Lloyd George's Bombshell.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 1 December 1917, Page 4

Lloyd George's Bombshell.

—9 [ HIS SPEECH IN PARIS. | POLITICIANS AND STRATEGY. LONDON, November 14. 1 Router's correspondent at Paris states that Mr Lloyd George, speaking at the luncheon tendered him by the ! Premier of France (M. Painleve), said that tho present war was unique. "It is a siege of nations,'' he said. "The Allies arc blockading two huge empires. It would have been well if this had been always grasped. In a siege, every part of the besieger's line should be strong enough to resist any attack from the besieged. Moreover, the besieging army must be ready to strike at the weakest point. Therein we have failed. Tlie enemy was blockaded in tlic east by Russia, and in the West by France, Britain, and Italy; but in the south the gateway to the east was left to a country with a population of half Belgium, and with its armies exhausted by three jsrevious wars. BALKANS GAVE WAR, NEW LIFE. '' Owing to . this inconceivable blunder, the expected happened. The enemy crushed the little country, and obtained abundant supplies to sustain the struggle. Turkey, who was nearly exhausted was re-equipped, and resuscticated, and The following year tho Serbian tragedy "was repeated for Rumania, raising once again the siege of the Central Powers. And once again this was due because it was nobody's business to think out war problems in terms of whole battlefields. This year the tragedy has been re-enacted without variation. Although the Italian front is as important to the Franco-British as to Germany, and the latter understood this, we did not. Tho extent to which we can prevent the Italian defeat from developing into a catastrophe depends upon the promptitude and completeness of our break with the past. LEARNED A GREAT LESSON. "I believe that at last we have learned the great lesson, and that through the efforts of the Superior War Council an Allied victory will follow. Wo shall then live to bless the Italian disaster, for real unity would not have been socurable without it. Mr Lloyd George proceeded to answer the question why unity had not been secured before. He said that lie and some of his French colleagues endeavoured for years past, at committees and conferences, to attain such a supreme direction of the whole war. Despite appearance, lie was convinced that the tragedies in Serbia and Rumania would not be repeated in Italy. He had made up his mind that without this change we could no longer remain responsible for tho war direction, which was doomed to disaster. It was now our business to see that unity was a fact not a fraud. He spoke with brutal frankness, because only awakened public opinion could prevent the old prejudices and consequent narrow vision reasserting their dominance. '' The weight of men, material, and moral is on our side," continued Mr Lloyd George, '' whatever may happen in Russia. Ido not even despair of Russia, but if I did despair my faith in tlie ultimate triumph of tho Allies would be unshaken. My desire is to win as soon as possible, with as little sacrifice as possible, and real unit}' is tlie'only sure pathway. Mr Lloyd Go ergo, interviewed in Paris, said: "I said months ago that the Allies' numbers permitted a large, mobile army. This was not seriously considered by those apparently most interested. Tho War Council should consist first of Ministers acquainted with the material and moral resources of tho Allies; and second of experts envisaging the military situation, and constantly in touch with the commanders in tlie field. Only a central organisation can adequately use material and men. Rapidly-combined action will always be essential henceforth against the Prussians, who are only one immense people in arms." NEWSPAPER CRITICISMS. Mr Lloyd George's views and personality have vividly influenced Paris, and the newspaper comments are enthusiastic. Tlie "Echo de Paris" says that tlie Prime Minister's speech was the most important in his career, and adds: "His whole heart was in it. Before long all the leading commands will be reorganised, including Great Britain's." "Le Journal" says: "Mr Lloyd George's brutal frankness will not shake public opinion." The London Press is watching the War council doubtfully and anxiously. The "Globe" savs: "Mr Lloyd George did not. consult Cabinet until things had been done. Ho is still a dangerous demagogue. His speech amounted to a threat to resign unless he was allowed to deprive soldiers of their authority." The "Westminster Gazette'' remarks: "If Mr Lloyd George implies a slackening of effort on the west front we arc seriously disturbed." The "Star" says: "The nation expects her representatives to stand on guard against any attempt to substitute amateur for expert strategy."