GENERAL GODLEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1917, Page 5

GENERAL GODLEY.

BBASTIOAJXY ORITLCISKD IK Tfflß HOUSE. • SOME OTHER COMMAND URGED. By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter. Wellington. Last Nicrht. "Tn my oipnion it is a most unfortunate tiling that General Godley should still command our army at tho front," said Mr. Parr (Eden) in the House today. "Last year I had an opportunity to talk with many hundreds of man at the front, and in the bases, tho camps, and the hospitals, and I learned that General Godley possessed neither the regard uor tho confidence of tho men. There is a feeling of uuconccivled hostility towards him, and bitter dislike among all ranks. This began in I%ypt, was accentuated Ijy the experiences of Gailipoli, and became even stronger in France and England. I am convinced that the Government ought not to ignore this thing. Tho feeling against tile General is universal, persistent, and, I think, ineradicable. I heard various causes assigned for it, bat I am not concerned with that aspect, What I am concerned about is that there is undoubted hostility to tiie General through the whole of the New Zealand arm v. } feci sure that a difficulty of some 'kind might have arisen but for the, fact that wo have been served by two excellent in Generals Russell and Richardson, who are immediately under General Godley, and who do all the rough qmde work. They poussss not only the rospcct, but the farm esteem of their various commands. I admit that General Godley has always exercised great tact and diplomacy in dealing with hi* superior. If half that tact and diptom--1 aey were exercised iu dealing with the rank and file there would be less cause for complaint. 1 deny that he is a croud soldier or a good commander, for no officer can he a commander who succeeds in antagonising the whole of the men under liiia. I do hot care how good a military tactician a man may be (and officers who served at Gallipofi, if thev were allowed to speak, would have something to wiy on. this aspect), or; how excellent his technique, if ha lacks the human C|Ualities of sympathy nO. understanding and approac!iablene>s lie will be a complete failure in dealing with meu. The Minister for Defence wu»ht to take step* to Iwve Uroerahilodley promoted to ,ioino other command, ami have the Anzacs reunited under General Jlirdwood,\ who is beloved by all l ranks." , ■ I Purr's outspoken remarks drew j "ITtar, boar," from a big section oi the .luouse. .