El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-12
IMPERIAL War
STAFF To ACT
FOR BRITAIN
All Colonies To Have Men
On Governing Board of
New Army.
TO CHOOSE MEN
PROVEN IN WAR

I 7 ONDON. Eng, April 12.-Great
Il Britain is to develop a great i'm
Iperiai war staff whose business It Will
be to coordinate the activities OF the
army. navy and air force and to evolve
a science in strategy and operations
which viii include the empire as a
whole. The fact that this matter has
come before the cabinet IS revealed
by Winston Churchill. secretary OF
state for war and air.
The plan Is regarded as a Logical
development and outcome Of the war,
but IL marks a change in British pol
icy during peace
For the first time in history all
parts Of the British empire were
brought together as a forceful whole
during the war. and there grew up an
imperial war cabinet which included
premiers OF the various dominions.
This body was largely advisory For
actual direction OF the war a special
cabinet OF five. the war cabinet, was
created. and II was the business OF
this body TO correIate the activities Of
the war by land sea and air against
Germany and 10 determine upon the
measure Of influence to be accorded
each.
Need Central Body.
With peace in sight. the nation pas
sessed Of a greater army. navy and
air force than she ever before had
and the empire being confronted with
extensive problems Of necessary safe
guards, British statesmen feel that
only a general staff can give the ad-
vice needed to meet issues certain to
arise
Heretofore civilians in charge OF the
army and navy have been. more or
less, ar5itrars OF the policy TO be fol-
lowed by the empire the people OF
Australia. Canada, New Zealand and
South Africa having practically no
voice in the matter
The war has reemphasized how very
important the colonies are to the con-
tinuance Of Great Britain as a flour
ishing nation It also has given the
colonies more voice in empire policies
than they ever before had.
Unified action in the future, It Is
believed. depends upon an effective
imperial general staff Such staff
would discuss strategy and empire
defence in the light OF aerial naval
and military teaching instead OF leav-
ing ii 20 civilian ministers TO assimi-
late arguments Of the air board. war
office and admiralty for themselves
Such an imperial war staff. It Is
pointed out would forestan such IN
dertakings as the Dardanelles ven
ture. which at first was only a naval
In presenting next years
army estimates to the house Of com
mons, Churchill said:
A Representative Army.
I've may. in the course OF years.
evolve a class Of officers Of high
standing drawn from every branch Of
the service. and from every part OF
the empire. armed with a body OF
doctrine the result Of searching and
scientific thought. who viii be able 10
advise the cabinet and the prime min
lister OF the future from the point Of
view OF war as a whole. from the
point OF view OF imperial defence in
its integrity and its universally"
Already soldiers from Australia and
Canada have been called to the war
office. Through necessity they were
called there during the war. Likewise. I
Australians have been given high po-
sitions at the admiralty.
Thus a beginning already has been
made toward creation Of an imperial
war staff II is intended that the Brit
ish war office OF the future will have
an operations division composed OF the ]
best officers in the air force, army and I
navy who VIII be able to advise re-
garding employment OF the forces OF
the crown TO best advantage Men
from the dominions viii undoubtedly 7
have several seats on this body.
This change in method Of directing
the fighting forces is proposed as a ]
means OF strengthening defence.