Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-12
Denounces Kitchener

by aeroplanes.
Denounces Kitchener
Arthur Lynch. Nationalist member for
Westclare. made a strong attack against
Lord Kitchener, who, he said. had blum
dered in not moving to the defence of
Iiege, again on the question OF munitions
and once again in Serbia.
THE blunder in the Dardanelles,' he
added, was at least a blunder of a man
who meant to do something
He contended that the war was being
conducted with signal inconpetency and
that unless there was a change the coun-
try was moving straight to disaster. He
would sweep away 20 per cent. of the
higher British command, beginning with
Field Marshal French, who had been in
command Is months and had made no
progress"
In the last offensive, continued Mr..
Lynch, the Allies broke through the Ger
man lines. but in the superior command
decision was wanting to take full ad-
vantage of the moral victory. The gov
eminent, he declared. had no plan Of
campaign. The idea of a successful war
of atrition was absurd. The war must
be won in the field. The men were good
and munitions were there. 1t was lead
ership and direction which were lacking.
Balfour's Reply
Mr.. Balfour, replying TO the remarks
of MIR. Joynson-Hicks, said he did not
think it ought to be assumed that the
Germans had taken the lead in aircraft
construction. Il was the desire OF the
admiralty and war office to improve the
construction of air craft in strength.
power and speed for the aerial defence
of London. 1t would. of course, be an
enormous advantage to nave overwhelm-
ing forces of air craft of the latest de-
sign which could be hurled against the
invader and become invaders themselves,
and the government was doing its best
to increase the number Of aViators and
machines for their use.
Air Craft in Building
I'VE are building" he said. not an
inconsiderable number of lighter than
air craft at the moment. largely for
the purpose of scouting. The question
Of lighter than air and heavier than
air craft is still undecided. There are
many persons who think that Germany
chose wrongly in choosing Zeppelins."
Mr.. BaIfour pointed out that. al
though when the war broke out the air
service was relatively in its infancy,
il would be found that during the pro-
gress of the war, il had not fallen be-
hind that against which II was match
Ell. In fact it had outgrown its primi-
tive condition. The largest part of
the defense of London, continued the
First Lord, must be coast defense
and as they got more of the appliances
for this purpose they would more near
ly succeed in achieving it. At present,
the admiralty were limited by their
means of defense. but they were max
ing guns as fast as they could, just as
they were making aeroplanes and de-
veloping pilots as fast as they could.
The anti-air craft defenses were I'M
proving daily. They were becoming
more, formidable and would be much
more formidable than they are at pres
ent.
The service was being constantly
pulled UP by the shortage of manufac-
ture and no waving of wands could
put that right The aeroplane had not
vet the range to enable it to proceed
from these shores and become men
ace. The enemy Zeppelins which at
tackled England, came from North Ger
many which it was not easy Tor Bri-
fish air craft to attack.
With respect to the charges of blum
dering in the operations, Mr.. Balfour
said he had no doubt there was much
talent in the country which was not
finding it's best operation nor did he
think that every man in high command
was the very best man that science
could discover but nothing could be
gained by such a speech as Mr.. Lynch
had delivered. No practical sugges-
ton had been made. except that every
man now engaged should be turned
out and some unspeciied persons put
in to direct affairs
He quite agreed that wherever merit
was found 1t should be promoted, but
broadcast criticisms of the soldiers and
reckless attacks on the diplomatic SER
vices, he declared. did no good to the
cause Of the country and did not help
those responsible for public affairs.
After several members had spoken on
the various aspects Of the war, Arthur
A. Ponsonby. Liberal. closing the de-
Continued on Page 11-col. ~