David Lloyd George access to the Cabinet so as to bypass Kitchener. However, he did succeed in securing the appointment of Sir Eric Geddes to take charge of military railways behind British lines in France, with the honorary rank of major-general. Lloyd George told a journalist, Roy W. Howard, in late September that "the fight must be to a finish – to a knockout", a rejection of President Wilson's offer to mediate. Lloyd George was increasingly frustrated at the limited gains of the Somme Offensive, criticising General Haig to Ferdinand Foch on a visit to the Western Front in September (British casualty ratios
George Boots spite of being on his death bed in 1908 with acute pleurisy. Boots rugby career started with club side Pill Harriers the tough Newport Docks club that produced fellow Wales internationals Tommy Vile and George Travers. Boots had one of the longest careers in top-flight Welsh rugby, he joined Newport in 1895 and he played his last match for them in 1922. This was his 365th Newport game and at the age of 47 he is the oldest player to have represented the club in an official game. Boots made his international debut in a Welsh victory against Ireland on