THE MUNITIONS QUESTION.................................. 190
Mr. Asquith's Newcastle speech -- The mischief that it did -- The
time that must elapse before any great expansion in output of
munitions can begin to materialize -- The situation analogous to
that of a building -- The Ministry of Munitions was given and
took the credit for the expansion in output for the year
subsequent to its creation, which was in reality the work of the
War Office -- The Northcliffe Press stunt about shell shortage --
Its misleading character -- Sir H. Dalziel's attack upon General
von Donop in the House -- Mr. Lloyd George's reply -- A
discreditable episode -- Misapprehension on the subject of the
army's preparedness for war in respect to material --
Misunderstanding as to the machine-gun position -- Lord French's
attack upon the War Office with regard to Munitions -- His
responsibility for the lack of heavy artillery -- The matter
taken up at the War Office before he ever raised it from G.H.Q.
-- His responsibility for the absence of high-explosive shell for
our field artillery -- A misconception as to the rôle of the
General Staff -- The serious difficulty that arose with regard to
this ammunition owing to prematures -- The misstatements in
"_1914_" as to the amount of artillery ammunition which was sent
across France to the Dardanelles -- Exaggerated estimates by
factories as to what they would be able to turn out -- Their
estimates discounted as a result of later experiences -- The
Munitions Ministry not confined to its proper job -- The incident
of 400 Tanks -- Conclusion.