WAR TIME SECRETS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1927, Page 3

WAR TIME SECRETS

SIR H. AYILSON’S DIARY. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Oct. 6. Two volumes of trenchant notes, made in the wartime diary of the latc-Field-Alarshal Sir Henry Wilson, have just been published. They contain a reference to the Imperial war discussions in 1918, when he was urging that things were so had that there must he the fullest sacrifice.

AVlicn referring to conscription in Ireland, Sir H. Wilson said: “I am not sure that Air Lloyd George can see the gravity. General Smuts talked much academic nonsense. Winston Churchill is a real gun in a crisis.” Dealing with the Imperial Alinister’s meetings, beginning on the lltli. June, 1918, he said: “Borden (the Canadian Premier) made very open remarks on our strategy, tactics, Corps Commanders and Staff, and Afassey agreed. So I must answer as best I can on Tuesday.” On the Tuesday, Sir H. Wilson gave the Premiers a seventy minutes’ lecture on the military situation, for which lie was congratulated. Then on the 20th. June the Imperial AVar Cabinet discussed the matter of intervention in Siberia, and also the transferring of troops from Palestine to the Western Front. Sir H. AYilson says: “Then Hughes wanted to know about the conduct of the war nnd the promotion of new Arinv officers in future, etc. Wo had an interesting talk. Hughes said that he was out for fighting on, even if we wore driven from France.”

Referring to the Prime Afinisters’ meeting on 31st. July, to which Sir H. AA’ilson sent a memorandum on the probable course of the 1919 campaign, be says: “At i I lei- is clear that we will never thrash the Boselie. lie suggests holding them on the AA’cst with thirtyfive or thirty-six British and French divisions to the other theatres; Hughes thought we must smash the Germans in Franco. Smuts agreed with Alilner. Hughes dissented, and said that we must lick the Bosches on the AA’est. Smuts thought we would never heat the Bosches.”

In his speeches at the next few days’ meetings, Sir H .AA'ilson says that all of the Prime Ministers—Lloyd George. Borden, Hughes, Smuts, Alassey and Alilner—“were of the opinion that we cannot heat the Bosches on the Wcstern Front, and so they went wandering and looking for laurels. Hughes sees more clearly than the others. He sees that wo must heat the Bosc-he army if wo want real peace. At the War Cabinet on 13th. August, Borden proposed to hand over the captured Colonics to the United States.”

Sir H. AA’ilson adds: “Hughes was straining at the leash, but the discussion was postponed. Alassey is also opposed to Borden’s suggestion of handing over the Colonies. Hughes said: “If you want to shift us. come and do it!” He claimed the right to help to shape our foreign policy, adding that we had none.”

The earlier chapters mention Sir H. AA il,son’s prophecy in 1910 concerning Alnrshal Foc-li, when he said: “This fellow is going to command the Allies’ armies when the big war comes” If the first Council in 1914, at which Dominion contingents were discussed, Sir 11. AA’ilson says: “It was a historic meeting of men who mostly were entirely ignorant of their subject.”