Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-06-09
AsQUITH QUOTES
MARSHAL FRENCH
IN REPLY To HIM
Former Premier Cheered When
He Reads Acknowledgements
Of Ex-FieId Marshal Who
ASSaiIS Course at Start,
Copyright, 1919, by the Press Publish
ing Co.
(The New York WORLDLY
Especial Gable Dispatch.


Especial Gable Dispatch.
London, June S.--Hugh Martin re.
ports in the Daily News today, with
descriptive detail, Mr.. Asquith''
speech at the luncheon given to him
in Connaught Rooms, at which he re-
piled to the criticisms of the Asquitf
government In Lord French's book
on the early days of the war of which
a summary was sent out in press dis
patches.
Mr., Martin writes that Mr.. Asquitf
made one of the most remarkable
fighting speeches of his career, anC
at its close the large company rose as
body with cheering, waving of hand
kerchiefs and other demonstrations Of
enthusiasm which were continued sew
eral minutes.
The speech fell naturally into three
chapters, one dealing with Lore
Kitchener's visit to Paris, the second
with the supply of shells during the
early months of the war and the third
with Lord French's part in the over
throw of the Asquith government and
the creation of the coalition govern
ment. -,.-
Lays Unfai1ncsS to French.
81 don't hesitate" Mr. AsQuth said
ito characterize Lord French's mar
rative of the early days of the war as
incomplete, partial and misleading ir
most serious respects and patiently al
variance with his own utterances and
written statements in the past. The
whole procedure is in fragrant conflict
with the best traditions of the public
service and is manifestly repugnant
to the elementary rules of fair play.
THE government and l." Mr.. As
quith said, turning to the reasons
that had actuated Lord Kitchener's
visit to Paris, received from Lord
French a message as to his con-
templated movements which I COM
municated to my colleagues, and
which, 1t is no exaggeration to say,
filled the entire cabinet with conster-
nation.
why? Because the movement as
Indicated would have amounted to
leaving our allies in the lurCh in the
moment of their supreme need. The
alarm felt by the cabinet was shared
and expressed to us in moving terms
by the head of the French govern
ment.
ut was in such circumstances that
Lord Kitchener undertook his visit to
France and thus saved our cause from
indeible reproach."
French Had Enough Shells.
Tn reference to the issue over
shells, there was a great outburst of
applause when the former premier
pointed out that Lord French, in his
illusions to the Newcastle speech,
had forgotten to mention that the
purport of that speech had been re-
peated and enlarged upon by Pre-
mier Lloyd George in the house of
commons on the following day. Then
Mr.. Asquth unmasked one of his
heavy guns when he produced an
autographs message from Lord
before the Newcastle speech, which
read:
MY dear Prime Minister: | have
today talked with French He told
me | could let you know that the
as much as his troops will be able to
use for the next forward movement"
1t was upon this assurance, Mr..
Asquith said. that he based the
passage in his speech for which he
speCt also to the issue over shrapnel
and high explosives, Mr.. Asquith had
other important evidence for his
luncheon hosts. Referring to Lorl
french's complaint that he could not
get the high explosives he needed, Mr.
Asquith said that as early as October
1914, Gen. Devigne, a great French
lrtillerist, came to London, at the
governments invitation. to advise IN
his very matter
Shrapncl Was Wanted First.
Lord French and his staff in gen
'ral British headquarters in France
we're consulted. According to a
memorandum from Lord Kitchener,
lated eight months later, the replies
eceived indicated that opinions We're
divided. 1t was thought desirable
hat some high explosive should be
''if it could he done with
'ut interfering with the supply of
On Nov. 6 a favorable report upon
he new shells came in, and general
headquarters asked that in future the
of high explosive shells
should be so per cent. One week later
telegram was received asking that
he proportion should not be 80 per
'ent, but 25 per cent.
80 much" Mr.. Asquith said "for
me of the major charges of the shell
What of the subsequent de-
itruction of this supine government
VI sluegards and paralytics, with its
ethargic head o.
According to Lord French it was
destroyed by that praetorian because
lfter reading the Newcastle speech
re came to the conclusion that only
hus could the war be won. Here are
he facts
ION May II, 1915, the isGuith gov.
'rnment was driven from office, in
it is alleged, of French's
private revelations, and the first
coalition government came into
,ower. On May 90, 1915, three days
alter, Lord French wrote a private
etter to Mr.. Asquith. who kept it. .
dr Asquith produced the letter and
cad from it as follows:
Rears Witness to AsGuith Aid.
" Ny dear Prime Minister: For two
lays I have been hesitating to add an
ota to the troubles and anXieties that
must weigh upon you just now. You
ave, however, shown me so much
rue and generous kindness through
u. IA, d