That the establishment of a General Staff is a wise
step we have no sort of doubt. We sincerely hope with Mr. Haldane that it will be allowed a free scope, and that those mysterious forces which have so often produced ruin or atrophy in the best designed schemes will not be allowed • to destroy the General Staff. What is chiefly wanted is to encourage intellectual activity in that body. That our picked officers are clever enough and industrious enough for any tasks which may be set them we are convinced; but it must never be forgotten that intellectual activity can only flourish when men are allowed individual responsibility, and are not checked and hampered by the crushing thought that if they show initiative they will be censured for not minding their own business. Men cannot think for themselves or develop fruitful ideas if they are held in the dead hand of an oppressive machine.
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