EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1919, Page 5

EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR.

LORD FRENCH AND LORD KITCHENER. PUUTICAL DTTERFEKi . WITH MILITARY PLANS. Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. 'London, May 5. Lord French, continuing the story of the retreat from Mons in the Daily Telegraph, shows that the Fifth French Army commenced to retreat from the Sambre twenty-four hours (before he (Lord French) received official intimation that General Joffre's offensive had been abandoned.

Lord French says: "My duty to my country demanded that I should not risk a recurrence, and so I wrote to Lord Kitchener, urging the necessity of my retaining complete independence of action. Marshal Joffre, President Poinrare, Lord Kitchener, and the British Government all sent messages, which were urgently repeated, demanding that I should stand and fight, yet General Tanrezac was still throwing back the loft flank of the Fifth Army and widening the gap between the French and British. I retain the profoundest belief that if I had yielded to these violent solicitations the whole Allied army would have been thrown back in disorder over the Marne afid Paris would have fallen an easy prey to the Germans. My refusal brought Lord Kitchener to Paris, where I met him on September 1, though I deeply resented being called from headquarters when a critical action was going on." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received May 12, 12 45 a.m. London, May 0. Lord French told Lord Kitchener that he had been entrusted with the British command in France, and he alono was Responsible. Therefore, his authority must be supremo until he was superseded, and would not tolerate interference with his executive command, though he would be glad to accept Lord Kitchener's advice and assistance. Lord Kitchener began to realise Lord French's difficulties, and they came to an amicable understanding. He told Lord Kitchener it was impossible for him to be absent longer from headquarters, and he quitted Paris forthwith. Lord French adds that the French Ministers and generals witnessed Lord Kitchener's apparent exercise of superior authority, and the narrator says he was apprehensive of tho effect in French circles and upon the morale of the British troops. Lord Kitchener realised his mistake and quitted Paris that night.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received May 11, 5.5 p.m. London, May 7Mi*. George Arthur, the late Lord Kitchener's biographer, writes to tho press pointing out that Lord French's account of Lord Kitchener's conduct in Paris in 1914 is not borne out by telegrams and correspondence between them. Military members of the House of Commons resent Lord French's attack, and intend to ask the Government if it proposes to take disciplinary action against Lord French.—Reuter.