MR ASQUITH IN REPLY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 5 June 1919, Page 5

MR ASQUITH IN REPLY.

CHARGES WITHOUT FOUNDATION. LONDON, June 3. Mr Asquith, speaking at a complimentary luncheon, replied to the statements in Lord French's book. Mr Asquith complained that Lord French had been given access to official and confidential documents to 'build up a case against men -whose lips were closed, some by death, others by official restraint. It was a flagrant breach of-the best traditions of the public service. None knew better than Lord French that his charge against the Liberal Government of callousness in failing to supply sufficient guns and shells was without foundation. Documents which would be published shortly would prove that Lord French's visit to Paris in September, 1914, was a travesty on the real facts. Prior to the dispatch of Lord Kitchener to Paris, Lord French's movements had filled the Government with consternation, and the Parisian Government feared that the French army was going to be left in the lurch. Mr Asquith ilatiy denied Lord French's assertion that he advocated high explosives instead of shrapnel before the war. Mr Asquith quoted a document showing that Headquarters asked the Government in November, 1914, to reduce the percentage of high explosives from 50 to 25 per cent. Mr Asquith quoted Lord Kitchener's letter, -written on the eve of the famous Newcastle speech, in which he said Lord French had told him that 'with tlie present supply of ammunition he would have as much as the troops were able to use for the next attack. OA portion of the speech which came to hand and was published yesterday should follow here.]