Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-11-18
KITCHENER BLAMED
BYLQRD CHURCHILL.
Calls Minister of War Response
BILE for Failures.
DEFENDS TWO EXPEDITIONS
Declares DardaneIles Attack Was
Framed by Experienced Technical
Minds-Sir Markham Also
Hits Kitchener.
DEFENDS TWO EXPEDITIONS

Churchill, former first lord OF the Brit
tsh admiralty, against whom more bit
ter criticism has been launched than
any other man in the English govern
ment since the war began, made his
speech of defense in the house of
commons.
Mr.. Churchill put full responsibility
for the disastrous Antwerp expedi-
ton upon Lord Kitchener, the secre-
tary of state for war, and the French
government
Denies Responsibility.
The former first lord of the adj
miralty also denied personal RESPONSE
bility for the Dardanelles enterprise.
The proposition to send an expedi-
ton to the Dardanelles to open up
the way to Constantinople was pro
foundry, maturely and deliberately con-
sidered," declared Mr.. Churchill.
It had been charged that Mr..
Churchill acted too quickly and too
much upon his own initiative in send
ing the expeditions to Antwerp and
the Dardanelles.
Churchill said:
THE idea of sending a relieving
army to save Antwerp from capture
by the Germans originated with Lord
Kitchener and the French govern
ment. That the expedition arrived
too late to save the Belgian city was
not my fault"
Consulted Sea Lord.
Mr.. Churchill declared that be al
ways consulted the first sea lord of
the admiralty before making any Off
ciaI move.
Baron Fisher of Kilverstone, known
as the father for the modern Eng
fish navy" was first sea lord of the
admiralty for some time during Mr.
ChurchilPs tenure as first lord of the
admiralty and the differences when
led the baron to retire have never
been explained.
No act, no policy nor any scheme
OF distribution was put into effect dur
ing my administration which did not
| have the concurrence of the first sea
lord in writing" said Mr.. Churchill.
"No Victory With Kitchener"
Following Churchill's sensational
speech Sir Arthur Markham made the
most violent attack on Earl Kitchener
| yet heard.
Markham told members of the COM
| mons he was convinced Kitchener
was responsible for both the Antwerp
and DardaneIles plumbers" and that
| he also was guilty of Withholding in
| formation. q am convinced" added
| Sir Arthur, that while Kitchener, who
| accepts no advice, remains at the war
Office we will not win this war"
81 think l ought not to leave the
country without referring to certain
incidents at the admiralty in the di-
rection of the war which occurred
during my period at the admiralty, -
said Mr. Churchill.
Expects Vindication.
81 cannot conceive of any reasons
why the story of the battle of the
Falkland islands should not now be
told. My successor has full authority
to publish any minutes regarding the
engagement. l do not object to any
publications regarding the three
cruisers which took part in that
battle, although l do not press for
it. My vindication of responsibility
for the battles of the South Pacific
and the Falklands will arrive with
the publication of the documents.
"It is a mistake to regard the fail.
ure to relieve Antwerp as wholly a
military misfortune History will de
termine that that enterprise had the
effect of causing a great battle to be
fought on the User instead of farther
south"
Mr.. Churchill repudiated the sug.
gestion that he had oYerruled the de,
oision of his naval advisers in the dis
position of the cruisers lost in the
North sea.
He declared that the Dardanelles
enterprise was carried out with
great, overwhelming, expert opinion
in its favor 1t was framed merely by
experienced technical minds The at
tack was decided on at a war council
held on January 2S, at which Lord
Fisher was present"
1T was a legitimate war gamble
for a prize of inestimable value
which had a reasonable chance OF
winning on that basis. All summer
the army has stood on Gallipoli PENN
sula within a few miles of decisive
victory"
No Reason for Regret.
Mr. Churchill declared there was nc
reason to be discouraged with the
progress Of the war.
I'VE are passing through a bad
time" he said. but it will probably
be worse before it is better
In explaining why he had resigned
from the cabinet Mr. Churchill said
his reasons did not apply to the other
ministers. Another form of service
he said, was open to him with which
he was perfectly content.
In conclusion he expressed the hope
that Sir Edward Carson would con
tinue to occupy the front opposition
bench, which was his war station"