GENERAL GODLEY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1749, 21 August 1917, Page 2

GENERAL GODLEY

CRITICISED AND DEFENDED IN PARLIAMENT. Speaking in Parliament on the subject of the Army, Mr C. J. Pansaid he thought it was most unfortunate that General Godlcy still commanded our armies in Franco. Ninety per cent, of the men he had met at Home and returned, said the same thing. There was a feeling of unconcealed hostility and dislike, and the Government ought not to ignore it. The feeling was nut ephemeral, hut had persisted for three years. The excellent efficiency and moral of our men at the front was largely due to General Russell in France and General Richardson in England. General Godley had given no chance to New Zealand officers to learn Stall'work. At present there was only one New Zealand officer on the Stall', and

that, was a recent appoinimem. General Godlcy owed his position |o the fad that he commanded the New Zealanders, and lie should give New Zealanders a full share in the work of his command. He might be a good soldier, as a tactician, but if he could not get on with men he was not a good commander. He had seen evidence of (his universal feeling of undisguised hostility against him, and he fell: sure ilia', (he New Zealanders would light heller under General Binlwood, and ilia! General Godley should he removed lo some other command. IS THERE INFLUENCE.’ Mr W. T. -leniiiugs said there was a distinct feeling in the minds of some people that men could get commissions in the army by inllucime, If (hat was (nm, ii was a, liana' lo be .-Irongly ilcprccaled. He believed tii, 1 1 (lie Aiiiiislci. - of Defence was lhe List person lo lie subjeel to inlinence, but Ibe rumour 11 1 a 1 was going about in Dial respect was sen oil*. Dike Mr Pan-, be cniiIcndcd .Dial (lie New Zealanders had nol had a true run under General Godlcy, although wherever (hey had gone limy had done credit lo Dm Dominion. AN APPRECIATION. AD- MViliiim started mil hy relerring 1" General Godley. lit- met him in < Eg\ pi. and was impressed by him as a man who hail all Dm pualilicalions for Dm making of a gn-al soldier. Dc was surprised that a member of llm House should main* an a Hack on a high Imperial officer. He was in -no way under I lie control of (he New Zealand Government; II was (rue that ho was unpopular wilh some, hut he never missed an opportunity of doing dm best he could for his officers and men. Mr M'Gallum came across cases in Egypt where the General bad been hard where it was a quest ion of attending lo (he health of the troops under Ids charge. He was not there for popularity, lint to do Ids part in winning the war. and he could only do (hat hy looking a Her die health of die men. Ii was exceedingly regrettable Dial such an allaek should have been made. To attempt to gain popularity will) (lie soldiers hy such f* an allaek was to be deplored. ■Mr Parr contended that (hat remark imputed an improper motive. Ah- AlVallum withdrew the remark. lie had not intended to convey dm impression imputed.