ASQUITH MINISTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 1682, 31 May 1919, Page 8

ASQUITH MINISTRY.

MUNITIONS SUPPLIES. By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian anc? N.Z. Cable' Assn. , r . . LONDON, May '27. v j S 1 U1^1 ; speaking 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 crippled by the Government s failure to provide necessary munitions. He denied that lie had thus lulled the country into a false senso of security. Ho declared that the statement had been unscrupulously and shamelessly travestied for several "years for political purposes. He had refrained from replying to misrepresentations during the war. Mr Asquith proceeded to outline the successful efforts of his Government in an increase of munitions in ' the need of which was acutely realised. _He came to Newcastle in "i rl m f° r the purpose of urging the Tyneside and other workers to iiierease then- output. His statement, denying the lack of munitions had boen made after consulting Lord Kitchener, who had been personally consulting Lord French.

Mr Asquith asked where else could he have applied for authentic information than to Lord Kitchener. He added that the statement was carefully limited to the past. Ho had not attempted to conceal the Govern moil's anxiety as to the future, but he emphasised that all military authorities were agreed that a large and rapid increase of munitions was indispensable.