CONDUCT OF THE WAR

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1915, Page 5

CONDUCT OF THE WAR

LORD FISHER TO MR. • CHURCHILL 'A DIGNIFIED SILENCE. London, Nov. 16. 1.0r.i !iu-r, in the House of Lords, said: "Certain references were made to me in a speech by Mr. Churchill. I have been sixty-one years in the service of the country and leave my record in the hands of my countrymen. .Mr. Asf|tiith has stated that Mr. Churchill said things better left unsaid and did not say things that will have to be said. 1 am content to wait. It is not fitting to make personal explanations affecting national interests when the country is in the midst of a great war." Lord Fisher then left the House. LABOR MEMBER'S PROTEST. Received Nov. 17, (1.15 p.m. London, Nov. lij. Mr. J. W. Thomas denied Mr. Astiuith s statement. He inferred that conscription would operate after November 30, if voluntarism failed, and this would be a violation pre-eminent to the Labor Party. Before even the question of compulsion for unmarried men eouM be entertained, the question must be considered stage by stage. It was a fallacy to suggest that single in«n should be pushed into the army while married men were exempted. AN" INOPPORTUNE DEBATE. ■MB. BONAR LAW IN REPLY. Mr. Bonar Law said lie regarded the debate, as unfortunate, lie sympathised with Mr. Thomas' views. ' If Lord Derby's scheme were given a fair chance he believed it would succeed, whereupon the disadvantage of dividing the nation would disappear; but Mr. Asquith had said that if the scheme failed other measures must be adopted. Our financial resources are one of our strongest assets, but they must be used to "get a quick decision. We could not go "on for ever. It is impossible to finance the war indefinitely. Our future depended on the number of soldiers ive could place in the iield at a decisive period. It would be something to remember with pride if we are able to conclude the war under voluntarism. IN DEFENCE OF THE PREMIER. Mr. Asquith, said Mr. Bonar Law, had been, more than anybody, responsible for the success of.tin- war and for Britain s future. If Mr. Asquith honestly concluded that volunteers were insufficient, and that thereby we would either lose the war or prolong it indefinitely, would he (Mr. Asquith) consent to the continuance of a system which could not succeed? Mr. Bonar Law said he believed that if Mr. Asquith did say that any other scheme was necessary he would expect the backing- of all his countrymen: otherwise he could not accept the responsibility of the conduct of the war. COMMENT FROM THE RUCK. Sir T. P. Whittaker considered that Mr. Asquith's and Lord Derby's statements did not accord. Lord Derby's statement resembled a threat. Mr. Llewellyn Williams complained that members of the Commons were kept in the dark. A number of soldiers were required before abandoning voluntarism, and member* ought to know authoritatively the effect of the enormous enlistments on Britain's finances and commerce, A HOT ACCUSATION. GENERAL STAFF CONDEMNED. "MUDDLING IN HIGH PLACES."

Received Nov. 17, fi.35 p.m. London, Nov. 17. In the House of Lords, Lord St. David violently attacked the British Headquarters Staff in France, accusing them of general incompetence and laziness. He asserted that tliem are a number of young men on the Staff who ought to be in the trenches. The thing was scandalous. Many of them owed their positions to patronage, and were thrust upon Sir John French. Victory, over and over again, had been stopped by bad staff work. The gallantry of the soldiers and regimental officers had ■been unsurpassed, but their efforts had been thrown away owing to the muddling in high places. Lord llaldane condemned the launch ing of such charges on inadequate information. Though the country had been at a disadvantage in having to expand the army in France, nevertheless it had evolved General Staff work of the highest order. THE BATTLE OF LOOS. A QUESTION SUB JUDICE. Continuing, Lord llaldane said that the statement that reserves were not forthcoming at Loos was inaccurate. Reserves were ready in ample time. That they had not succeeded was a matter concerning the divisions themselves. Lord Sydenham declared that there must have been some reason why a great victory was not gained at Loos. A reason had been assigned that it was due to poor Staff arrangement. Were two divisions engaged in the attack who had never 'before been under fire, and also were hungry and tired after a long march? Tin; battlo at Loos, he said, iiore a striking resemblance to the story ot Nenvc Chapelle. Lord Crewe said the whole question of Loos was sub judiee, as a military! inquiry wns in progress. Therefore he was unable to discuss it.