16 DECEMBER 1911, Page 3

Surely what Sir John French should have done in the

circumstances was not to publish charges in this vague form, but to wait till he had investigated them, and then, if the evidence convinced him, to have included such prima-facie evidence in his report, so that the League might have had something to answer. From our knowledge of the action of the League we shall be greatly surprised if it should turn out that it has ever countenanced, encouraged, or in any way authorized its agents to work against the Territorial Force. That a speaker at a country meeting may have occa- sionally used indiscreet expressions is, of course, possible; but, if so, such remarks must have been heard, and even reported, and it would be quite easy to produce evidence in regard to them.