MONS RETREAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10277, 12 May 1919, Page 5

MONS RETREAT

LORB N•""•"" 4 -"TINUED. '

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received May 11, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 5. Lord French, continuing his story <A the retreat from Mons in-the "Daily Telegraph," shows that the Fifth French,- Army commenced the; retreat ; from, the Sambre twenty-four hours be-' tpre ,he "(Lord French) received official intimation that General Joffre's often-j-sive was 1 abandoned. Lord French says: "My duty to my country demanded I that I should not risk a recurrence of I this, so I wrote to Lord Kitchener urging the necessity for my retaining com-" [plete independence of action. General Joffre; M-. -Pomcare," Eoru Kitchener and-the British Government, all sent messafees, urgently ' demand- i ing that I should stand and fight; yet Lanrezac was still throwing back the left Hank of the Fifth Army and widening, the gap between the French and the'•» British.- -I -retain-the profoundest belief* that_ if I had yielded to these violent" solicitations . the whole Allied armV* would have been thrown back in disproej?' over the Marne, and Paris ' would have fallen an easy prey to the Germans. .My refusal brought Lord Kitchener to Paris, where I met Jhiim'on September Ist, though I deeply resented being called from headquarters whw_ a"critical action was going on."

RESENTMENT AT FRENCH'S --• ... CRITICISM.

It-euter's Telescram. (Received May 11. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 7. - Mr George Arthur, Lord Kitchener'* biographer, writes to tho Press pointing out that Loid French's Lord" Kitchener's 'conduct! in Paris in 1914 is not Vil b6rVte*out "by the telegrams and- correspondence which passftj be"j. v „ M .*,, : .l whmmW' •; The military member's of the ■House . of (Jwnm.ons "resent .Lord .French's-at* tack, and.;intend. Jo _ ask Govern,:■• "menflf to take disciplinary action."against Lord French.■■■' -<-' '■ ■-" < __Lord French told Lord Kitchener ho "had "been "entrusted with the British . command in France. 'He alone was responsible therefor, and his authority must be supreme until he was superseded, .and he, would,j.wt,tolerate, interference with the Executive Command, though he would be glad to accept L<*i-d, ; Kitchener's advice and assistance. L<;rd ' Kitchener began to realise French's difficulties, and they came to an'amio- -i able understanding. Lord French told Lord Kitchener it was impossible for, hint i tV'bd a'bfeht longer from headquarters.! and:' Paris, forthwith. Lord French'adds.that. Mirvis.tcxs.and Geficrals "wi'triesse3 Lord .api paront 'exorcise o'f : "sUD©nor :' and the narrator says he was' sive of sh© effect ju French circles arid'' i upon the moral of the British troopsLord Kitchener realised his mistake and quitted Paris that :night.