LORD FRENCH’S WAR BOOK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10276, 10 May 1919, Page 8

LORD FRENCH’S WAR BOOK

AN INCIDENT OF THE MARNE.

Router's TeleKram. ■ • LONDON. May 8. The “Daily Telegraph” publishes the following extract trom Lord French a book:—“On August 31st, 1914, Johres demand that tno British should stand and fight was urgently repeated, and was backed by messages from President Poincare and the British Government; yet simultaneously the Fifth french Army was being thrown back, widening the gap, while Lord Kitchener was assuring the 'Home Government that our losses were small and the deficiencies were being made good. Neither on this nor on several subsequent days did one man, horse, or gun reach mo. tie adds: “1 profoundly bebevo that it i had yielded to these violent solicitations, the whole of the. Allied Army would have been thrown hack oyer the Marne and Paris would have fallen.

PROTEST AGAINST KITCHENER’S ATTITUDE,

Reaver's TV!*graim . , .Received May 10, 1.0 a.m.) LONDON, May 6. Lord French, continuing the “Daily Telegraph's” narrative of the Mens retreat, dwells on the difficulties _ wit ti Kitchener, who arrived in Paris m the uniform of a field-marshal, and from the outset assumed the air of Comman-. der-in-Chief, announcing his intention of taking the field and inspecting the troops. Lord French says that Ambassador Bertie supported him in protesting against Lord Kitchener’s attitude, and after interviews ; n which Lord French told Lord Kitchener he would not tolerate interference with his executive command they reached an amicable understanding. Lord Kitchener realised his mistake and left Pans that night. Lord French emphasises the danger of undue interference by the Home Government with the commander in the field, and says the utmost pressure was brought to bear on him to make a stand, exposing the British army to the greatest danger of annihilation." Lord Kitchener came to Paris with no other object than to insist on arresting the retreat. It was difficult to resist such pressure, but fortunately I was able to do so.”