LORD FRENCH.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1919, Page 3

LORD FRENCH.

A SCATHING ATTACK. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, October 24. • The Hon. J. W. Fortescue, official historian oh the war > in reviewing Lord French's book in the “Quarterly Review,” created a sensation by making an attack upon Ljord French. He says: “This is one of the most unfortunate books over written. On August 26th, 1914, Lord French and his staff completely lost their heads, and in vain endeavour to conceal this Lord French has taken leave of all s enso of accuracy and descended to mis--statements and misrepresentations of the clumsiest kind in order to injure the reputation of a subordinate who is forbidden to defend himself. Coming from one in Lord French’s position thi s brings shame and dishonour upon the whole army.” M. Fortescue says that when Gene-

ral Grierson died, Lord French wanted •General Plumer to succeed, but Lord Kitchener preferred to send General . Smith-Dorrien. Thereby hangs a sorry tale and an unsavoury incident. It is a fact that in his despatch of September 7th, Lord French gave General Smith-Dorrien full credit for his cool Chateau hut he now would have us

believe that General Smith-Dorrien was

only' opposed by cavalry. Lord French B also says that 14,000 men and 80 guns nvere lost, whereas the real figures show a loss of 8000 men and 36 guns. There is .ignorance as well as malice in this portion of his narrative. Mr Fortescue continues: “Lord French, long before the battle of Le Catena, decided to hurry hack to Noyon, leaving his army to look after itself for a day or two. Happily von Kluck marched south-west across the rear of the Second Army Corps, so that the British continued to retreat unmolested.”