As we said last week, there is a strong suspicion
in the Army that " the politicians " are behind some of Lord Northeliffe's newspapers. If there is any substance in this, it is extremely discreditable that the Government should subterraneously use the Press in order to create an atmosphere. It means that certain members of the Government want to procure by indirect means—by creating an outburst of public clamour—the downfall of the military leaders, since it is thought to be too dangerous to dismiss them directly. But the Cabinet as a body will fmd it impossible to maintain a position of neutrality. If they do not trust the military leaders, they should dismiss them, at the same time giving their reasons plainly. If they do trust them—indeed, if they merely see no better substitutes —they ought to give them their whole-hearted, loyal, and undivided • support. There is no middle way. It is not only the feelings and the efficiency of the military leaders themselves which are at stake, for the degree of confidence placed in the Higher Command will soon be exactly reflected in the degree of confidence which the Army has in itself. In other words, the moral of the whole Army will be reinforced or weakened by the outcome of this dispute about the Higher Command. We still hope, therefore, that the Prime Minister will speak with no uncertain voice.
