§ I will now tell the House something of the measures adopted by the Cabinet to meet the emergency. I have already explained what was done about the French Reserves. The Cabinet took every step to hurry up reinforcements, in order to fill up the gap in our Armies.
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo such large numbers of men have passed across the Channel in so short a period of time. As the emergency was great, it was impossible to allow those who were summoned to France the usual leave to visit their relatives. It was with the greatest regret that we found it necessary to cancel that permission. Nothing but the gravity of the position would have justified so harsh a proceeding. But the troops accepted the position in a manner which is worthy of the fortitude, courage, and patriotism that they have shown throughout. There was an understanding as to boys under nineteen years of age, that they would only be used in case of emergency. We felt that that emergency had arisen. In so far as those who were over eighteen and a-half were concerned—those who had already received four months' training—we felt it necessary that they should be sent across to France.
As to the guns and machine-guns which were lost, the numbers are grossly exaggerated by the enemy. I am assured they have also very considerably exaggerated the number of prisoners which they have taken. The Commander-in-Chief himself assured me last week that it was a 1345 gross exaggeration. I am very glad to be able to say that the Ministry of Munitions were able, not merely to replace those guns and machine guns, but that they have still a very substantial reserve. The same remark applies to ammunition. There is an ample reserve of ammunition, both in this country and in France. Our Aircraft strength is greater now than before the battle, and we all know what brilliant service our airmen have rendered in this battle. Until the whole story of the battle is told it would be almost impossible to estimate the services they have rendered in retarding the advance of the enemy, in destroying his machinery, and in making it difficult for him to bring up his guns and ammunition. We feel confident that our armies—generals and soldiers—will be quite equal to the next encounter, whenever it may come.