New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-20
Takes Up Brutal Frankness"

Takes Up Brutal Franiness
The Premier mad selected four cases
In criticism of the Allied strategy
two. Serbia and Rumanis, in which he
himself and Mr.. Lloyd George had in
their respective capacities equal re-
Epongibi!ity, and two, Russia and Italy,
which belonged TO this year. Mr..
Lloyd Georges view regarding Serbia
was not the view taken by any military
authority Of weight in this country, he
asserted. The proposition that there
was only one front was perfectly
sound, and one OF the corollaries was
that you might render the best service
70 any ally at one end OF the line by
exerting the maximum effort at the
ether emo Of the line. 1t was a sacred
trust Of the Allies 10 see that the fut-
ure freedom and security Of Serbia and
Rumanis were adequately assured.
Mr.. Asquith went through the Pre-
mier's references in his Paris speech
10 Russia and Italy, and asked what the
Premier meant by Eve"
He suggested doubt whether a coun-
ell at Versailles last March would have
affected the Russian situation. He also
asked whether il was not fact that up
20 the eve Of the German attack Gen
eral Cadorna was full of confidence and
serenity, and assured that he would
triumph over IL
Irrelevant Rhetoric"
'Mr. Lloyd George RECALLED the good
people Of Paris" he added, with IT.
relevant rhetoric"
Mr.. Asauith doubted whether any al
lied council would have interfered with
the successful offensive in the west IN
favor of more attractive adventures
elsewhere, and concluded:
ave have no reason 70 be ashamed OF
our contribution 10 the war. We have
kept the seas free. We have expanded
our army into seventy divisions, and
we have placed our arsenals and credit
ut the disposal Of our allies. and so we
will 20 on 10 the end"
Premier Lloyd George, in replying,
raid that far more important than any
thing he had said in Paris was 20 de-
eide whether greater unity Of control
was needed, and whether they were
taking the right course TO secure IT,.
He reafirmed that the Allies had suff-
cred By lack Of coordination and that
any criticism he had directed against
the past was not directed against any
staff or any commander in this or any
other country. He had merely used
certain illustrations where lack of
coordination among the Allies rad
brought disaster, without any blame
being attached 70 any commander or
staff.
Opposes Generalissino
II had been said that this was an
attempt on the part OF the civilians 20
interfere with the soldiers, but an in
ter-Allied council had been suggested
by Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, and
In June, 1917, a scheme for central
authority was brought forward Mt n
meeting OF the chiefs Of STATS, at which
Great Britain, France and Italy were
represented. He was utterly opposed
20 the appointment Of generalissimo
II would not work, he said, and would
produce friction.
SO far as he could gauge American
public opinion, America would have
preferred a council with executive Au-
thority, but there were reasons why
he thought II undesirable 10 set up a
council with full executive authority
unless the Allies were absolutely driven
20 II by tho failure Of the present
scheme.
The FIRST advantage Of the present
scheme was that Information at the
disposal Of one Of the Allied stats
would be AZ the disposal Of this cen
trail council. Nomlnally that was 80 at
present, bat only nominally ~ was
therefore an essential part Of this