The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-15

NlSCOONI NO
 London, August 14.--Viscount Northclitfe. noted British publicist. died this morning.
 News of Lord Northcliffe's death was given out by the doctors who have been attending him in this bulletin.
 "viscount Northcliffe died at 1o:12 o'clock. The end was perfectly peaceful"
 The death of no other unofficial impression in England than tl4at of Lord Northcliffe. The news was not surprise as the bulletins issued by the doctors for the last week plainly indicated that their patient was dying.
 It was stated that the cause of Lord Northcliffe's death was suppu- ration, or the production of pus within the heart. which was followed by acute blood poisoning.
 Was Noted Figure
 Lord Northcliffe was by far the most noted figure in British journal ism. and the first question on every ones lips was as to what effect his death will have on the policies of The Times and his other newspapers, which since the end of the war have strongly opposed the Lloyd George administration and it's principles, with the notable exception of its dealings with Ireland which the Northcliffe press supported through out
 The medical terms used in giving the cause of Lord Northcliffe' death were ulcerative endoearditis, streptococoal septecima and termi- nal syncope. This in popular par lance means an inflammation of the lining membrane of the heart, with consequent infection of the blood. and sudden failure of the heart, due to fainting.
 Lord Northcliffe will be buried Thursday in the St. Mary-le-Bow cemetery. Finchley. The funeral service wilt be held in Westminster Abbey. yiscount Northcliffe. the son of an Irish barrister> became an editor at IT years. owner and publisher Of the London Times and Daily Mail. the moulder of public opinion. a man of powerful influence in the mak- ing and unmaking of British cabi- nets and, who with David Lloyd b ure to arousing England to more vigorous action in the war. He was created Baron of the Isle of Thanet in 1905 and made a vis- count in 1917 after he had served with distinction as head of the Brit ish mission to the United States to consolidate British interests here during the war.
 To viscount Northcliffe Is ascribed the arousing of the British public to a knowledge of the fact that the British arn1, in France was insuf- ficiently equipped with high explo- sive shells, that British guns on the French front were shore of ammuni- tion and that Lord Kitchener, then secretary of state for war. was send ing the British gunners shrapnel while Sir John French, as command CT. was appealing for the same kind FNof high explosives that Germany was hurling over the lines in vast quanti- ties.
 Outstanding Feat
 This exposure has been character ized as one of the outstanding jour nalistic feats of the war. It resulted in the appointment of David Lloyd George as the first British minister Of munitions and put him on the road to become prime minister. owing, it is said. to the rigid censosship which the then Baron Northcliffe bitterly assailed, the British people knew little about the conduct of the war at that time. They were told of the victories and advances. but it Is claimed that th.. disasters and defeats were not fully revealed. Official England is said to have known for months that the wrong kind of shells were being furnished. Lord Northcliffe knew these conditions because he had visited the front on several occa sions. He sent the military cores pondent of the London Times. colonel Repington, to France, and Repington sent and the Times pub- iished dispatch exposing the situa- ton and attributing the failure of miiitary operations and heavy casualty lists to deficiency ' in shells. Criticixes Kitchener rms was followed by an editorial eiie'cism or Lord Kitchener, who. up 10 that time, had been regarded s England's greatest war geniu.. The revelations and criticism shock ed England into quick action. MT. Llovd George appealed to the British workmen to back up the British | army and England became a vas, shop for the manufacture of guns and ammunition. Meantime Lord Northcltffe was denounced on al sides by the British press, h.s news. papers publicly burned in the streets and his life Is said to have been threatened.
 Through his newspapers and peri. odicals. Lord Northcliffe had de manded more vigorous prosecution of the war. He attacked the gov crnment for it's failure in the Gallip- oli campaign and in Mesopotamia He demanded that conscription bs put into effect. Next he turned his Journalistic guns upon Premier H. H AsQuith. denounced the general war committee as town meeting" and demanded compact war cabinet He supported Lloyd George in a demand for small and efficient cabinet of which Asquith should not be a member. Mir. Asquith resigned and Lloyd George succeeded him.
 Came tO America
 Lord Northcliffe had pointed out that America was wise in remaining out of the war until Germany forced her to act. Because of his acquaintance with American condi- tions. Lloyd George prevailed or