The Washington times., 1915-07-10
SUPPLIES ROW MAY
CAUSE DISRUPTION
OF BRITISH CABINET
Lord Kitchener and Lloyd
George Near Open Clash on
Ordnance Chief.


continuance in office Of Major-Gen. Sir
Stanley Won Donop. master general OF
ordnance
Lloyd George insists upon Won Donop s
retirement and Lord Kitchener insists
with equal stlbborness that the master
general be retained
At rhe same time tile Northcliffe press
snd a group IN parliament are protest
ing against What they characterize as
an effort to bring Lord Haldane. former
lord chancellor hack into the cabinet.
Lcrd Kitchener's popularity with the
masses was attested by demonstration
the Guildhan and appealed for more
recruits for the my. He said the
government was now prepared to arm
and equip recruits as fast as they are
enrolled.
Public Is Awakened.
Formal notice was served on the
people Of Great Britain in the house
Of commons that the cabinet is not
committed in any way against COM
pulsory service in the factories and In
the army and that this extreme meas
ure will be resorted to II other methods
of keeping up the supply of munitions
and men for the front fail.
Lloyd Georges revelations OF condi-
tlOHS at Ine ITOnt TeSultlns
Of proper munitions. coupled with tho
reports of labor leaders and others
who have visited the front have sue
ceeded in awakening the British public
which the empire has found itself and
the efforts which must be made If the
allies are to win ultimate victory. This
awakening Is resulting In an increased
energy In munitions making and In
more sober and determined point OF
view on the part Of the general public.
New Political Crisis.
The munitions problem has precipi-
tated a new situation which bids fair
to develop into another political crisis
the new developments center about two
men. Viscount Haldane. former lord
chancellor and secretary OF state for
war, and Maj. Gen. Sir Stanley B. Won
Donop. master general Of ordnance.
The opposition to Major General Won
Donop began a few days ago when Sir
Henry Dalziel denounced him In a vio-
lent attack In the house Of commons
When speaking before the National
Liberal Club on July Lord Haldane
defended the master general Of ord
nance against attacks that had been
made on the administration of his de-
partment, saying that II anybody was
to blame for the failure of the manu-
facturers to flll the enormous gun and
the government 1t certainly was not the
master general of ordnance. bnt the
men who did not initiate in October the
immense effort now being made
The seriousness Of the attack on Major
General Won Donop Is indicated by the
Daily Chronicle in a statement that IN
some quarters 1t Is rumored that II
Major General Won Donop does not re-
sign Mr.. LloydGeorge will. and that
if Major General Won Donop does re-
al
Lloyd George vs. Kitchener,
Thus the dispute about the fitness of
Major-Gen. Won Donop for the post he
holds appears to have developed into
controversy between Lloyd George and
Lord Kitchener.
The Northcliffe press processes to see
in the tribute paid to Lord Haldane at
the National Liberal Club on July
paving Of the way for Lord Haldane to
return to the cabinet. from which he
was taken at the time of the recent re-
organization along coalition lines. These
newspapers which have led In the at
tacks on Lord Kitchener, urge their
readers to sign and send to the gov
ernment an appeal protesting against
the readmission OF Lord Haldare to the
cabinet
The Daily Mail initiated a campaign
today for the formation Of Peoples
Committee" to be made up OF business
men or standing VINO nave ndu no par
iiamentary affiliations. with power to
call for evidence and to report to par
lament on the question thus phrased
in the Daily Mail: What servants of
the state, by whose negligence or incom-
petence the fate Of the empire has been
endangered. are still holding office
under the government
To Question Government.
While there is a general feeling that
l.. ,,,,- ,Ntthl II
threshing out of personal or political
questions, a group in parliament seems
bent upon having the whole question
gone over with as mrCh publicity as
possible.
Sir Henry Daiziel. a Liberal member.
has given notice that he will ask
Premier AsQuith in the house of com
for the discussion Of the causes re-
sponsibe for the deficiency in munt-
tions, and that at that time he will ask
the premier whether Lord Haldane's g
fdential committee of the cabinet. that
having charge of the supplying Of mu-
nitions before the present ministry OF
munitions was organ.Zed' were made
with the authority of MI Asquith.
Major-General Sir Stanley b.. Won
Donor has been master general OF ord
nance since 1918. He Is son of Vice
Admiral T. P. B: Won Donon, served
knighted in 1914.
Allies Can Do Little Now.
The realities of the situation which
Great Britain is facing have been deep
ly impressed upon the people by the
revelations which have at last been made
bv the government as to the condition
of affairs at the front Lloyd George s
speeches dealing with the imperative
need for munitions OF war OF all kinds
have practically amounted to a plain
confession that the allies can do prac-
tically nothing to push the war toward
a successful finish until the whole
country joins in the labor of providing
the equipment and munitions. without
which all the heroism and all the cour-
arc In the world can be OF no avail.
Another thing that is helping to wake
UP the English people to something APP
preaching the appreciation of the true
facts Is the steady increase in the price
of provisions and the sufferings of the
professional classes, who are now be-
ginning seriously to feel the pinch.
Evidence that the skilled workmen OF
the country are at last realizing the
necessities of the situation was forth
coming when the trade union leaders
at their meeting with Lloyd George
asked him to give them seven days
in which to enlist voluntary labor
army In order to avoid any scheme oil
compulsion Enrolment bureaus were