The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-05-19
Are Needed to Form New
Armies, Kitchener Tells
the House of Lords
ALLIES FORCED TO
USE POISONOUS'GASES
Gallantry of the Canadian Division
Warmly Praised Great Leaders
General View of the War Situation
Is Optimistic.

LONDON, May 19.-Lord Kitchener,
addressing the House of Lords yesterday
in his capacity of secretary for war, stat
ed that he wanted 300, 900 more recruits
to form new armies and indicated that
the British and French armies would soon
begin TO use gas as a weapon of war in
reprisal for the German attacks. These
facts came out in connection with a gen
eral review of the situation in the war
zones before the House adjourned for the
Whitsuntide holidays.
Speaking of the new British offensive,
Lord Kitchener said the action at Neuve
Chapelle twas fought with great gallan-
try, which enabled us to occupy positions
of considerable military Importance, pre-
yiously held by the enemy.
Concerning the German attack on the
allied front near Ypres, he said
I'm this attack the enemy employed
vast quantities of poisonous gases, and our
soldiers and our French allies were utterly
unprepared for this diabolcal method of
attack, which undoubtedly had been long
and carefully prepared =
He added that the British and French
governments felt that the allied troops
Unjust be adequately protected against
poisonous gases by the employment of
j similar methods. These would remove the
enormous and unjustifable advantage
which must otherwise exist.
The Germans said Lord Kitchener
"have persisted in the use of these asphyx-
iating gases whenever wind favored or
other opportunity occurred, and His Maj
esty's government, no less than the French
government, feel that our troops must be
adequately protected by the employment
of similar methods 50 as to remove the
enormous and uujusti6able disadvantage
which must exist for them if we take no
steps to meet on his own ground the enc
my who is responsible for the introduc-
ton of this pernicious practice
The secretary spoke of the ga1lahtry of
the Canadian division, which defended its
positions tenaeiously, Notwithstanding the
poisonous fumes.
This was an ordeal to try the qualities
of the finest army in the world" he said,
"and all the more credit is due the SOL
diers of Canada who, unprepared for such
an attack and exposed to whitening
fire, reluctantly and with perfect steadi-
ness withdrew their left flank to conform
to the newer alignment of the allies po-
sition"
After referring in eulogistic terms to
/ the men in the new army, Earl Kitchener
concluded:
L said l would let the country know
when more men were wanted for the war.
The time has come. and / now call for
300, 900 men to form new armies
Those who are engaged in the produe-
ton of war material Of any kind should
not leave their work 1t is to men who
are not performing this duty that | APP
peal, and | am convinced the manhood OF
England still available will Loyalty re
spond.
I'm my first speech in your Lordships
house [ pointed out that this war would
be a long one and would demand great
lsaerifices. Those sacrifices have beer
cheerfully made by the people of this
country, who not only responded in vast
4 numbers to the summons to create tn,
new armies required, but have since con
tinuousy supplied a constant stream 0
recruits, which has enabled us to main
tain the forces in the field and in trainin.
at their full strength and. with effective
men.
'sYour Lordships have watched tn,
growth of the new armies and have notet
tdoubtIess the difficulties which confronted
us in providing them with all the materia
of war they require
II cannot speak too highly of the mel
and of the devotion to duty they have dis
. played, or of their cheerful acceptance 0
harclships incidental to inclement weather
which have provoked the admiration o
: expert officers, who reported to me as t
s the wonderfully rapid progress made il
their training to become efficient soldiers
al Il am certain that in the activities il
the field, which Immediately await them
: these men viii worthily sustain the repu
tation they have already attained a
home"