CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1220, 5 June 1919, Page 5

CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

FRENCH AND ASQUITH. "FLAGRANT BREACH." By Telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright London, June 3. Mr AsquitiJ, speaking at a complimentary luncheon, replied to 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 and others by official restraint. It was a flagrant breach of the best traditions of the Public Service. CALLOUSNESS CHARGED. None knew batter than Lord French that his chargs against the Liberal Government of callousness in failing to supply sufficient guns was without foundation. Prior to the despatch of Lord Kitchener to Paris Lord French's intended rrovement9 had filled Cabinet with consternation and the Parisian Government fsared that the French Army was going to be left in the lurch.

He flatly denied Lord French's assertion that he advocated high explosives instead of shrapnel before the war. Mr Asquith quoted documents showing that the Headquarters Staff asked the Government in November 1914 to reduce the percentage of high explosives from fifty to twenty-five per cent. Mr Asquith accepted full responsibility for Lord French's recall. The newspapers generally consider that Mr Asquith has dissipated Lord French's accusations. They especially draw attention to Lord French's eulogy of Mr Asquith three days after the Liberal Government's fall, whereas French now states he engineered the fall in order to save the country from rum