A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
INE of the questions that must. have most exercised the Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister of Defence is e desirability or otherwise of making changes in the highest mrnands in the fighting forces. The war is close on a year d. Men who were at the top in peace-time have had the pportunity of proving whether the qualities which took them re then are such as to justify their retention of the same posts war. Some of them have given very definite proof of that; cannot be said with the same assurance of all. In the Army e change has been made, and the present dispositions, with it John Dill as C.I.G.S., Sir Alan. Brooke as Commander-in- 'el Home Forces, and Lord Gort responsible for the training f a future expeditionary force, which he may some day lead, ommand general confidence. As to the Navy, Sir Charles orbes remains -Commander-in-Chief, and Sir Dudley Pound irst Sea Lord. Sir Cyril Newall is Chief of the Air Staff, it Charles Portal head of the Bomber Command, Sir Hugh owding head of the Fighter Command. Of each of the five e Prime Minister, in conjunction with the appropriate Service ster and any other experienced adviser available, ought riodically to be asking (and no doubt is): Is he the best man scoverable for his particular post, or has the war thrown up one who would do the job better? Obviously there is no e for any change unless it is quite certainly an improve- nt—and in at least one ot the posts it would quite certainly ot be. But if a retirement and a promotion look like pro- ofing efficiency anywhere no consideration for persons ought o stand in the way.
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