The Dangers of Idleness It is reported that a number
of French soldiers who on general grounds would be disposed to support General de Gaulle have declared for repatriation (as they are quite free to do) largely on the ground that they are tired of staying in idle- ness in England. That raises a question that may easily become serious. The early months of static warfare in France caused some anxiety, especially as regards the French troops, whose morale showed signs of suffering through prolonged boredom. Now the war in the West is confined to these islands, except for the R.A.F., and for the Army life has become all waiting and no fighting. That may change at any moment, but even the change will only alter the situation temporarily if an invasion is repelled so decisively that it is not repeated. We shall then have some- thing like a couple of million of our own countrymen under arms, together with Canadians, Australians, and other Dominion forces who have come here to fight, not to stand by indefinitely, and over and above them are Dutch, Norwegian, Polish and Czech soldiers, and numbers of refugees still lack- ing any regular employment. Nothing is gained by enlarging on the seriousness of the situation these conditions create. It is important enough to merit the attention not merely of a Government Department, for several Departments are con- cerned, but of a Ministerial or other Committee.
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