Impression
sketch of Earl Kitchener - by Jamie. The original can be seen at:
http://ww1blog.osborneink.com/?p=4835
Tuesday 18 May 1915 House of Lords,
Saw Earl Kitchener attend, to
provide
One of his regular war dispatches -
In his strong, calm, confident manner.
Amid the statements was need to
match
Germany’s innovation of a diabolical
Attack method; Allies would develop
The potential uses of gas warfare.
The argument, to protect allied
soldiers -
Only achievable by developing
methods
Of the same manner - the
announcement
Being taken by an agreeable
audience.
Then the earl announced need for
more
Men to number 300,000 - to exclude
Those who already worked in
munitions -
Lord Lansdowne gave a reply to this;
To say was a need to form
organisation
Over resources- to allow everyman to
give
His best for the country - referring
to idea
Of compulsory service by Lord
Haldane.
Kitchener 's confidence was
improving
Munitions position and how Gallipoli
News of movements, was satisfactory -
Whilst hopes of results lay in
Flanders.
Kitchener highlighted General
Botha’s
Skills regarding those qualities of
new
Canadian armies – Kitchener told
how
No overall change had yet occurred.
Flanders had seen weather improvements,
The drying ground allowed troops to take
Reinforced offence, as at Neuve
Chapelle;
Yet a gained position fell to German
hands.
The French held the north side of
Ypres
At April's end - where with intentions
Of Success, Germans released gases
In large quantities - against all war
rules.
It had been reported how this method
Has caused agonising injury and
death -
Continuing to use these silent bombs
Whenever the wind was in their
favour.
The tactic of the released gas
clouds,
Prior to German attacks about Ypres,
Caused Canadian left flanks exposure
-
Who held on despite the vile vapours.
In bravery, providing qualities worthy
Of the world's best army, Canadians had
To withdraw to new allied line, with
British
Support, so as to halt German
progress.
Resulting from this, General French
Pulled back in the salient line,
that had
Been held all winter - taking place
On 3 May; to play down the
casualties.
Sir John French and General Joffre
Set onto the direction of Douai -
south
Of La Bassee and Arras - as positivity
Prevailed British moved to
Auber Ridge.
While a slight setback occurred by
Way of German actions - defence led
To British renewal on 15 May, to
push
Back two miles with over 500
prisoners.
With much ammunition for operations
In use - new high explosive types took
Steps to maintain supply - a
production
Crisis was countered by improvements.
Kitchener spoke of the Eastern
front,
As Austria-German offences against
Russians, held lines South of Cracow:
Rostoki pass to Gorlico and Tarnow.
With the fall of Prezemyal,
Carpathians
And Usok Pass, Austria German actions
Were prompted, by possibility of the
Plain
Of Hungary, open to invading
Russians.
Across a Russian Front conflict
raged
Against enemy push - from night of
26 April
Artillery fire of the enemy
guns, forced all
Russian forces back from west
Galicia.
More Germans came in, as
Russians
Edged themselves to River San - that
had
Prepared for such possibility as
Russia
Withdrew from part of the Carpathians.
Russia held East Carpathians To
Przemyal -
In Bokavina, Russian counter offence
drove
Back Austrians, from river Dniester
to River
Pruth - with1000’s of wounded in their
hands.
Kitchener told the peers of the
Dardanelles
Campaign – backed by navy, French
British
Australian and New Zealand had made good,
Their landings onto the Gallipoli
peninsula.
The Earl’s positive view stated
positions
Were consolidated, from line that
had been
Immediately taken - the landings
referred
To as teeth of ’great natural
difficulties.’
While a truth was stated, in this to be
long
Remembered event - but not as organised
Masterpiece obstacles; the truth spoke
Of terrain's difficulties to slow progress.
In a touch of optimistic propaganda
Turks are being pushed back from
their
Strong positions - to admit enemy brings
In reinforcements; in satisfactory progress.
While in South West Africa operations,
The occupation of Windhek was at a
good
Stage – General Botha’s military
expertise
Saw him faced with problems for
supplies.
Indian soldiers in Mesopotamia, took
Out Turkish forces - the country is
slowly
Being cleared of the hostile
invaders;
Sir Nixon follows progress of
victory.
The Earl, in reference back to a
speech,
To state the war was to be long; sacrifices
Would result - these are stated
as being
‘Cheerfully met by The British
people.'
People had responded, to create
numbers
Needed for New Armies - making a
constant
Flow of new recruits, to keep the
training
Of field forces at sustained
strengths.
The Earl's audience would know of issues
In war provisions needed - he spoke
highly
Of those men in taking call to duty,
making
Acceptance of hardships over harsh
winter.
Officers had reported back their
progress,
In forming up new, efficient
soldiers -
Faced with field events the men will
keep
Reputations they have made at home.
Haig had said that he would advise when
More men needed - so then he requested
300,000 more to create New Armies -
Except for men in war material
productions.
The appeal is for men not doing duty, stating
How he is convinced loyal and available
English manhood will step forward, to
share
In a ‘great struggle, for a great
cause.’
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915. The Time has come – Call for
300,000 men – Gas Reprisals – Review of the War. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 19 May. P.9. Col.1-2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11608876/Daily-Telegraph-May-19-1915.html
[Accessed: 19 May 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 19 May 2015).
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