World War: Wavell on the Bull

This week the U. S. will have an opportunity to read what the man who, most military critics agree, is the best British general in World War II thinks of the man who, many military critics believe, was the ablest British general of World War I: a U. S. edition of General Sir Archibald Wavell's book,— finished in June 1940 on Field Marshal Viscount Allenby, hero of Palestine. The result just now is more interesting for the light it casts on Sir Archibald than the light it casts on Allenby.

Allenby's claim to greatness rests on one basic fact. While other British...