Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-28
SMALLER CABINET
TO HAVE CHARGE Of
WAR IS DEMANDED
Also General Desire for More
Information Manifested in
Meeting of English
House of Lords.

London, Oct. 26.-Replying to question
this afternoon as to the progress of the
campaign in the Balkans, the Marquis
of Lansdowne, the unonist leader. who
holds seat in the cabinet without
portfolio, said:
II must say with great regret I am
afraid we must admit that the progress
Of the campaign in northern Serbia has
been such as to rendef.it highly impos-
sible that the Serbian army will be able
time the attacks to which it is exposed
from the Austro-Gcrman forces on the
north. aided by the stab in the back
which Serbia Is receiving at the hands
of bulgaria"
While there was TO criticism OF the
conduct of the near eastern campaign,
there was a general demand, when the
House of Lords met, for information.
and the suggestion Of smaller cabinet
| to have charge of the war received sup
| port
Lord Lansdowne in his reply. gave
general review of the Saloniki opera
| lions, while Earl Curzon of Dedeston.
lord privy seal, made the statement
that Premier Asquith had under consd-
Grafton the matter Of a smaller execu-
| tive.
| Lord Lansdowne explained that tho
British force landed at Saloniki. which
numbers about 1900 men. was sent at
the request of Serbia, and at the in
stance OF Venzelos then premier) for
the purpose OF enabling Greece to full
fill her treaty obligations to Serbia. A
much stronger force had been placed
under orders at the same time the
Saloniki troops were dispatched, but its
ultimate destination would depend on
the situation and the report of General
Monro, the new British. commanderi
chief. who has already reached the Gal
| 'ipoli peninsula.
Earl Loreburn had asked whether the
despatch of troops to Saloniki had been
determined upon with the approval Of
the naval and military ADVISERS and
| whether the government could give as
surance that full provision had been
made for the communications Of this
force anu lot It's supply OF men ana
material to the satisfaction of the naval
and military experts. Earl Loreburn
said he understood the governments de-
sire to be that the matter should not
be debated at this time. but that there
was reason for asking the question.
I'VE are disappointed in the Oar
danelles enterprise" the Earl of Lore
burn continued, and he added that he
did not know whether that enterprise
had commenced with or without the
advice of the naval and military author
tiles and one could not help asking
whether this new venture would be a
repetition of that. The greatest danger
from which this country could suffer
the speaker said. was unpreparedness
and indecison.
The marquis of Lansdowne explained
that there were moments when it was
not in the public interest that ques-
tons relating to the war should be
freely discussed In Parliament, as the
effect on both the allies and theil
enemies had to be considered. He de-
clared, however, that he could assure
Earl Loreburn that neither in the pres
ent government nor in any government
Of which he had been member had Il
been the practice or habit of amateur
strategsts to impose their plans upo:
the professional advisers Of the govern
ment