Evening star., 1940-01-07

1Dtth broad strokes British mill
tary traditions and the dead
1pood" Which cluttered up the
army command. He brought
"new deal" OF democracy and
better conditions for Tommy
Atkins and enlipened the morale
OF the lo1Der ranks of officers by
opening hitherto closed paths of
promotion. His policies earned
him the dislike OF many British
army officers.
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, Jan. 6.-Dismissal of
hard-driving Leslie Hore -Belisha as
war secretary shook to the founda-
tions today the national unity be-
hind Neville Chamberlain's wartime
premiership.
From all parties came demands
that Mr.. Chamberlain tell ALL
about the departure from his war
cabinet of one of his most vigorous
and popular ministers and why he
did not at the same time rid his
government of some so-called dead
wood"
The Star, voicing general press
demands for fuller explanation
of Mr.. re-Belishas retirement,
declared:
There is no satisfactory reason
adduced for shifting a man who
had the public confidence and was
doing fine job.
If it is shown that Mr.. Hore-
Belisha was thrown overheard to
satisfy clique of generals who dis
liked him on social grounds or be-
cause he was pressing the pace of
democracy in the army too strongly
then public resentment will be wide,
deep and lasting"
Information Chief Replaced.
In the cabinet shakeup, Oliver
Stanley succeeded Mr.. Hore- -Belisha
and Mr. Stanley's portfolio as presi-
dent of the Board of Trade went to
a newcomer. Sir Andrew Rae Dun
can. The only other change found
Lord Macmillan replaced as min
lister of information by another new.
conner, Sir John Reith.
The parliamentary recess spared
the 70-year-old Prime Minister
from immediate attacks in the
House of Commons but he will have
a chance to answer his critics in a
Mansion House speech Tuesday
night when he will start a series Of
ministerial addresses to stir the war
spirit of the people
Should Mr. Chamberlain then
ignore the controversy, which sur
passed the heat of those created by
the pease-time designations of
Anthony Eden as foreign secretary
and Alfred Duff Cooper as first lord
of the admiralty. he would wait
until Parliament reconvenes Janu-
ary 16.
May Not Explain Resignation"
Demands for full explanation Of
Mr.. Hore- -Belishas resignation"
were foreshadowed in Parliament by
both opposition party members and
Conservatives.
Mr.. Hore-Belisha, National
Liberal, then will be on the back
bench and will have the chance to
tell why he quit. But there were
some doubts whether he would do
this.
He sent message to his constitu-
ents today that whatever task NAV
fall to me shall perform with vigor
but I have no thought at the present
moment but that of winning the
war"
He noted pointedly that the army
now is "a democratic organization"
which Twill acquit itself with valor
and distinction if and when the
occasion comes
Chamberlain Criticized.
British newspapers were almost as
one in criticizing Mr.. Chamberlain
and displayed prominently German
press comment that there was sharp
dissension within the British gov
ernment's ranks. Authoritative Ger
mans in Berlin said the cabinet
shakeup indicated the death of any
hopes for an early peace.
The British press gave lukewarm
reception to Mr.. Stanley but gener-
ally applauded the infusion of fresh
blood in the government.
The conservative Yorkshire Post
said "the public will feel there are
those who could have been better
spared than Mr.. ore-Belisha in the
testing days that lie ahead"
The august and authoritative
Times limited that reconstruction of
the government might not yet be
complete in saying:
ut cannot be too often repeated
that his (Chamberlain's) task would
be enormously lightened if the tenn
porary retirement of this or that
minister were looked upon as a nat
ural and sensible repercussion OF
these strenuous times ="
Gort, Ironside Critics.