" Papers relating to Major-General C. V. F. Townshend's Appre-
ciation of the Position after the Battle of Kut-el-Amara " were issued on Monday as a White Paper. It appears that General Townshend on October 3rd, 1915, expressed the opinion that a grave risk was being taken in advancing again on Baghdad with his weak division. Two divisions were necessary, or at least one close131 —pported by another. Having called Sir John Nixon's attmeiun to the risk, he felt that his " conscience was clear," and that a more urgent protest would be contrary to discipline. Sir John Nixon, for his part, considered that General Townshend's wishes were satisfied by the reinforcements which were sent. The Times says that General Townshend's real " appreciation " of the situation is in existence, though it is missing, except in an indirect summary, from the White Paper. We deprecate any controversy on this subject during the war. The search for scape- goats is most inopportune. Those who want to drive Sir John Nixon, or any other General, "into the wilderness " should wait till the Germans are beaten.
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