We hear the old Regular Army being described as a
" Trade Union," " a close corporation," and a " military caste." These are mere phrases. The first act of a Trade Union when it thinks itself aggrieved is to strike or threaten to strike. No such course is open to soldiers. They cannot defend themselves even when they are assailed as scandalously as they are being assailed now. And so we come to the appeal to the Government which we have made in our leading article, manfully and loyally to support the military leaders or else to state their reasons for not doing so. The latter course would of course mean getting rid of them: Either one thing or the other must be done. It is beyond our comprehen- sion how any one can suppose that Sir William Robertson and Sir Douglas Haig can conduct the war with their whole energy, heart- free and mind-free as they ought to be, if they know that assassins, whether journalistic or political, are standing behind their chairs every moment of the working day.
