WARDS FOR WAR SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 9

WARDS FOR WAR SERVICE

GRANTS TO COMMANDERS.

SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD'S CASE.

COMPLAINT AT INADEQUACY. By Tekaraph-press Assooiation-CoDyrkht.

(Eleceived 8.35 p.m.) A. aad N.Z. LONDON, Aug. 8. The granting of the monetary rewards to the military and naval leaders was formally moved in the House of Commons by Mr. Lloyd George.'

Mr T W. H. Inskip, member for Bristol Central, protested that General Sir W. E. Birdwood, had not received a sum equal to the other army commanders. The differentiate caused dismay and amazement, in the hearts of the Australians, who regarded, him with a devotion unique in the annals of the army.

Mr. Lloyd George, in introducing the motion, pointed out that the pensions already voted totalled £98,000,000 annually. They were mcomparably the most generous in Europe. It was a difficult and delicate task to choose the names for money grants. He paid a glowing tribute to each recipient, specially mentioning the great organising work of Lord Jellicoe. The German account of the battle of Ypres showed that Field-Marshal French had won against overpowering odds. From that moment the fate of German military supremacy was irretrievably doomed. Mr. J. Adamson, on behalf of the Labour Party, moved a reduction from £585,000 to £2000, on the ground that the sums were out of proportion to the monetary rewards of the rank and file. This was de-!

feated by 288 votes to 68. Prominent Australian officers interviewed said that the invidious distinction against General Birdwood in the war rewards had aroused acute indignation throughout the Australian Force. It was felt that the only reason for the discrimination was General Birdwood's whole-hearted championing of the Australians throughout the campaigns of Gallipoli and the West front. _ The fact that he was overlooked in the honours after the evacuation of Gallipoli has already been brought under attention. It must be admitted that of the five army commanders now rewarded, Birdwood received his army command most recently, but seniority had not been the guiding factor. General Bird wood stood third out of four in seniority. The other three received peerages and £30,000, while Gfnejral Birdwood received a baronetcy "and £10,000. General Birdwood had a difficult task in reorganising the Fifth Army after the German break although he was engaged; in little fighting thereafter compared with the strenuous earlier period.

The discrimination has caused surrise in British Army circles, beans© ft perpetuates the memory of be Fifth Army's catastrophe before teiiefal Birdwood was given comland. '