FRENCH'S WAR BOOK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 306, 22 September 1919, Page 5

FRENCH'S WAR BOOK

THE AMMUNITION SUI'PLY KITCHENER'S STATEMENT AGAIN DENIED By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, September 38. > In the prefaco to the second edition of his book on the war, Ixird French repeats his denial that ho informed Lord Kitchener in the spring of 1915 that the supply of ammunition was aifcple for the forthcoming offensive. He says he never made such a statement as ipis contained in Lord kitchener's letter to Mr. A«quitli, oil which Mr. AsquitL based his Newcastle speech. Lord French says he informed Mr. 'Asquith in .Tuly, 1915, that Lord Kitchener's statement was untrue, nnd proved his assertion by reference to his' own diary, containing tne substance of- the conversation with Lord Kitchener, in which ammunition' was not mentioned. Lord French quotes :i letter from Mr. Afiquith. • written in May, 1915, after the failure of the Offensive, and containing proof that Lord French complained tc Mr. Asquith that tho 17-inch guns were , useless. and that a higher percentage ol high explosives was needed. Replying to the charge that he was about 'to leave the French Army iir tho lurch, Lord French quotes letters from Mr. Asquitli, Lord Kitchener, and General Joffre eulogising his generalship during tho Mons retreat. Another letter from Lord Kitchener was written after the Paris interview to diri-ct him to conform to General Joffre's movements and to "regard this letter as 'an instruction." Lord French declare) that Lord Kitchener's visit in no way caused him to alter the disposition of his forces.— Aus.-N.Z. Ca'ble Assn.

• Otf KITCHENER'S BEHALF. (Rec. September 21, 5.3 p.m.) , : ' ' London, September 19. Sir George Arthur, biographor of the late Lord Kitchener, declares that it is inconceivable that munitions were not mentioned in Lord French's interview with Lord Kitchenor, who summoned Lord French lo England expressly to discuss the military situation at a time when munitions formed one of the most important subjects.—Aus.-A'.Z. Cable Assn.