MONS RETREAT.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16520, 12 May 1919, Page 7

MONS RETREAT.

FRENCH'S DISCLOSURES.

ATTACK ON KITCHENER

(By C«M*.—Pr«s» Association. —Copyright.) (Australian and N./j. Cab]© Aftsociatlon.l

(Received May 11th, 5.5 p.m.)

LONDON, May 5

Lord French, continuing his story of the retreat from Mons in the "Daily, Telegraph," shows that the Fifth French Army commenced to retreat from tlio Sambre twenty-four hours before lie received official intimation that Marshal Joffre's offensive had been abandoned.

Lord French says: "My duty to my country demanded that I should not risk a recurrence, so I wrote to Lord Kitchener urging the necessity of my retaining comolete independence of action. Marshal JofTre, M. Poincare, Lord Kitchener, and tho British Government all sont messages, which were unreinly repeated, demanding that T should stand and fight, yet General L:\nrezao was still throwing back tho left flank of the Fifth Army nnd widening the gap between the French and the British. I retain the profoundest belief that if I had yielded to these violent solicitations, the wholo Allied army would havo been thrown back in disorder over the Marne and Paris would have fallen an easy pronto the Germans. My refusal brought Lord Kitchener to Paris, where I met him 011 September Ist, though I deeply resented being called from headquarters when tv critical action was going °n." , Lord Fronch says ho told Lord Kitchener that ho had been entrusted with tho British command in France, and ho alone was responsible. Therefore his authority must be supremo until he was superseded, and lie would not tolerate interference with his executive command, though he would bo glad to accept Lord Kitchener's advico and assistance. Lord Kitchener began to realise his difficulties, and they camo to an amicable understanding/ Ho told Lord Kitchener it was impossible for him to be absent longer trom headquarters, and ho quitted Paris forthwith. _ .

Lord Frencli adds that French Ministers and generals witnessed Lord Kitchener's apparent exercise of superior authority, and hojvns apprchonsivo of its effect in French circles and upon tho moral of tho British troops; Lord Kitchener realised his mistake and quitted Pan's that night. RESENTMENT IN MILITARY CIRCLES. (Received May 11th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON. May 7. Sir Georgo Arthur, Lord Kitchener's biographer, writes to the Press pointing out that Lord French's account of Lord Kitchener's conduct in Paris in 1914 is not borne out by the telegrams and correspondence between! them. The military members of the House of Commons resent Lord French's attack, and intend to ask tho Government if it proposes to take disciplinary action against Lord French.