson it was offered to and declined by General Sir Herbert Plumer, Commander of the British forces in Italy), and it is anticipated that other mem bers of the military heirarchy will follow General Robert son into retirement.
 "The generals have, in fact, revolt ed against the cabinet, and the gray ity of their action can hardly be over estimated. The weakness of the sol diers' position is that they cannot agree among themselves. It is not anticipated that the defection of the generals will wreck the government, as apart from a comparatively small section of militarists, there is no great sympathy with the attitude of the sol dierS."
 The correspondent adds that the l Earl of Derby may resign as secre- tary of state for war. The weekly newspaper, The Nation al News. also says it has been in formed by Sir William that he has not resigned.
 Most of the London morning pa ! pers fail to comment editorially on 1 the official announcement of General ] HObertsOn's resignation. owing to the 1 fact that it was published at so late 1 an hour last evening. However, the 1 news columns virtually all agree that 1 1t will not surprise the public.
 CFN UIIMGNpT NpQTCTED