A WAR-TIME SCANDAL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 7

A WAR-TIME SCANDAL

■ ■ 1 ■■ .. MR. ASQUIk ON THE MUNITIONS SHORTAGE - ' Australian-New Zealand- Cable Aseociatlofl ■ ■■■ .• •■ London; May :17-(delayed). Mr. Asquith, ill ii speech, at Newcastle, replied to the criticism of'his'speech at "Newcastle on .April 20, 1015, denying that tlo! Army's operations in Trance had. beea crippled by the Government's failure to .provide tlio necessary munitions, and that it had lulled the country into a 6ensa' of false security. Mr. Asquith declared that the.statement had..been unscrupulously mid. shamelessly travestied for several years for political purposes. He had refrained from rcplyjng to these misrepresentations during the war, and -proceeded to outline" the "successful -effons of his Government to increase munitions in 1011-15, the need of which had been acutely realised. B'e came to Newcastle in. April, 1015, for the purpose of urging tlw Tynosido and other workers to increase their output, 'l'lio statement denying that there was' a laclc of munitions was mods after consulting Lord Kitchener, who hart been.personally communicating with Lord Frejicn.. -Sir. Atwiith 'asked where else ho could have ax>plied for authentic infor. million than to Lord Kitchener. Ho iuld■oil that, the statement' in Ut3 jvi'if "-'arefully limited to tho past. He had not attempted to "conceal tiro Government's anxiety for the. future, but- hud emphasised that .all the . military aiithoritief agreed that a large and rapid increase of munitions- -was- indispensable.—Aus.-X.2- . Cable. Assn.. 1 :;.'..'.