CHAPTERXX

chapterxx

imetmanyothergeneralswhoweremenofability,energy,highsenseofduty,andstrongpersonality.ifoundthemintellectually,withfewexceptions,narrowlymoldedtothesametype,strangelylimitedintheirrangeofideasandqualitiesofcharacter.

“onehastoleavemanygapsinone'sconversationwithgenerals,”saidafriendofmine,afterlunchingwithanarmycommander.

thatwastrue.onehadtotalktothemonthelinesofleadingarticlesinthemorningpost.theirpatriotism,theirknowledgeofhumannature,theiridealism,andtheirimaginationwererestrictedtothetraditionalviewsofenglishcountrygentlemenofthetoryschool.anythingoutsidethatrangeofthoughtwastothemheresy,treason,orwishy-washysentiment.

whatmainlywaswrongwithourgeneralshipwasthesystemwhichputthehighcommandintothehandsofagroupofmenbelongingtotheoldschoolofwar,unable,byreasonoftheirageandtraditions,togetawayfromrigidmethodsandtobecomeelasticinfaceofnewconditions.

ourstaffcollegehadbeenhopelesslyinefficientinitssystemoftraining,ifiamjustifiedinformingsuchanopinionfromspecimensproducedbyit,whohadthebrainsofcanariesandthemannersofpotsdam.therewasalsoaclosecorporationamongtheofficersoftheregulararmy,sothattheytookthelion'sshareofstaffappointments,thuskeepingoutbrilliantyoungmenofthenewarmies,whosebrain-power,tosaytheleastofit,wasonahigherlevelthanthatofthesandhurststandard.hereandthere,wheretheunprofessionalsoldierobtainedachanceofhighcommandorstaffauthority,heprovedthevalueofthebusinessmindappliedtowar,andthiswasseenveryclearly—blindingly—intheablegeneralshipoftheaustraliancorps,inwhichmostofthecommanders,likegeneralshobbs,monash,andothers,weremenincivillifebeforethewar.thesamethingwasobservedinthecanadiancorps,generalcurrie,thecorpscommander,havingbeenanestateagent,andmanyofhishighofficershavinghadnomilitarytrainingofanyscientificimportancebeforetheyhandledtheirownmeninfranceandflanders.