The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-02-18

| nam Hoporto0u, VINO last week re-
signed a. chief Of staff, has ae-
cepted what Il known as the east
ern command, that is, the eastern
parts Of ths British Isles.
London, Feb. 18.--Ths controversy
az to the position Of Gen. Robertson
whose resignation as chief of staff was
announced last week, was the princi
pal subject Of discussion of the morn
ing newspapers. which give various
versions of the; causes which brouah.
about a situation that is generally re-
sretted. Gen. Robertson has repeated
to the newspapers his assertion, ~
have not resigned" He has refused
any further statement. There seems
to be no question, however, that the
difference between the government s
announcement and that Of the general
10 merely a difference in words, the
government having interpreted his rs
fusal to serve on the supreme war
council or to remain az chief Of staff
with limited powers as resignation,
while the general dissented from that
Interpretation.
So far as is known, there is no prob
ability of any Encouragement whereby
Gen. Robertson would remain as chief
of staff. Newspapers hostile to Pre-
mier Lloyd George believe he inf1u-
enced the war cabinet to cause Gen.
Robertson to resign, while elsewhere
the fact that the general was offered
the post on the supreme war council Is
held to acquit the premier Of any per-
sonal bias. 900
Stresses Closer CO. oper alton.
The Chronicles version of these
events makes the whole matter turn
upon the necessity of closer co opera
tion among. the allies, which, ii says,
the premier has always advocated. Ac-
cording to the Chronicles statement,
it was the urgent demand of Great
Britain's allies, voiced at the recent
Versailles conference, which led to the
adoption Of the new policy for
strengthening the defense. against the
threatened German blow on the west
ern front; a plan Tor greater unifica-
tion OF action ana command The
Chronicle continues: This policy was
LUG pOllCJ VI thO PhVhbiCA o M t~h6AS'H
France and Italy, and on President
Wilson's representative, as advised by
their military experts II was ac-
cepted by Gen. Foch, by Gen. Bliss and
by the deputy chief of the Italian staff.
Gen. Robertson was present when the
policy was adopted, but was opposed
to the plan. Field Marshal Haig, on
the other hand, whose duty is to carry
out the plan, is not opposed thereto,
but on the contrary, accepts it with
out reservation"
London, Feb. 1e.-The idea that the
public is attempting to dictate to the
government what their military policy
shall be or who shall be employed to
carry il out is deprecated by the Daily
Chronicle in an editorial on the situa-
ton brought about by the announce |
ment that Gen. Robertson had been |
retired as chief Of the imperial staff.
1.-THE task Is one for the responsible |
it says, ''and while 1T is
open to parliament to change the min
listers, no circumstances have been
disclosed in the present instance which |
warrant such an upheaSal."
The Times, remarking that the pre-
mier's recent speech in the house of |
commons. failed to carry complete con- |
viction, says the result has been |
storm of exaggeration and political in
trigues over what seems to have been
most natural and common sense ar
1t declares that a full ex-
Dlanation of events obviously is over
iue.
Gen. Robertson Eulogixed.
News of Gen. Robertsons removal.
he Morning Post says, will be received
With CONSERVATION by the public and
he army. 1t eulogizes Gen. Robertson |
lot only as the greatest British SOL
lier of his day, but as the highest mill
AIRY genius the war thus far has pro-
iuced.
at is impossible to exaggerate." It
;ays, how much efficiency and sue
,ess the British arms owe to Gen. Rob-
,rtson."
Declaring it is evident Gen. Robert
on has been dismissed and that those
Who dismissed him find 1t inconvenient
,arliament will insist on knowing why
he distinguished soldier is treated SO
curvily. 1t continues: |,
Confidence Shattered. II
"If the summary dismissal of Gen.
robertson were not enough to shatter
ur confidence in Premier Lloyd George
nd the government, the circumstances
f the dismissal would do 1t.
We have had enough of the premier
,ho surrounds himself with janissaries
{ the press, ready at the lift of his
yebrow to bowstring any distin-
uished soldier or sailor who dares to
ross his arbitrary will: The need Of
he hour is a premier who, while know
- x,,bara 20 forhear inferfereuce with