outstanding power: Some natural disadvantages were
sq mastered as to add effect to a deadly retort. Balfour's early judgment was that Winston had heavy but not mo- bile guns. Yet he became a master of debate and the most dangerous of all men to interrupt.
At the Admiralty his tremen- dous energy worked marvels in the provision of an overwhelming fleet. To him we owe it that the Navy was as ready as foresight could make it in the existing con- ditions for the challenge of Au- gust, 1914. He bore the respon- sibility and will always bear the
honour for that decision on which our security was dependent, the immediate mobilisation of the Fleet.
This is not the time or the place to discuss the course of the war of
1914-1918. Two efforts were main- ly if not wholly due to Mr. Chur- chill's urging-the attempt to re- lieve Antwerp and the attempt to torce the Dardanelles, Both
though they failed, were devised by shrewd insight and daring. Whatever the causes of failure, have been competent judges
Mr. known to pronounce that Churchill's was the best strategic
mind at our service in that wal.
#!
He left the Admiralty on breach with Lord Fisher and the difficulties in the Dardanelles, and abandoned politics for a while to command an infantry battalion in the front line in France-tac- ing the fire of yet one more war. After all, he was little over 40, and his afheers found him abound- ing in energy.
Mr. Lloyd George brought him back to run the Ministry of Muni- tions, and as the war passed into peach negotiations and an un- peaceful settlement, he recovered all, or more than all, his old poli- tical position. The immediate re- ward was a full share, pressed dewn and running over, of the of Mr. Lloyd George's Coalition, Austen Cham- berlain and Birkenhead had trou- ble enough with the Conservative party for the Irish Treaty and for their loyalty to Mr. Lloyd George,
Mr. but
Churchill fered stil
- hm to vide in one of the few Bri-popularity
tish envalry charges that happened in his lifetime.
have
worse.
In the South African War he was again a journalist ouly and again luck played the strangest tricks with him. He fought on an armoured train and was captured and some sort of ban was put on
Though the own. Forty years after that novel is a painter of more than ama-
Coalition crashed
distinction. was written his countrymen give teur
How good and taken prisoner to Pretoria. Chamberlain 'und Birkenhead, thanks in
Then by a tremendous world bricklayer he is I have no expert
a series of miraculous they were Conservatives still. Mr. Churchill adventures he escaped and came
was left for a while crisis for the leadership of a testimony, but the fact that he
back
without a seat in Parliament and a popular hero. statesman "vehement, high and worked hard and earnestly at the
without a party. Neither Mr. Lloyd As regards their train- daring" beyond the measure of all trade is to be seen of all men in At the age
of 25 he had had George's brand of Liberalism nor ing which the Japanese! but the greatest in England's long the house
that of the successors which he helped to enough, for the time, of war. Who suited him.
of Asquith commentator attempted and glorious history,
Wiseacres predictedt build. This practical interest in In 1900 foresaw 1914 and 1939? that he had no future in politics.. to belittle, the words of
cruftsmanship, this skill of hand He has confessed that he always There are other qualities in his their commander, Major-
In occupations which demand pa- wanted to go into politics. genius. He can, and does, "labour tience and watchfulness of detail, General H. Gordon Ben- terribly." His ancestor, John Chur-count for a good deal in the direc-brought him into Parliament as nett may be quoted: "I chill, Duke of Marlborough, faciletion of the mind.
can say in all seriousness," princeps among English generals, he stated in a broadcast whom he vindicated and worthi- His father, Lerd Randulph, a thanking the people of by celebrated, was famous for his very d'Artagnan of politics, hand-chills die young. What I Singapore for the welcome! calm on the stricken field-theed down to him a zest and a capu- his troops had received, angel of the storm. in Addison's city for Parliamentary and plat- "that our men are as effi-lites, who taught the doubtful cient and
battle how to rage." as fit a lot as have left Australia.
And
we have the added ad vantage of being better
I
Two years after the crash he was Chancellor of the Exchequer
apex of power, had won 40 years The Khaki election of 1900 in a Conservative Government, the very place which his father, at the Conservative member for Oldham, carlier. Both appointments may There is
a story of those days be called the triumph of ability that he used to say, "The Chur-Over die-hard prejudice. Lord do. I Randolph, who "forgot Goschen," must do quickly."
may not have been indispensable, but the decision of the Conserva- Opportunity of distinction was Mr. Churchill was the necessary tive leader, Lord Baldwin, that form fighting. By his mother he
to hand, The Balfour Government man to had a right to wit and narrative
a Conservative Cabinet soon laid itself open to attack even came frem bitter experience. The power. But by his own account from docile supporters. Docility whirligig of time had brought in was "an idle, unpunctual, untidy, has never been conspicuous in its revenges. shiftless, cheeky boy" at Harrow, Mr. Churchill. He became a very There was to be one more.
candid critic and his shafts were the National Government of 1931 hating genes and work alike. an-
the sharper for recollections of Mr. Churchill was given no place, In the Army-he was a subal-Balfour's early association and nor was one found for him on its- tern in the 4th Hussars at 20--he subsequent break with Lord reconstructions by Lord Baldwin thoroughly enjoyed himself, and Randolph. Joseph Chamberlain's know now that Austen Chamber-
and Neville Chamberlain.
A portion of that spirit is in Winston Churchill's inheritance.
His recreations show yet
equipped than the earlier other striking characteristic.
troops to leave our coun-
He
In
We
try, for our people at home have made great strides cautionary measure only. since then has "enjoyed each year tariff reform campaign brought lain deplored the passing over of in the development of our Australians rightly regard more." On his 21st birthday he Mr. Churchill into the field as a Mr. Churchill when the need for war industries. Our men," Singapore as an outpost time. He was not then with the he continued, "have been of their homeland and de- 4th Hussars. Having "desired some trained as storm troops,
the
Trader without the party adjective ever could be done outside heard a bullet whistle for the first Tory Free Trader, then a Free rearmament-became urgent. What-
He was only 34 when he became might. For the objections which and, by 1906, a' full-blown Liberal. Mr. Churchill did with all
'Government to quicken the pace.
Inis
go to," he had gone to
and I can safely say if fending it means defend-war to
Cuba as a wer correspondent. Two
capacity.
1
a Liberal Cabinet Minister,"
This progress did not conciliate
there were very bitter words and war, scenes which read rather ludicr
they are called to defend ing Australia. "They are years later he marched with the this outpost of Australia' not here to attack any- Malakand Field Force in the same the Tories of those days and (Singapore) they will one," stated Sir Thomas, fight as their fathers did their arrival need cause ~in Gallipoli, France and Palestine and as their,
no anxiety to any of our brothers have recently to quarrel with anybody, neighbours. We don't wish done in Libya."
but as the Acting Prime Minister of Australia said three days ago, we don't
Wherever there was a though wars were small in the ously now if Indeed they could
get him to Omdurman as a super-
neties, he had to be, and the even be taken seriously by any highest powers were invoked to put one-eyed partisans.
numerary ficutenant in the 21st Lancers.
·
Mr.. Churchill was acknow- Hedged by enemics as well g
These fine men, "bronz ed and lean and fighting fit" as Sir Shenton Tho like aggression and we What Mr. Churchill may con-friends, one of the great figures mas, Governor of Singa- don't like aggressors, and sider the luckiest chance in n in politics when Asquith sent him pore, described them, are if we are attacked, then carcer of amazing vicissitudes to the Admiralty to prepare the cannot guess, but it was certainly Navy for the Armageddon of 1914. now in Malaya as a pre-l we shall fight,"
wonderful that this chance cupbled' He had made himochi" u speaker of
birb journ
17
obivat enituent by tha
kept him below the gangway till war was upon us a heavy pric has been paid.
He came to the first place in the darkest hour by universal consent and demand. Chatham, when events carried him to office, said. in his grand manner. "My lord, I know that I can save this country and that no one else can." Mr. Churchill does not use this style. There is more humour in his com- position; always, even in the dark- est hour, something of the laugh of the spirit of adventure............
"In the sixties," he has sold, a
politiciar is in his "noon-day: prime" Whatever comes will as- and daring" till the guns salute. suredly And him "vehement, hight. our victory. -