# What Betrayal by Leadership means in Now It Can Be Told

> Military and political leaders are portrayed as incompetent, detached, or callous, failing to understand the troops' suffering and pursuing strategies that lead to mass death without genuine care.

## Explanation

Military and political leaders are portrayed as incompetent, detached, or callous, failing to understand the troops' suffering and pursuing strategies that lead to mass death without genuine care.

The narrator criticizes generals for lacking the inspirational quality of great commanders, for being conservative and distant, and for demanding sacrifice without inspiring devotion.

The army chiefs' failure to understand the nation's need for honest information, and their attempt to keep the war secret and sanitized.

The narrator's frustration with G.H.Q.'s bureaucratic rules and distrust of civilians suggests a sense of betrayal by the military leadership, who prioritize secrecy over the truth.

The soldiers' criticism of Sir John French after the Battle of Loos reflects a sense of betrayal by the high command.

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