The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-28
ENGLAND INUNDATED.
Churchill said To he Respon.ibIe for
Antwerp's flight.


LONDON. oct. ls.-Public attention has
swcrved for the moment from the fate
or IN" British armies to the violent at
tack which has been made by the Morn
ing Post and 10y individuals on the First
Lord OF the Admiralty
II Is possible to send by mall the text
or the accusations that Mr.. Churchill un-
mindfsl Of the advice OF the great mill
thry chiefs sent small force 10 Ant
werp and thereby brought humiiiatioA
upon England. The Morning POSTS Mt
tack has received some support from the
Daily Hdl. which, after agreeing tina,
the statements made by the Morning Post
could not be ignored by the authorities
retired from the discussion. Pract.cally
all OF tn" other newspapers support or
excuse Ny Church.ils acts
In its issue OF October IL the Mornin
Post said editorially:
And the time has come for more plain
and definite speaking What has to be
said. then. is that the attempt to relieve
Antwerp by "A small force Of marines ard
laval volunteers was a costly blunaer FOR
which Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill
must be held responsible on the present.
evidence"
Tho Morning Post contended that the
Belglan army should have retired early
from Antwerp, and that the only alterna-
tive, bad one. was strong relieving
force. Instead. futile scheme was
adopted, 4 few marines and volunteers
undergoing training were sent. The re-
suit was that the Belgian retreat was so
delayed az To he nearly fatal. Antwerp
suffered unnpc essary homhardment and
the British lost mer badly needed The
Post makes Mr.. Churchill r sponsihle for
persuadng the Beglans To prolong a
hopeless defence. Then the newspaper
puts 10 tho Government the following
questions:
"On whose authority was this adventure
arranged and conducted Was II military
or was Il naval? n II was mS'tary. wore
the plans approved by Gen. French and
Lord Kitchener? n II was naval. was
II scheme arranged and approved by
the whole Board Of Admiralty? IL IL not
true that the energies of Winston Church
| III have been directed upon this eccentric
expedition. and that ne has been using
the resources Of the Admiralty az II he
were personally responsible for the naval
operations"
After commenting that Mr.. Churchill's
proper place was nj the office ~ the Ad-
mlralty and not running about In Belgium
and Franc, the Post adds:
1.-THE other day NJ Churchill used the
expression that the German navy were to
De dug out OF their hole Ike rats II
they could not he got out otherwise. Now
!
boast or that II foreshadowed a combined
military and naval operation. II the
| former then boast,ng Is not appropriate
10 British Minister'S position II the
latter. why betray secret OF such i'm
portanceT'
Walter r. Long, ", p. strongly sup
ported the POSTS attack and demanded a
I clear and explicit statement in reply
thereto.
Generally the ncwsnapers rallied to Mr.
Churchilrs defence, the Daily Nan agree
! ing with the Post. however, that an ex
planatiun was due the people Tho Time,
/ OF October Il declined TO irdorse th'
criticism for the reason that II was Alb
surd to suggest that decision Of th'
importance OF the Antwerp affair could b.
taken by the First Lord or by any o'hei
individual Minister without the full con
currence Of his colleagues. Said the Times
III public censure on the despatch o.
the expedition is merited. then It must b.
, shared with Mr.. Churchill by the Cabne
as whole. and especially by the Prime
Minister and the Secretary Of state 10
War. The expedition did not form par
OF any essential military operations I
was rather an attempt 10 demonstrate II
such manner as was possible at the mo
ment the deep concern OF this country II
the heroic sufcr!ngs OF the Relsisi
people and It's solidarity with them at I
time of crisis"
The Yorkshire Observer refers 70 III