CAMBRAI INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 102, 23 January 1918, Page 5

CAMBRAI INQUIRY

MR. BONAR LAW HECKLED MEMBERS DEMAND MORE OF THE FACTS (Rec. January 22, 8 p.m.)' London, January 21. In the House of .Commons Mr. Bonar Law stated that all the documents connected with the Cambrai Inquiry were submitted to the War Cabinet, at whose request General Smuts examined them. General Smuts's report was approved by Cabinet, and was not subject to revision by Lord Derby (Minister for War), or any member of the Army Council. The decision not to publish them was taken by the War Cabinet.—Renter. CHANCELLOR HECKLED. (Rec. January 23, 0.25 a.m.) London, January 21. Mr. Bonar Law was heckled regarding the Cambrai inquiry. He said that he was aware that there was a good deal of public dissatisfaction owing to the non-publication of the detailed account, but the War Cabinet had decided that it would not be in the public interest to give more information. Mr. J. M. Hogge asked if. soldiers from tho front were prevented fiom telling tho facts.

Mr. Bonar La.w: "If the rumours arc the same aa those which reached me they are entirely unfounded."—Aua.N.Z. Cable Assii.

BLUNDERS AND INTRIGUE COLONEL REPINGTON (Rec. January 22, 11.40 p.m.) London, January 21. The "Star" has had an interview with Colonel Repington, who said he had resigned his appointment as "The Times"'' military correspondent because he had hitherto regarded it as a great independent newspaper, with its columns open to criticism of the Government,' public servants, and institutions, as the country's welfaro demanded. If the present state of things were allowed to continue only disaster would befall the country. The Government had lost the confidence- not only of Labour, but of tho great majority. "If tho existing methods continue the military and naval services will be wrecked," said the speaker. "If, instead of intriguing against generals and admirals, the Government would inform tho nation of the seriousness of affairs, it might retrieve the position. The Army was tired and disgusted at the intrigues, which sickened every decent-minded person in the Army. He had seen one good man after another sacrificed to cover politicians' blunders and intrigues—every time an attempt was mado to shift the responsibility from tho politician to the soldier. This campaign of slander and vilification was nauseating. Sir Douglas Haig's dispatch showed that the Army's handicap was due to the difficulty of securing drafts sufficiently long before the divisions went into battle. Sir Douglas Haig also made a report upon the Cambrai officers who were responsible. H.s was quite prepared to take any blame justly attributed to them, but the War Cabinet had again resorted to secrecy. Why not tell tho public the truth?" he concludes.