It should be added, in fairness to Mr. Brodrick, that
though he is technically responsible, he was not at the War Office when the remount scandal took place. We also strongly endorse Mr. Balfour% vigorous defence of his colleague when he was accused of neglect in. not having informed himself more perfectly of the facts of the scandal in the Blue-book. Mr. Brodrick's essential duties lie in dealing with the present needs of the Army and in providing for the future, and we think that he would be perfectly justified in concen- trating all his energies -on -the carrying on of the war, and casing only about past , mistakes so far as their investigation may help to &wad new.blunders. We must, of course, punish those proved guilty of fraud, or of what the old lawyers used to call "negligence amounting to fratitd," but the main thing is not to cry over spilt milk, but to take steps to prevent spilling in the future. At the same time, we agree with Mr. Asquith that the country owes a deep debt of gratitude to Sir Blundell Maple for insisting on the inquiry, for inquiry and publicity must help to prevent such scandals in the future.
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