THE 1915 CAMPAIGNS.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 May 1919, Page 5

THE 1915 CAMPAIGNS.

BRITISH MUNITION SHORTAGES,

MR ASQUITH EXPLANS.

LONDON, May 29.

Mr Asquith, in a speech at Newcastle, replied to the criticisms that his speech in Newcastle, on April 20, 1015, denying that the Army’s operations in France wore crippled by the Government’s failure to provide necessary munitions, had hilled the country into false security, declared that the statement had been unscrupulously and shamelessly tra verst red for several years for political purposes. He refrained from replying to these misrepresentations during the war, and proceeded to outline the successful efforts of his Government to increase munitions in 1914-15, the need of which was acutely realised. He came to Newcastle in April, 1915, for the purpose of urging Tyneside and other workers to increase their output. The statement denying a lack of munitions was made after consulting Kitchener, who had been personally communicating with Lord French. He asked where else he could have applied for authentic information than Earl Kitchener. He added that the .statement was carefully limited to the past, and did not attempt to conceal the Government’s anxiety for the future, nut emphasised that all the military authorities agreed that a large and rapid increase of munitions was indispensable. } FRENCH DECLINES TO DISCUSS POSITION. i . Received May 31, 10.0 oa.m. LONDON, May 19. Lord French declines to discuss the shell dispute, but denies Lord Kitchener’s version of the position in April, 1915.