31 MAY 1919, Page 3

Particularly ridiculous and untrue to the facts is the pretence

that while in April, 1915, Mr. Asquith, through folly or laziness, was starving the Army for shells, Mr. Lloyd-ejeorge was strug- gling to tell the country a very differtni story, though he was

still labouring under a ban from Mr. Asquith which he could not remove till he did so with violence at the end of 1918. Mr. Asquith's speech at Newcastle was delivered on April 28th, 1915. But on April 21st, 1915, Mr. Lloyd George told the House of Commons that the troops were " fully equipped and supplied with adequate ammunition." He went on to say that three thousand ammunition firms had received orders from the Government, and that " an immense increase in output was secured,"