LIGHT ON THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1920, Page 5

LIGHT ON THE WAR.

SHELL CONTROVERSEY OF 1915. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 15. To-day's instalment of Lord Kitchener's Life deals with the shell' controversy in 1915. Sir George Arthur quotes Lord French's letter of April 8, 1915, arranging a secret meeting with Lord Kitchener on the 14th, when, in consequence of a long conversation, Lord Kitchener was able to assure Mr. Asquith that Lord French would have sufficient ammunition for the next forward movement. On this Mr. Asquith based his Newcastle speech. A new letter from Lord French of May 2 is published, in which he stated: "The ammunition will be all right.'' Lord French became despondent on May 9, owing to the failure jf the joint attack on the La Bassee-Arrag front, and wrote declining to accept the responsibility of drawing on his stocks of ammunition in order to supply the Dardanelles requirements. Lord Kitchener replied that the stocks would lie replaced, and this was done within 24 hours.

Lord French sought further relief for liis feelings by confiding his necessities to the representative of The Times, but, apart from Lord French's own suggestion, it is not easy to trare the change of Government to the shortage of high explosives and the momentary displacement on May 10 of some reserve ammunition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.