30 JUNE 1917, Page 1

An officer who loses all employment as well as his

reputation is most heavily punished. And in general we would say that Voltaire's grim irony about " encouraging the others " contains the most profound wisdom. Is General Nixon to be " punished " for the " crime " of a most unfortunate access of optimism ? We must be very careful, at least, not to tell our soldiers in effect that the desire to push on, though the event proves it disastrous, is in itself an offence. That is a sure way to paralyse action.