Evening star., 1922-08-14

oWIuBs IL - oAlus U Tic TISiu CShsVi~
ship which the then Baron Northcliffe
bitterly assailed. the British people
knew little about the conduct OF the
the victories and advances. but it is
claimed that the disasters and defeats
were not fully revealed. Ohicial Eng
land II said to have known for months
ss. sa hs wisRs kind 1opd Of ssst Tnre
knew these conditions because he
visited the front on several occasions.
He sent the military correspondent
Of the London Times. Col. Repfngtion.
to France. and Repingtion sent and
ing the situation and attributing the
failure of military operations and
heavy casualty lists to a deficiency in
shells.
This was followed by an editorial
criticism Of Lord Kitchener. who. up
Ensland's greatest war genius. The
revelations and criticism shocked
England into quick action. Mr.. Lloyd
George appealed to the British work.
men to back up the British army and
England became a vast shop for the
manufacture Of guns and ammunition.
Meantime Lord Northcliffe was de-
nounced on all sides by the British
press his newspapers publicly burned
in the streets and his life is said to
have been threatened.
Commends U. 8. War Attitude.
Lord NorthclifYe had pointed out
that America was wise In remaining
out Of the war until Germany forced
her to act. Because of his acquaint-
ance with American conditions. Lloyd
George prevailed on him to accept
his first public ONCE. contrary to his
resolution, and Northcliffe came to
the United States as head of the
British mission. in which he directed
the work of some 500 officials and
10000 assistants.
For his services to the government
in this and other respects he was
made viscount. Retaining to Eng
land. he was offered the post of air
which Viscount Northcliffe sharply
criticized the British conduct in the
war. In declining to accept the po-
sition. he declared That while the
United States was preparing with
fervor and enthusiasm for the war
conscription, was dallying with the
question Of unity Of war control.
eradication OF sedition, mobilization
of the whole man and woman power
Of the country and introduction OF
compulsory food rations; ration
cepted the post of director of propa-
ganda in enemy countries and for the
remainder of the war directed an
organization in the nations which
had agents in Germany and Austria
and an extensive organization in the
nations bordering on them.
Makes Attack ON Lloyd George.
After the armistice and the appoint
ment Of Winston Churchill as minister
of munitions, viscount Northcliffe. who
long had been hostile to Churchill.
turned against Lloyd George and at
tackled him. This evoked from the pre-
mier a scathing speech of criticism
against the newspaper proprietor in the
house Of commons. This incident was
pointed to as in keeping with the pre-
vious attitude of Northcliffe who it was
said. never failed to criticize friend or
foe alike. IL he deemed their actions
in public life justified 1t.
Lord Northcliffe was i'll at the time
the Armistice was signed. His illness
was diagnosed as due to adenoma of
the thyroid gland, for which he un-
derwent an operation in June. 1919.
Although he was incapacitated, he
exerted considerable influence on the
British government during the peace
conferences at Versailles.
Plans were made early in 1921 for
world tour. The start was delayed
until July because of labor trouble,
involving the publishing industry, and
q renewal Of hostilities between Lyold
George and himself. Lord Northcliffe
attacked the motives Of the premier
and Marquis Carzon in desiring to
represent Great Britain at the Wash
ington arms conference. AS a result
of this attack. government news was
barred from the Northcliffe press.
Lord Northcliffe sailed for America
defying the boycott.
His Knowledge OF Problems.
During his world tour. Lord North
cliffe occupied the public attention of
each country he visited, displaying
ing various nations Arriving in New
York, July %. 1921. he warmly in
dorsed President Harding's plans for
the armament conference. In Aus
tralia he saw a grave danger in that
country being overrun by Asiatics.
intimate knowledge Of Australia's ma
tional problems. During his tour of
the Pacific he made q close study Of
the situation in the far east. and in
Hongkong expressed the opinion that
the Anglo-Japanese Alliance was q
London from his tour in May. 1922.
In juno he was reported to have made
a tour Of Germany incognito.
Shortly after the completion OF his
world tour, differences grew in the
Newspaper Proprietors Association
criticising certain methods Of the
newer members Of the association. He
later resigned.
In May, 1922. ~dissension broke out
between Northcliffe and other mem
bsrs Of the Associated Nswspapers.
In June, 1892. libel suits were brought
against Lord Northcliffe by Sir An
drew Caird. vice president, and Wal
ter g. Fish. a director Of Associated
Newspapers.
Notice Of Illness.
The day on which the announce
ment Of the filing Of these suits was
made, Northcliffe was reported to be
suffering from a nervous breakdown
to England several days later, and
was reported then to be ill from pto-
maine poisoning.
Early in July his differences with
Lloyd George were said to have been
ended and the libel actions brought
been dropped. His health. however,
continued to grow worse. his ailment
being diagnozed as due to unknown
poisoning"
In no country, it has been asserted,
did a man in civil life 30 constantly
eye or labor SO consistently for his
country and its allies and to bring
confusion and defeat upon the Ger
mans. OF the attitude Of the British
people toward him 1t has been said
they hate him and they admire him,
but, try as they may, they cannot be
Indifferent to him."
AT the conclusion Of the war he and
Lloyd George were characterized n
the "two strongest personalities in
British life"
/ Born in Chapslixod, ireland, July Is,
1855, Alfred Charles William Harms
worth, Viscount Northcliffe, started
his cacreer as q subordinate editor in