The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-11-13
LLOYD GEORGE
BLAMES ALLIES
FOR BLUNDERS
British Premier Speaks OF
Past With "Brutal Frank
ness" in Paris.
SOLIDARITY CHIEF NEED
Sure of Victory "NO Matter
What May Happen in Russia
or to Russia.
SOLIDARITY CHIEF NEED

PARIS. Nov. 12.-Deeermination on the
part OF Great Britain and France not to
wage "a war condemned to disaster from |
United States joinln, the Interaliied !
War Council we're voiced in speeches to- !
day at a luncheon In honor Of the Brit |
ish Premier and others by David Lloyd |
George and Premier Painleve or france. |
Each made 1t clear that the Allies must
have one central direction Of the war.
The British Prime Minister reviewed
some Of the previous reverses Of tho
Entente. notably those In SERBIA and
later in Rumania. and referred to the
recent blow struck in Italy as perhaps
a blessing In disguise. in view Of the
fact that It has brought realisation that
success without coordination OF effort Is
impossible.
Wants Unit Action.
The gravity of Italy's crisis. Mr. Lloyd
George said. was such that steps to form
a supreme command had to be taken
before the United States and some Of
the other Allies could be consulted. but
II was hoped all would concu~ in the
plan.
The British Premier admitted that he
spoke with "a frankness that is perhaps
brutal" perhaps not without risk OF en-
couraging the enemy. but he insisted
that solidarity was necessary to shorten
the war. He asserted that he had ar
rived at the conclusion that. II no
f,ha ho lon
accept responsibility for the direction OF
the war.
III the effort to organize our united
action becomes a reality" he asserted.
II have no doubt as to the issue Of the
war. say 1t no matter what
may happen In Russia or to Russia"
"A single front. single army. q
single nation-that Ia the programme
requisite for future victory" said Pre-
OF war. after all the lessons the war has
taught us. the Allies were not capable
Of that sacred international union. then
in spite Of their sacrIhces they would
not be worthy Of victory"
Manner OF Accom- plishmeat.
In discussing the manner Of accom-.
plishment Of this fusion. to which the
Allies long have aspired. NJ. Painleve
said:
THE enemies alliance realized unity
OF effort by brutal discipline. one of the
peoples among them having mastered the
others and rendered them serviceable.
But We are free peoples. We do not ad.
NIT OF subjection to other peoples in
time OF war. That independence is at
the same time a source of strength and
weakness OF strength because there IL a
capacity for resistance which Is unknown
{ to subject peoples. and OF weakness be-
cause II renders more difficult coordina-
tion OF military operations. To recon-
cile this independence with the need for
unity OF direction which Is required to
I achieve an efflcacious war policy will be
the work OF the Interallied War COM
mittee or of the Superior War Council
just created by the Allies"
! Premier Lloyd George said:
Unfortunately we did not have time
to consult the United States or Russia
before creating this council. The Ital-
ian disaster necessitated action without
delay to repair II. This made II indis-
pensable to commence right now with
the Powers whose forces may be en-
ployed on the Italian front. But in or
der to assure the complete success Of
this great experiment. which ! believe Is
essential to the victory OF our cause, II
will be necessary, that al! our great allies
be represented N the deliberations
am persuaded that we shall obtain the
consent Of these two great countries and
their cooperation in the work Of the In
terallied Council"
Premier's striking speech.
Lloyd George developed at consider.
able length the reasons for not taking
the step earlier. He referred to "timid-
tiles and susceptibilities" when It came
to treating questions on any front not
commanded by Generals taking part ir
the interallied consultations. The Allies
had committed a great fault. he said. ir
not adequately assisting Serbia in hoid
ing her line. with tre result that thu
Central Empires broke the blockade ant
procured men and supplies without
which Germany doubtless would have
been unable to maintain the force Of hel
armies
"Why was this unbelievable fault
committed?' asked the Premier. "Tht
| reply Is simple. 1t was because no ont
In particular was charged with guard
ing the Balkan gate. The unique from
had not become a reality. France ant
England were absorbed by other prob
lens in other regions, Italy though
only CT the Carso Russia was mounting
guard over frontier Of Thousand
| miles, and. even without that, she coulC
| rot have passed through to have helpet
| Serbia, because Rumania was neutral.
ut Is true that we sent troops (,
Salonica to succor Serbia. but, as al
| ways. they were sent too late Half tn
| men who fell In the vain effort to pierc
the western front In September that sam
| year would have saved Serbia. saved tn
Balkans and completed the blockade o
Germany.
Supreme Authority Needed.
"You may say this Is All old story.
grant you that. Vt was simply the frs
chapter Of series that has continued t
the present hour. Nineteen-hftee wa
the year OF the Serbian tragedy: 19l
was the year Of the Ruma Man TRACED,
which was a repetition OF the Serbia
story almost without change. This
unbelievable. when you think Of the cor
| sequences TO the Allies cause OF tn
Rumanian defeat-opulent wheat held
and rich petroleum wells passed to III
enemy and Germany was able to escap
/! us. Through the harvest Of 1917 III
siege Of the Central Powers was raise
once more. and the horrible war wa
once more prolonged. That would M
have happened had there existed som
central authority charged with medita'