The sun., 1918-04-26
R0THERMERE
QUITS BRITISH
AIR MINISTRY
NOrthcliffe's Brother Is
Forced Out by Difficulties
of Post and iii Health.
ATTACKED By PRESS
Lloyd Georges Enemies Are
Expected to Seize on Act
for New Assault.
ATTACKED By PRESS
SDeetdi Cable DespotcA to THs Sen.
Convyt0Af. 1919: all vt0Ats vescyred.


Copyright. 1915: oil ~toAts ,escrrsd.
LONDON, April 25.-Lord Rothermere.
whose brother IL Lord NorthclifYe. has
resigned his post as Secretary Of State
for the Air Forces. While the resigna-
ton. which was announced to-day, un-
doubtedly was duo in q large measure
to i'll health, It will be hailed by the
opposition press as vindication OF their
charges that political methods had sue
ceeded in antaxonizing and Gripping
practical men In the department. and
that the efficiency OF this most vital
fighting service was imperilied.
Lord Rothermere's retirement followed
closely upon the heels Of the reagnat!on
Of STR Arthur c. Roberts. expert nnan-
cial adviser to the Ministry. which. II
was announced. was due to disagreement
with Lord Ro,hermere's policy regard
Ing a certain matter Of administration.
There had also come the designations
Of Sir Hugh Trenchard. Chief Of the Air
Stan. and Sir David Henderson. tech.
nical adviser, both Of which were at.
tributed to dlsagreements over . matter
Of principle, with Lord Rsthsrmsrs on
the othsr r-s6df " the particular conten-
tion. r-r ..sa.~.A- a-
Lloyd George Praises Work.
Premier Lloyd George. in a letter ac-
cept!ng the resignation Of Lord Rother-
mere. undoubtedly stated the real cause
of the Ministers resignation when. in
pra.sinE his work In accomplishing the
fusion Of the Royal Nava! Air Service
and Royal Flying Corps. he said:
mo minister ever had greater diff
had in sfsecting the fusion OF the two
services"
From the beginning Of Lord Rother-
meres tenure Of office he has been con-
tinually attacked By tho press and the
politicians who oppose tho Ministry OF
Lloyd George, The opportunity for such
attack was made easy BY the differ
ences and the rivalry between the army
and the navy representatives. In the
work os combining the two services un-
der one executive each element had its
own supporters
The resignation OF Sir Hugh Trench
ard. coming at time when the cam
paign OF tho opposition press against the
Government, was In :ull swing because
or the retirement or Lord Fisher. Ad-
mira! Jeiiicoe. Marshal rrench ana Gen
Sir william robertson. was seized upon
as another instance OF politicians and
amateur strategists overruling the judg-
ment Of trained military men.
These campaigns, which we're con-
aucted win tne utmost bitterness.
ignored the ohiy principe upon ~hich
government IS possible uhuer the pres
eht system f.ach department mas
nead oifect!! respohs'nle 70 the war
'ao'ne'' anu 80 !ong as the war Caoinct
ana 'he M'h's,ers continue 'h's 'eiatlon-
| snip an Questions concerning aismissals
ana promotions ana designations from
'he army ana may as wen as or civil
o'ncerS. mus. DC 'e't IN 'he'r hands
IL was ohis 10 oe expected mat %ch
'eorsan'1a,ion AN" a,na@amation OF
the ar services shou,d nave aroused
mu'h ol'ernesS. Uu' impartiai judges
are OF inc opii'lon that since Lord Roth
ermere LOOK cnarse OF the air service Its
en'ciency h's peeh considerably In
creased
Undoubtedly the drastic reforms which
It was necessary to introduce leo many
ohcers TO teei themselves slishteh. re-
suiting in considerable friction between
/ the clNllldE CUieIS ana professional eN-