BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S WAR METHODS CRITICISED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2604, 28 October 1915, Page 5

BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S WAR METHODS CRITICISED

DEBATE ffl THE BOUSE OF LORDS STATEMENT ON THE BALKAN SITUATION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Rec. October 27, 8.55 p.m.) . London, October 27. In the House of Lords, Lord Loreburn asked: "Whether the Government was determined to dispatch troops to Salonika with the approval of the highest naval and military advisers; Whether the Government would give an assurance that full provision had been made for communications for the Force, and supplies of men and material to the satisfaction of the Government's naval and military advisers? The speaker said that he would not complain if the Government felt that there should be some delay in answering his questions. These reasons were for the Government, which had not deprecated, discussion simply in order to shield themselves from criticisms. He believed, however, that they overrated the harm which would be done by a Parliamentary discussion, and thpy also under-rated the consequences, in a democratio country, of Parliamentary discussion boing stiflled and discouraged—and the discussion would merely bo transferred from Parliament to the newspapers. No ono expected the Government to divulge all its strategical plans, but jt might make a general statement regarding what uso the Government believed it was putting the troops to. We had witnessed the Dardanelles affair, and did not know whether it commenced with or without the advice of the naval and military authorities. Wns the Salonika adventure to be a repetition of the Dardanelles P He did not question the fact that the Government was genuinely anxious that the Balkans expedition should be successful, but -the country would like an assurance that this enterprise had been carefully thought out beforehand. "The greatest dangers that any country can suffer from," added Lord Loreburn, "are unpreparedne6S and indecision." -An Improssiva Speech, Lord Ororaer said that ho felt it certain to bo the case that the centre of gravity of the war had been transferred for the timo being from West to East, and the Government should give some general indication 'as to how it intended to meet the situation. A good deal of friction' existed which could have been avoided if the Government had not thrown so impenetrable a, veil over their opinions and plans and action. Lord Kitchener bad been singularly parsiminious in his utterances in the House of Lords.- His statements never contained much more than could be read in the daily papers. . The country wanted something to show that the Government had a real grasp of. the situation. Lord Cromer concluded by declaring that- he dissociated himself from any attempt to upset the Government, but it was quite impossible for a Cabinet of twenty-two Ministers to conduct a war efficaciously. A small and strong executivo body was required, chosen without reference to partv, froni mon representing the best talent of the country, in tho direction of 'official, political, naval, military, and Easternaffairs. Lord Cromer's speech deeply impressed the House. — The Case for the Government. Lord Lansdowue, replying on behalf of the Government, admitted that, personally, he was strongly of opinion that the efficiency of Cabinet was apt to vary inversely with its numerical strength. Turning to the Salonika expedition, his Lordship said that he could quite understand that in view of our commitments in France, Gallipoli, and Egypt it might- seem distasteful to the House of Lords that tho situation had been complicated bv Britain enterin" into now entanglements in a new theatre of war. Serbia had* made a direct appeal to the British Government to help, and we had sent such troops as wero available. It was a small force, because only a small forco could be collected in tho time. The French had dispatched a force, which had now, apparentlv, engaged the Bulgarians. These steps, taken with great promptitude—because promptitude was of the utmost moment—had been taken after full and deliberate consultation with Cabinet's military and naval advisers. "Wo regarded 13,000 British troops as the precursor to a larger force." ' Rapidly-Moving Events. "Events wero moving very rapidly in tho Balkans," continued Lord Lansdowne, "and two recent developments profoundly affected tho military and political situation. There was, first, the attitude of tlio Greek Government and second, the progress of the campaign in Northern Serbia, which rendered it highly improbable that the Serhians could withstand tho Austro-German attacks for any great length of time. Seeing that Serbia had been stabbed in the back by Bulgaria, tho French and British Governments realised that when further reinforcements reached tlio Eastern Mediterranean it would he necessary to take careful stnek of the position. Sir Charles Monro, who is due to arrive there to-day, has been instructed to report as soon as possible oil all aspects of tlio case." His Lordship combated the impression that the civilian politicians were in the habit of devising great strategical plans and combinations and imposing these upon tins Government and its professional advisers. There had never been any Government with which he had been connected v/hnre it had been possible for amateur strategists to impose such plans. Jjord Kitchener liacl been present at every Cabinet meeting, and had been a party to all its decisions. Tt was almost grotesque to suppose that Lord Kitchener would allow himself to bs deflected from his course by the pressure of his civilian colleagues. There were mixed problems which had to be considered, not merely from tlia ! uvit) viirl , military oolnt of view, but on broadi moral, and oolitical wounds. wished

to enforce the point that whatever opportunities had been, given its naval and military advisors, the utlimate responsibility rested on tho Government. No Government could bo allowed to shelter itself behind the advice of its experts, An Assurance. In view of tlio pressure that, had been Exerted on ' the various fronts against Germany, it was natural that tlio Central Powers should look in some new direction in which to seek a satisfactory decision, and their choico fell, as obviously it was likely to fall, on a push through Bulgaria, threatening our Gallipolian forces, and perhaps Egypt, to say nothing of the vaster aspirations which perhaps lay behind. lie paid a tribute to Serbia's wonderful gallantry in struggling against_ _ her third invasion. Greece was bound to Serbia by geographical propinquities, common interests, and treaty obligations, and only through Greek territory could help possibly reach tlio Serbians. The goodwill of Greece, obviously, was of the lirst importance, and it was at M. Venizelos's instance that they undertook to provide a force to enable Greece to fulfil her treaty obligations. We had taken prompt stops to relieve Serbia, lie assured tho Honse, and the Government was not likely to be led to precipitate action. Lord St. David's said that if tho Government bad had its eyes open in the early stages of tho war it must have known that it could have secured communication with Serbia through Durazzo. A Smaller Cabinet. Lord Middleton said that the main cause of this want of confidence in tho Government lay in the impossibility of conducting a war under the present system Cabinet had of meeting the Defence Committee ono day, tho War Council the following day, and tho Dardanelles Committee the next day, which implied a want of continuity. He urged that a small committee should bo appointed to deal with the war, and nothing but the war. Lord Curzon (Lord Privy Seal) said that there was one single committee directing its attention on the prose cution of tho w r ar. It had, firstly, been called the Dardanelles Committee; later,.it had assumed a general control over the whole war question. The formation of a smaller Cabinet was under Mr. Asquith's consideration, and the Government was also considering tho question of railway communication from Durazzo to Serbia. The present Committee, ho assured the House, was essentially a Committeo for war purposes, but tho responsibility for its decisions rested upon tho whole of the Cabinet. Lord Loreburn, concluding the debate, said that the Government had not answered his question. He wanted our troops in tho field to be assured that tho Government was -utilising the highest military advice in regard to this expedition in which they were risking their lives. • LORD LANSDOWNE'S STATEMENT AND THE PUBLIC THE SITUATION IS "MOST SERIOUS." Lord Lansdowne's statement in the House of Lords has shown the public that tho situation in the Balkans is most serious. There are few details of tho fighting but all the cablegrams indicate that a crisis has been reached. Tho Austro-German and Bulgarian ring has been drawn close, and it is even rumoured that the Bulgars have occupied Prizrend, the former capital of Serbia. Tlio Anstro-Germans are now at Posorevate, forty miles south-east of Belgrade, and their cavalry have entered Valievo.