THE ASQUITH GOVERNMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 30 May 1919, Page 7

THE ASQUITH GOVERNMENT

EX-LEADER ANSWERS CRITICS

BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPYRIGHT

(Received May 30. 12.30 p.m.)

' LONDON, May 17 (delayed). Mr Asquith. at Newcastle, replied to criticism of his speech, at Newcastle in April, 1915, in which/ he denied that the Army's operations in France were crippied by the Government's failure to-pro-vide tbe necessary munitions, and. had thus lulled the country into a false sense of security. Ho declared that the •tatement had been unscrupulously and shamelessly travestied for several years for political purposes. He had refrained front replying to the misrepresentations' during the war. Mb Asquith proceeded to outline the successful efforts of his Government in securing an increase in "munitions in 1914^15, the need of which was acutely realised. He feame to ' Newcastle, in April v 1915, for the purpose of urging the lyneside and other workers to increase their output. His statement, denying a lack of munitions, was made after consulting Lord Kitchener, who Tiad been personally consulting Lord French. Mr Asquith asked where else^ could he have applied for authentic in^ formation than to Lord Kitchener. He added that the statement was carefully' limited to the past. He had "not attempted to conceal -the Government's anxiety as to the future, but he emphasised that all the military authorities were ngreed that a large and rapid increase of munitions was indispensable. .-'m ■ . ■