GENERAL WAVELL'S WAR
SIR,—In "A Spectator's Notebook" Janus" calls attention to an interesting coincidence in a review of General Waveld's Allenby by Mr. George Orwell in the December issue of Horizon. Oddly enough, the same number contains another equally interesting coincidence in an article on "The Ruling Class" by the same writer. In a severe criticism of the Higher Command of the British Army Mr. George Orwell writes: "The higher commanders, drawn from the aristocracy, could never prepare for modern war, because in order to do so they would have had to admit to themselves that the world was changing. They have always clung to obsolete methods and weapons. . . Even at this moment hundreds of thousands of men in England are being trained with the bayonet, a weapon entirely useless except for opening tins." Unfortunately for Mr. Orwell, this ex cathedra pronouncement " coincided " with piteous complaints in the Italian Press of the use of this " barbarous" tin-opener, and their troops, both in Libya and Albania, were surrendering in their hundreds and thousands the moment they saw this weapon in the hands of the charging enemy.—Yours faithfully, A. C. TAYLOR. 33 Selborne Road, Hove 3, Sussex.
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