WAR ECHOES.

Grey River Argus, 3 November 1928, Page 8

WAR ECHOES.

HERO OF KUT. Why He Was Ignored. LONDON. November 1. Why General Townsend, the hero of Kut, was never promoted above the rank of Major General was contained in a biography written by Errol Shero:: ami published by Heinemann’s, which suggests tha' his career ended because an indiscreet letter came into trip possession of the War Office. The story goes that Colonel Fitz gt raid, military secretary to Lord Kitchener, told a journalist tha' General Townsend, in a letter, offered his erviees to Austria. Townsend interviewed Mr Churchill, who said he thought the letter was indiscreet, but there was no hing in it to prevent promotion. The Selection Board, however, had been unanimous in not promoting him. “I am looking for a command for you now.” added Mr Churchill, but nothing happened. The honours list for Kut duly appeared, but General Townsend’s nano did not appear. It appears that General Townsend, learning of th e assassination at Serajevo, wrote to an Aus rian friend, who was a military attache at Paris in 1906 when Townsend was British attache. Mr Sherson continues: “Besides an expression of detestation at the murders. General Townsend bewailed his own’ lot, and spoke of the bad government in England, which he ought no*, to have done. He did indeed say that he wished h e could get a transfer into the Austrian service, so as to get to thc Front, where he might be less unjustly treated. This was very different from applying for a commission in 'he Austrian Army, as he wac accused of doing. Mr Churchill said that any clear-headed man, reading the letter, could sec General Townsend was not a traitor, veen if his whole I career had not proved his loyalty.’’

President Wilson. ANOTHER SIDE OF HIM. LONDON, November 1. The Star correspondent reveals one of the most dramatic incidents of thc w: r. throwing more human light on th' .‘.iistire figure of President Wilson, showing him to be capable of warm heartedness and impulsiveness. When in the dark days of 1918, Germany was making a desperate bid for victory, the British line temporarily broken, and France suffering loss in morale,' and the extent of American help was uncertain, Mr Lloyd George sent an urgent message to Lord Reading, Anibas ador a* Washington, asking him t 0 explain the situation to Mr Wilson in point-blank language, stressing the need for every help America could give. The President listened awhile silently, then interrupted with: “Mister Ambassador, we will do our damnedest. ’ ’ Had Britain known of this laconic Im cheering message with which Lord Reading was able to hearten Britain and thr Allies, she would have even more warmly received Mr Wilson when he came to stay with His Majesty in