MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1918, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

VERSAILLES COUNCIL. GENERAL ROBERTSON'S KESIGNATION. LLOYD GEORGE'S EXPLANATION. STIRRING APPEAL FOR UNITY. London, Feb. 10. Mr. Lloyd George, in his speech, said the Government deeply regretted that General Robertson's* position was no longer compatible with the policy decided upon at Versailles, but if that policy was right no personalities, however valuable, important or distinguished, should stand in the way of the execution. (Cheers) If the policy were wrong, no personalities and no Government ought to stand in the way of its being defeated. The Premier emphasised that there was absolutely no difference between our policy and the policy of France, Italy and the United Stales in this respect. The policy was based on the assumption that the Allies had hitherto suffered through lack of co-ordinated effort, and their purpose and policy had been to get concentration and unity of effort. It was only necessary to look at 1917 to find exactly the same set of circumstances incvitablydiminirhing the power iinrt concentration which would otherwise have been possible in order to counteract the efforts of the Germans and the Russian collapse. It was agreed at Versailles that there must 'be a central authority to exercise direction over war policy, that that authority must be inter-Allied, and must have executive power. The' only difference of opinion was how that authority should be constituted, but agreement on this point was also reached. The Premier proceeded to mention several proposals which were considered and rejected. Ono was that central authority should be composed of chiefs-of-staff. but this idea was unworkable. It was felt the new body must not only know the conditions of their own armies | and own fronts, but all conditions on all fronts and in all the armies. Versailles was now the repository of such information, which was co-ordinated by very able staffs. No single war office possessed such informationThe Premier proceeded to give cogent reasons why the chiefs of staffs in the various capitals could not properly exercise the functions aimed'at. The Supreme Council unanimously rejected this proposal. The delegation's then separated and considered the matter independently with the most remarkable rtslilt that next morning each delegation submitted exactly the same proposal, namely, the proposal which now held tlie field. Air. Llovd George said he would have liked to have read to the House the document in which the American delegation cogently put the case for the priposal which ots Anally carried, but iie could not, because it was mixed up with the plan of operations. The Americans presented the case with irresistible power and logic. The proposal was altered here and there during several hours' discussion, in which there was not a single dissentient so 'far as the plan was concerned. Sir Doughs Haig called attention to a weak point or two and they undertook remedy them, but these were not points affecting the root of the proposal. Upon returning to England he reported to the Cabinet that he thought the plan unworkable and dangerous. Subsequently the Army Council made certain criticisms from the constitutional viewpoint. The Premier said he considered these carefully with Lord Derby, who throughout had put General Robertson's ease before the Cabinet. The Premier emphasised his anxiety that these arrangements should be worked whole-heartedly by all the AngloFrench military authorities, and especially that Sir Douglas Haig should be satisfied. Therefore, before the agreements were made, he talked the matter over with Sir Douglas Haig, who said he would work under the new arrangement. This was that the British permanent military adviser on the Council of Versailles should become a member of the Army Council and should constantly communicate with the Chief of Staff, and should be absolutely free in the advice he gave the Chief' of Staff. He would have the same papers as his predecessors and Sir William Robertson, and would remain the supreme military adviser to the Rritish Government, He would accompany Ministers to meetings of the Supreme War Council as adviser, and have the right to visit France and consult the military representatives. Our representative at Versailles must have the most perfect freedom to discuss and recommend plans. Jf the Com-mander-in-Chief did not approve, or if there was a difference of opinion among the various representatives then the Government would decide. There was no delegation of authority by the Government. The Chief of Staff would be chief adviser to the Government in the event of any such difference of opinion. It was only after the Government had decided to offer General Robertson the position of representative at Versailles that the Premier realised that he objected on military grounds to the system which the Versailles Council had decided unanimously to adopt. General Robertson suggested that the representative at Versailles should be made deputy Chief of Staff, but the Government rejected the suggestion, 'because the suggested position would be impossible for any man and would make the British representative inferior to other members of the Council. A voice: "What about General Foch?" The Premier pointed out that General Foch was within 25 minutes of Versailles and could be consulted in the event of an emergency. The Premier reiterated that the Government most deeply regretted that it was obliged to proceed without General Robertson- It was a choice between carrying out a policy unanimously formulated by the military advisers of the Allies and retaining the services of a most distinguished and very valued public servant. He was paid the fullest consideration in view of the magnitude fli the policy, but the Government was bound to stand by the arrangement with the Allies. The Premier dwelt on the natural difficulties of securing the military unity of the* Allies Some thought the new arrangement would secure political unity hut impair the unity of the armies. The Gpverwnen}; propped to invite sugges- \ '■Otm *»w> ■fae:l3«b,esl) «ilit«rjr Mrfaori- '

tics as regards the best means of removing the anxiety that the new scheme might impair the efficiency of our army. The Government would adopt any such suggestion to improve the new selu'i.ic. National feeling., historical tradition and suspicion militated against every alliance, While there were also difficulties due to professional conservatism. He pleaded for mutual trust and confidence, which were the very soul of victory. Mr. Lloyd. George ?aid: "We discussed and re-discussod'this plan in order that our whole concentrated strength should be mobilised to resist and break the most foe civilisation has ever been confronted with. We arc faced with terrible realities- The enemy has rejected the most moderate terms which the whole of civilisation has accepted as reasonable. ' "Why has the enemy rejected them? Because he is clearly convinced that the Russian collapse will give him power to achieve a military victory and impose Prussianism* forcibly on Europe." The- Premier begged the House to turn down all controversy and close the ranks. (Loud cheers.) If the House disapproved of the Versailles policy let it put in a Government who would refuse to nccept that policy, but it must be an-' other Government. (Cheers.) The Government was entitled to know, and to know that night, whether the House and nation wished to proceed with 11)6 policy deliberately settled with a view of organising our forces. They must advance on the foe. "I have endeavored to discharge the terrible functions of my position to the utmost of my capacity and strength(Cheers.; If the House to-night repudiates that policy for .which I am responsible, and on which I believe the safety of the country depends, I shall quit office with but one'regret, that I have not had greater strength and greater ability to place at the disposal of my native land" in the gravest hour of her history." (Loud and prolonged cheers) BACKSTAIRS INTRIGUE. London, Feb. 20. A Punch cartoon represents Mr. Punch saying to John Bull "Don't worry about Russia. What we have got to worry about is this cursed backstairs intrigue in the press and Parliament." LORD DERBY'S RESIGNATION NOT ACCEPTED. , London, Feb. 19. In the House of Lords, Lord Derby strongly supported the Versailles Conference, which had already achieved excellent results. ,He had done his utmost to induce Sir William Robertson to ac cept the Versailles scheme. Lord Derby added that he had tendered liis own resignation, but Mr. Lloyd George asked him to remain. HAIG IN ABSOLUTE CONTROL. Renter Service. Received Feb. 21, 8-30 p.m. London, Feb. 20. In thm House of Lords, Viscount Curzon stated that Sir Douglas Haig remained hi; absolute control of his troops. NEWSPAPER OPINION. London, Feb. 20. The Morning Post does not believe that the public yet realises the army position. This is not surprising, because any newspaper attempting to explain it would be treated at Ahal> treated Micaiah, but may not the public look to the- House of Commons for the truth ? They had swapped horses in the biggest crisis of the war, when the stream was deepest and the night darkest. The Parliamentary- correspondent of the Dailv Telegraph says that the symptoms of a crisis have vanished. The Unionist War Committee met pi'ivatelv and endorsed the Government's policy heartily. The Committee concurred in Mr. Chamberlain's declaration that the Government must sever its connection with press influence and themselves govern. Strong representations to this effect have been made to Mr. Lloyd George privately by his mosf; ardent Unionist supporters. Mr. Chamberlain said that half Mr. Lloyd George's troubles arose from the fact that the Government was associated with certain newspaper proprietors, thereby surrounding themselves with suspicion and distrust.

BACK FROM TURKEY. AWFUL SUFFERINGS. A NEW ZEALANDER'S ACCOUNT. 1 United Service. Received Feb. -21, 5.15 pjn. London, Feb. 21 Corpo;al,A. Shoe-bridge, 10/503 Wellington Battalion, New Zealand, was among tho first, prisoners to arrive from Turkey. He states he was engaged in the attack on Anafarta in 1915, and when the Anzacs were forced to retire he was left on the field shot through the elbow. He was taken, with other New Zealanders, from Gallipoli in a jolting cart. When they stopped on the roadside, old Turkish women belabored them with heavy sticks, killing his mate, who was suffering from a serious bavonet wound in (Tie stomach, his body beiii" left on the roadside. Shoebridge was sent to a good hospital at Constantinople for a few days, but was then told the P,ritish were ill-treating Turkish prisoners, and as a reprisal he was sent to a building like a stable. The windows were boarded and the place was dark. He was laid ori a dirty floor, a blanket being given to each* prisoner. His wounds were not attended to. Later he was sent to various hospitals for treatment- The food was wretched, -consisting of bread, boiled wheat and potatoes. ' Other prisoners state that British prisoners died like flies and were buried unclothed and uncoffined in 'holes holding -four The condition of prisoners from Kut was indescribable. At first they could not believe they were British. Some were clad in a shirt only. Prisoners received £4 monthly from the Americans, and then the Dutch consul was permitted to buy food, but the prices were terrible. The prisoners stayed ten weeks in Austria en route. Food was worse and more scaice than in Turkey, but the conditions in Turkey wetf| now much improved. AUCKLAND SESSIONS. Auckland, Feb. 21. In the Supreme Court Mary Rush, abas Easlett, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for having performed an illegal operation on EMe McFarkr