ONE ERROR-ONE REJECTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 175, 19 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

ONE ERROR-ONE REJECTION.

GENERAL ROBERTSONS RULE

Mending and cleaning up have been the order of the day for three months,

and improvements are noticeable. At the vVar Office (writer the Sydney SunV, London correspondent, under date rob. 21st) General Robertson has done wonder*. He is a plain, strong, unprejudiced jiian, admitted into one of the most exclusive preserves in England. He rom:ndi< one somewhat in a distant way, of a Cromwell stopping with simple and wholesome methods into a hothouse of traditions and privileges. A particularly large eons gnmont of " venerables". was shipped hack from the West front last week. The generals go ng forward are youngsters, all with groat anxiety about their career'-., and oi'.eh with the fear of Hrherteon in him. The rule made by the Chief of Staff is very distinct. " One error, one rejection." it says; "big promotion or recall."

We have now a brigadier-general of 31 years, and London resounds with the names of youngsters whom Hobertson lias found alter 18 months :n France, and who are clo*c to genius. I am well informed that the Army ha* not made up its maid whether it likes the changes. It is undecided, as yet, whether more annoyance ntul inconvenience are caused by generals being put up or put away. Soldiers suffer much in silence, and their experience of brigadiers in France is that all the Britsh generals are alike, and all are exacting upon the Tommy. But you may be confident that the great-heart-ed and earnest young officers and privates who are going to win this war are grateful to Robertson. He its determined to have all his changes completed before the spring campaign, and has already got the worst of the rivalling over. There has been wonderfully little k : ck ng, tor the ttngli.-hman has a genius tor carrying through reform uithout v.olence.

Indeed, so quietly have these and other changes been made since tho awakening came in Great Britain a few months ago that very few people knew what Mr Bonar Lav> meant yesterday when he told the American newspapers —in reply to a question whether he was stit!<ncd with the conduct of the war—that "at all event- the direction of the war has greatly improved. 1 ' There may st U be some of the weak-u.'.-scs which struck the oh-erver with such peculiar force at the Dardanelles and in the handling of policy in London live months ago, but in the main requirements for reform —in reorganisation and revitalising of the general staff, in the adaptation of sound business pr.nciples to warfare, and in concentration of authority and responsibility in the hands of a few strong men —much has been done. There seems to be a stronger grip on those it.<entials which mean victory.