1915.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16812, 19 April 1920, Page 7

1915.

— THE SHELL CONTROVERSY. (By Cable—Press Association —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, April 15. To-day's instalment of Lord Kitchener's lifo deals with the shell controversy in 1915. The narrative quotes Lord French's letter of April Bth, 1915, arranging a secret meeting with Lord Kitchener on April 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. It was on this that Mr Asquith based his Newcastle h. A now letter from Lord French, on May 2nd is published, in which he stated: "The ammunition will be all right." Lord French became despondent on May 9tli, owing to the failure of tbe joint attack on the _La BasseeArras front, and wrote declining to accept the responsibility of drawing on his stocks of ammunition in order to supply tho Dardanelles requirements. Lord Kitchener replied that the stock would bo replaced. This was done within 24 hours. Lord French sought further relief for his feelings by confiding his necessities to a representative of "The Times," but •apart from Lord French's own suggestion, it was not easy to trace the change of Government to a shortage of high explosives, and the momentary displacement on May 10th of some reserve ammunition.