KITCHENER’S LIFE.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1920, Page 3

KITCHENER’S LIFE.

I (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) KITCHENER’ S TELEGRAMS. LONDON, April 14. ; Tlie “Evening Standard” publishes ii full, the text of telegrams between Lor ( Kitchener and Lord ’French at the enc of August 1914, cabled on 6/5/19. II * says it was a rude shock to Lord Kitchener to learn indirectly of Lord French’s decision to make a definite and prolonged retreat of eight days in

March, due south. Lord Kitchener anxiously enquirer from General French the meaning, and tlile latter replied that he had lot j General Joffre know plainly that it j was impossible for the British to reI main in the front line, now that Joffre had. begun a retirement. •Lord Kitohpner later received a gloomy letter from General French who arid—“My confidence in the ability of the leaders of the French Army is the reason for the decision to move the British so far back. I feel most strongly, the absolute necessity for retaining complete independence of power to retire .on a. base, when neeesary.”

A FURTHER INSTALMENT.

(Received this day, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 15. To-day’s instalment of Lord Kitchener’s Life, deals with the shell controversy in 1915. Arthur quotes Lord French’s letter of 8/4/15, arranging for a secret meeting with Lord Kitchener on the 14th, when in consequence of a long conversation, Lord Kitchener was abie to assure Mr Asquith that Lord French would have sufficient ammunition for the next forward movement, whereon Mr Asquith based his Newcastle speech. A new letter from Lord French on 2nd May is published, in which he stated.—“ The ammunition will be all right.” French became despondent on 9th May, owing to the failure of the joint attack on La Basse-Arras front, and wrote declning to accept responsibility for drawing on his stocks of ammunition in order to supply tho Dardanelles requirements.

Lord Kitchener replied that the stocks would be replaced. This was done within 24 hours.

Lord French sought further relief for his feelings, but confiding his necessities to a representative of the “Times,” hut apart from French’s own suggestion it was not easy to trace the change of Government to the shortage of high ex plosives and momentary displacement, on 10th May, of some reserve ammuni-