21 MARCH 1941, Page 5

I have been discussing serving Generals this week with a

General of great experience and discernment on the retired list, who in the past has been in close and frequent contact with Sir Archibald Wavell and holds as high an opinion as everyone else of the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East. " Is he the best man we have? " I asked. " Not at all," came the immediate answer. " There are at least three others quite as good : Alan Brooke, Dill and (with particular emphasis) Pile— Sir Frederick Pile, G.O.C.-in-C., Anti-Aircraft Command." All of which is reassuring. Having met Sir Frederick Pile for the first time a few days earlier I could understand the