The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-24
Lloyd George Stirs Up Storm by
Telling Frankly About Blum
ders of Allies.
UNIFIED CONTROL IS ISSUE
Clemenceau Succeeds PanleVe as
French Premier-ItaIy Holding In
vaders Along the Piave-Ker-
ensky Supporters Battle
BolsheViksts In Rus
sia-America's La
Dor Troubles.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

ny EDWAHD w. FlCkAHD.
Centralized, unified control of the
grand strategy of the allies was the
burning question of last week, and
Premier Lloyd-George became the
storm center Of discussion. Following
the establishment of the inter-allied
war council by the British, French and
Italian governments and English par.
,iansntaFy s9s REfgs e aef e .ssA
delivered what he himself called a
"brutally frank" speech admitting that
the allies had repeatedly made "incred-
ible blunders" In Serbia, Roumania,
Italy and elsewhere. These he at
tributed in the main to lack of united
action, and declared that while the
war has been prolonged by particular
ism, 1t will be shortened by solidarity.
This aroused q storm of adverse
comment and brought the premier face
to face with the most serious political
crisis that has confronted him. Even
Mr.. ASquith Joined his critics, and
Lloyd-George FASTENED home to reply
to them. The opposition assumed the
war council plan meant the retirement
Of Haig and Robertson and the con-
troll of military operations by civilians.
The people as a whole seemed to sup
port the premier, and there was a be-
lief that he would win the struggle.
The war-council scheme Is still in
complete In that the United States is
not yet included, but 1t is hoped that
President Wilson and his administra-
ton will recognize Its wisdom and Join
with the others in evolving and carry
Ing out a plan Of grand strategy.
Lord Northcliffe was offered the ad-
ministratlon of the new air ministry
by Lloyd George, but declined. In his
letter Of declination he spoke of the
fervor and enthusiasm with which the
United States and Canada proceed
with their war preparations, compar-
ing this with the 'wabbly" methods
in England. He warned the premier
that unless there was swift improve
ment in Great Britain, the United
States would rightly take into It's own
hands the entire management of
great part Of the war, refusing to "sac-
rifice It's blood and treasure to the in
competent handling of the affairs Of
Europe"
PanIeve's Cabinet Falls.
France also was stirred by the uni |
ication measure and partly as a re- |
suit the lettering ministry headed by |
Premier Painleve toppled over. Its
all, however, was more especially due
% the controversy over "Boloism," the
German propaganda that has infested |
france as well as the United States,
Russia and, 1t now appears, Italy as
veil.
NO tears were wasted over the fate
# the Painleye cabinet but there be-
IAN great scrambling to find the
trong leader who, 1t was admitted,
must be discovered. Clemenceau, the
Tiger" former premier, was call
d on Thursday to form a new minis
ry and accepted the mission. He is
,nown as an exponent of the big stick,
5 one of the most forceful figures In
'rench public life and was the man
'ho started the campaign against the
herman propaganda in France. His
hief obstacle to success will be the
pposition of the socialists, who hate
I'm because of the drastic methods he
mployed in dealing with labor trou-
les when he was premier about ten
ears ago.
Having fallen back to the west bank J