The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-04

safely into port. That Is the picture
which l believe finds credspce and &C
ceptance among large numbers of the
more backward parts Of our population.
(Laughter.)
What is the fact?
I do not IKE, as you know. to speak
very much about myself. but am bound
to do so. (Hear. hear)
1t is no aEgeration to say that, par
ticularly in these early months OF The
WARM the critical and decisive mouths
Of the war-everything depended on
what was done then or what was left
undone-it is no exaggeration to say
that l was called upon almost every
hour Of every day to take on my own
responsibility and initiative decisions
which might be. and which often were,
Of the most momcntous consequence.
I had to deal. not only with military
and naval operations. the recruiting OF
the new army. transport, food supply,
and labor problems. but also with inter-
allied finance, and what at that time
was a task Of supreme difficulty and
dclicacy-allied diplomacy. (Hear.
hear)
I had the devoted help Of most loyal
and efficient colleagu some Of whom
I am glad &c sec sitting around me at
this table There is not one Of them
who did not habitually come to me to
get the last word-sometimes even the
first word in case-of difficulty or doubt.
And in the meantime what had this su-
pine government Of sluggards and paral-
ytics been doing? They had. in time OF
peace. prepared for any wor on any scale
that British statesra nship had ever con-
tcmplate6 We were, and we remained
throughout the war, perfectly secure,
not only in these islands but through
out our worldwide empire, against any
risk Of invasion No foreign soldier ever
set his foot on one square yard Of Brit
ish ground. (Cheers.) Our expedition
cry force was ready TO start fully equip
ped and with the necessary transport at
q moments notice. as 1t did, to wherever
II was most required.
1t soon became apparent that this war
was going to dwarf all previous expert
ence.
What did we do?
We recruited, raised, equipped and dis
patched vast new armies. and we trans
ported to the field Of action the splen-
did contingents sent TO our aid from all
parts Of the empire all over the world
We cleared the seas Of every German
cruiser and merchantmen. We carried
through the long and deliberate negotia-
tons which secured for the Allies tho
cooperation and the active support Of
gallant Italy. These were some OF tho
things-it is not an exhaustive catalogue
which were actually done in the course
Of six months. and say again. the rec
ord is not one Of lethargy or apathy.
| (Cheers.)
A Direct Personal Appeal.
But to come back to Lord French.
can only say for myself that, with all
my other prescriptions. manifold and
distracting as they were. this matter Of
the supply Of munitions was rarely out
Of my thoughts. I used to see Lord
Kitchener daily often two or three times
q day, and believe hardly a day passed
but I did not press him-not that he
needed my pressure-to hurry on and in
crease production by every possible
means.
So dissatisfied and apprehcnsive did I
| become at the relatively slow rate Of
| progress as compared with our cxpecta-
lions and hopes. that resolved to make
direct personal appeal both to masters
and to men. That was the object and
! the motive Of my visit to Newcastle.
| But, observe. it was very delicate bus
! mess I had to think. not only OF our
own people but Of our Allies. and still
more Of the enemy. Operations Of great
possible moment, as l knew. although I
could not disclose II, were impending
and 1t was Of tho utmost Importance not
! to EXPOSE our own weaknesses or 10 give
announcement to the Germans to think
that we could not hold our own or more
| than hold our own.
I determined. therefore. TO make sure