“1914,”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 3

“1914,”

VISCOUNT FRENCH’S CRITICISM. LONDON, May 13. Viscount French, in the “Daily Telegraph,’’ further criticises Lord .Kitcneuer in connection with French’s efforts to effect a. speedy move to tho north when the fall of Antwerp was imminent. Ho says:—“ Lord Kitchener did not make things easy for me- Ho was keenly desirous to influence tho course of the operations. His telegrams quickly followed one another, each containing directions regarding the local situation, of which Ihe could know little. For instance, ho told mo that he was communicating with Marshal Joffrc and the French Government. I was not aware what was passing between them. At the same time he was urging mo to make what I knew to bo impracticable suggestions to Joffre. I must repudiate any responsibility for what happened in the north during the first ten days of October. Lord Kitchener explicitly told me that the British troops were not under ray command, stating, 1 They will not, for the present, be considered part of your force.’ I certainly would nave made different dispositions of these troops and regret that I Must record the deliberate opinion ; that the beat which could have been ! done throughout the critical situation ; was not done, owing entirely to Lord Kitchener’s endeavour to unite in himself the distinct roles of Cabinet Minister and Commander-in-Chief.” Viscount French quotes a. telegram in which Lord Kitchener even demanded whether General Rawlinson regarded himself as under his orders. Viscount French proceeds:—“ When Antwerp was threatened Lord Kitchener, unknown to me. arranged for ■Joffre to send one or two French Territorial divisions to act with the marines. It is perfectly clear that the operations for the relief of Antwerp should never have been directed from London. Actually they had no influence on the fate of Antwerp and could equally as well have protected the Ivdginn retreat from c- nfer nd more effective _ directions. We miaht have saved Lille by landing on October 5 ut Calais, or Boulogne, and deploying six or seven days later in tho valley of the Lys. We might nLo have saved Ostend and even Zcebrngge.”