i-'':l ,, , lEORGE OVERWHELMS FOES IN COMPLETE AND SWEEPING REPLY TO MAURICE CMRG&S M Evnlng Public Ltdgtr MI, ev i yto York Timet Co. London, May 10. nt of Premier Lloyd och in the House of FyMtorday in the debate on letter follows: sral, who for good or bad ceased to hoia an omce occupied (or two years, a hod Oeneralj challenged. had left that office, state- ad by two Ministers during I be was In office. During the -was In that omce he never thla statement, when he 'Merely access to official docu- it when he had access to the themselves). (Cheers ) Gen- ice waa In omce for weeks i.had delivered that speech In i of Commons. lie attended 'of the cabinet. In the ab- the chief of staff, every day rtlvered the speech and after td he never called attention Ke never asked me to correct iy be aald that perhaps he time to read It. but ho was the following; day. and he never iwy attention to the fact that .VKlCUiaillB WCIB .HCVlllCS... ilnc that he did not care to tn the presence of the whole , he was in doiniy contact nun the business of the war. We Constantly discussing question) Mr, because he was tne auinor director of military operations the authority, and It wns his to come to me. especially If EVtcht this was so Important that fclfUd a great breaking of the 'regulations and setting an ex Of Indiscipline. hat Ho MIfht Itare Done It not his business first of all A to the cabinet, or at any rale Minister Impugned, and say to Toil made a mistake In the of Commons on a most Impor- rtUMtlon of fact?' He might hac quite nicely, ana naia: 1 dare iu were misled. You had better richt.' Krir a syllable until I saw It In newspapers. (Cheers) I nay I Men treated unfairly, menevvea Bo.) I will say moro than that. Cht that possmiy uenerni Mau : he did not care to talk to me, have talked to his Immediate first of all. the Secretary of tar the chief of staff. So I In- , but never a word until lie iert During the whole time these ons were being discussed he nado nnv lenresentntlon to the of staff. this Is a question wnicn is so nt that jou must set up a committee to Inquire Into It, nt as to Justify the tram- i by a great and distinguished who lias tieia one or tne most tlal Dosltlons In the war of- n the regulations of the King Setting an example of Indiscipline '.whole army. so before I sit down to gle ila sources of information upon il and my right honorable friend tpese statements 10 me uouse Invite the House or commons here I agree with the right of things that have been going en out side, and, 'although I deprecate the method In which It I' raised. I am glad of an opportunity of clearing It out of the way, Two challenges have been made as to figures One is In regard to the com. parlson I made of the British forces In Franca January 1, 1918. and January 1, 1917. The other Is the comparison I dreV between the enemy and Allied forces on the western front. Both of them are Of vast Importance and both of them virtually parts of the same ques tion Oeneral Maurice slated: "On April 9 the Prime Minister' 'What was the position at the beginning of the battle? Notwithstanding the heavy eti unities of 1617, the army In Trance was considerably stronger on January 1. 1919, than on January 1, 1917,' "This Is his comment: " That statement Implies that Mr Douglat Halg's fighting strength on the eve of the great battle which began March SI had not been diminished That Is not correct.' "N'ow the Issue Is a veri clear one. t mid that the lighting strength of the army had Increased. General Maurice fald that It had diminished as compared with the previous vear. Used Official Itecorela ' The figures I gave wero taken from the official records of the "War Office. which I sent for beforo I made the statement. If they were Incorrect, On- eral Maurice was as responsible as any body else. They were not Inaccurate. I have made. Inquiries since "I am not sure what he quite ine.tns There Is absolutely no doubt tint there was it very considerable addition of nun power of army at the beginning of 1918 as compared with the man-power at the beginning of 1117 In Trance There was a great Increase In the manpower of th British army throughout the world In 1918 uh compired with 1917 mid the Increase of man-power In Trance In TJ18 m compared with 1917 was greater than thi average throughout the whole area "You draw a distinction between what Is known as combatants and noncoin batants I am going to consider tint as well later on, but before I do so let me si at once I do not accept that dlstlnc Hon When ou talk about righting strength, who arc combatants iiul who nrs iioncombntunts? "Let me first of all deal with the question Who aic the comb,itnnt7 Are thtso men who stopped the advance of the Herman army to Amiens th other da are the combatants? (A vnlie. 'Ves') Thev nre not if vou heeln to draw a distinction between combatants anil noncombatants Those .ire General Ctrr'M forces The would not be treated as combatants. Combatants Or Not "Are the men who are under (Ire ever da making and preparing ro-ids, tram roads and railways, .md who suffer severe casualties are those combatants or noncombatants? In most lists that an- printed the are noncunibutants Does any one mean to tell me that the arc nt pirt of tho lighting Mrength of thi n iy? 'Take the men who, when tho Brltltli ami retreatid and had to abandon the trenches whlih the had taken months to prepare and who Inmrmeil the de fenses and the gunfire to relieve tha bi ble gentleman opposite that It fantry are those men no part of the ngnung strength or an ami . If ou have not got them ou have to take Infantry out and set them to tint work As a matter of fact, one of the things I came back from Trance with was a demand for more of them, anil they are not a part of the lighting strength of the army 1 "I decline absolutely to accept that definition, and will leave out the ordi nary technical distinction between com pliant and noncomb.itant, 'A question which put In the House of Commons b tho noblo gentleman, the member from Uiirnaton, eight or nine das after I delivered my speecn of April 18. This question was put' "Sir Godfrey Baring I wish to as,k the Prime Minister whether, when he stated tint Ire, B.-ltlsh army In Trance was considerably stronger on Januur 1, 1918. than on Januarv 1. 1917. he was Including the labor battalions and1 the section for the House of Com and I propose to nsk the House ions to Judge, and to judge h r(L6ud cheers) C Gives All Hla Reasons ham going to give the reasons 1.a a.............! n m.h.m.1 AA ff 1 I am going to put the rea lity we oppose a select com- "l am going to give tne rea- hy,. we are taking tne course to take today. statements of this kind were iiallenglnr not the Ministers, but nts made by Ministers, wnen a written by a distinguished oftl- right honoraoie rrienti anu i we were accused of misleading Commons, and we were anxious an oDDortunltv for an examlna- ift these statements by a perfectly rttal tribunal. One reason was that waa a 'mass of very contlden 'ormatlon which was relevant other nonennib itant units and wh ther rany committee would have the call for, and we were anxious to the documents at the disposal J Impartial committee, because we fectly well that once these doc- r.were placed at their disposal BUld be absolutely no doubt in the any tribunal as to the veracity statements which had been made. reason was that the most Im- statement of all, with regard to rislon of the front. Involved our land It would be very difficult to EH without making some statement sight offend their susceptibility. rCemmona Not Adapted was one reason why we were fly sorry that the controversy Yr have been raised. (Cheers ) i came to the question of the ao- rrt of a select committee or Ju Hninsl. we felt that a committee - Mouse of Commons, adapted un- ly lor certain investigations, was best tribunal for Investigating irhen passions were aroused It Is saying that It Is bringing a against the House of Commons. se of Commons, as a matter of ne to the conclusion long ueo -questions like election petition. ty passions or when any pas- i aroused, ine House of Corn not adapted to an examlna- he facts. iht honorable friend came to elusion himself In regard to ma. i think he waa right: her the best tribunal set up another matter. This is no Upon the House of Commons. re accustomed to examine facts. w alt I I. .!.. ..-...t - ft er point was that It was very t 'that if there was to be an Hon It should, be short and that you should get a decision Wy. doubt at all. If there were stlon by Judges, what would alt. But what has hspnened 4y. It has become clear from i at the press, which supports onorable friend. He talks as J front the combatant strength of tho UrltUh army was greater or less at the begin ning of thla eur than at the beginning of last ear?' Sent Question to Maurlie "My right honorable friend, whoso duty it was to answer this question on behair of the War Ofllte, sent that ques tion to General Maurice with the answer (Cheers) 1 am not giving the answer which he gave, because that is on the records of the House. 'I will give the note that came from General Maurice's department. This Is the actual document." George Lambert "la It signed by him?' .... . , LIod George "It Is Initialed by his deputy." (Cries of Oh ! oh !" and some laughter.) "I see that my right honorable friend. Q. Lambert, is going to draw that dls tlnctlon That shows the sort of Im partial Judges! (Loud cheers) This is the note. TlrBt of all, ou have got the figures Inside. Of course, I cannot give those to the House; but this note Is a summary. Trom the statement Included It will be Been that the combatant strength of the British army was greater on Janu ary 1, 1918, than on January 1, 1917. Confirmed by Maurlre "This conies from Oeneral Maurice's department nlno days after I made that statement. I am not depending on the fact that all these men ruled out as noncombatants are on essential part of the strength of the British army in France. I am not depending on that As a matter of fact, there was an In crease as between January 1, 191J, and March, but It Just happened that I thought I would take the first month of the year. "Now I come to the second statement which was made by General Maurice There Is a very Important question of comparison of the Allied and enemy for. ond It has a bearing upon the question later qf the extension of the i were supporting the Oovtrn- the has got a press, too. iMf ha dots not mind my say- "seems to tmnx tnat an viol- jUnce. Is with the press that rim mm. Why I been for the last two or three i nave thrown myself into prosecution of the war. Ps my view, drenched with Lrs siops." (Lua uugmer Itis)Ms -"Whoso meael you took." r hav. been charged there with mis leading the public to believe that at the time when the attack took place by the enemy on the Allied position on the western front we had a slight eupulorlty In Infantry, a considerable superiority, I think. In cavalry and a superiority In ar tillery, and I also said a superiority in "With the exception of the air I did pot get that from Oeneral Maurice the whole of the figures upon which I based that statement came from General MauVlce. I asked for them. I do not suggest that he was the man who worked .fleort. 'resuming "It's'. Up those ngures. but he was responsible sr. trom the actios 'of. the ! mIbc my rhiht honor- aast rawest! that ha- tW a4 4tM other to em-UoveraMMaU-that no stale- tea .Of ajrslMt flora t over aoesaise. ksM they sUr;rM. same a be w mm ws- rwv . J! f .i!v ; H t ft sswaais ajM for documents given out by his own de nartment. (Cheers.) And may I Just add. General Maurice has made two statement iiiinoc.j. wit ... ", biow the battle began. They have been pub lished. I believe, In America. I did not depend upon tbe American publication. I teak the trouble to see whether General Maurlee had really said so-and I find he Mi.' Thla la What he said on March ..! ? There Ut one cardinal fact to kiep In mta.tTMe He said himself and not ttrosjflti ai-.cls.to) and that Is that the Hum on Ska whole front are as nearly ajusj M sWJsast be. , ...i, m isjasM taw statement. tsMMSsjrsji ta the i v "Ow fore, a readjustment of the balance of I the battlefield Is only a matter of time.' Mantes Source of Dsures "If there was an thing In these figures ' I got them from official rources for which General Maurlco himself Is reciranslhle, nnd I think he might have said thi.t In his letter when he was Impunglng the honor of ministers (Cheers). I ".Now I come to the statement with regard to figures I said that In Meso potamia there Is only one white division nnd In Cg)pt and Palestine there aro I only three white divisions "Well, now l will give here again the i source of my Information The state-' nient about one British division Is In the official itenrd. With regard to ' 1.1,1 pt, that statement we made nt a cabinet meeting, which was examining I the position, by a member of tho staff, I It Is tho custom of the Secretnrv of the War Cabinet tn send these statements to nil these who are present for correction, and I want the House to bear In mind tlirt General Mnurlre is tho official who was primarily responsible for the ques tion of the number of division In the various theatres of war This state ment was sent to Onernl Maurlco for correction, If there was nnv correction to make lie telephones to the secretaiy (this is the note) that lie added no re marks 'So this statement nbout there being three British divisions In l.gvpt was made In the piesence of General Miurlce. who made no correction, and I have no eoirectlnn either from him or anboil else on the subject (Chceis ) f.vtenslon " 1 ront '.Vow I come to the next point 'IIih Is the statement innde titiout the ex tension of lh front 'This Is not the place to tiller into a discussion ns to all the facts, but llin I sard s teport of the Incident concludes' I ' Mr Prlngle 'Was this matter en tered Into it the Veisnllcs win council"' I "Mr Boi ar Law 'This paitlcular .matter was ml dealt with at all b the Versailles war council Then General Maurice slid ' '"I was nt Versailles when the ques tion was decided by the aupieme war I council, to whom It liiiil been icferrcd' "In the flrM pi ice I think th.it any I one reading th it would come to the con clusion th it General Maurice was pres 'ent at the nnetlng He wns at Ver sailles, It Is true, but lie was not at the I meeting I have looked nt the official record since nnd It lonflrms what I say. 1 Ho wai in Vers lilies 1 In was In it I building outside with i-evenl others who weiH theru assisting the various g( n j er iNv Hi was nut In the council eh un , ber when the question to which he re fers was erlscussel As a matter of f let, ' I the extension of the front of General i I Gough'a arm, to which .illusion ias been made, was never dlscusid at that council at all There was a demand tor I a further extension, but that particular I l.xteuslnn had talen place beforo the I council ever met, Maurlre N"t In tnumll 1 1 ' Before tho council had met It had been agreed between Field Marshal Hals, land Otneral Petaln. aild the extension I wns nn accomplished fact. (Cheers Tleld Marshal HalK reported to the council tint tho extension had taken place There was not a single ain taken over us a result of the er-.illles conference not a single nrd of extcn-1 plon and It was General Maurice who said ho was there, but was not, who Im plied that he waa present when thei decision had taken plaie. who ventures' to suggest that the extension of the front of General Hough's armv was de i elded ut Versailles, when, as a inattei 'of fact It tool, plate befoie the meeting had occurred (Cheers) It U upon I tint cry that we are to be arraigned. 'Although General Maurlee did not t-nv so, the real point, the one w hlcli It put by niv right honorable friend with chniacterlstlc bluntness and stralghtfor-1 wnidncHs Is this Is It the f-ict that when this portion of the line held l General Oough s urniv wis taken over, the war cabinet Insisted upon Its being taken over .and. therefore nujections o. Sir William Robertson and Mr Dougl is llnlg were thereby ovenultd' That Is the real point There Is not n word of truth In It 1 think It Is time this matter should be cleirid up (cheers) and with the Indulgence of the House" I propose to do to i I l'reneh 'Demanded llvtenMon j Of course, the Field Marshal was not anxious to extend his line .No one would be. having regard to the great accumula. tlon of strength against him. innd the wai cabinet were Just as reluctant There was not a single meeting be tween the French generals nnd ourselves when we did not state facta against the extension, but the pressure from the Ticnch Government and French army was enormous and whit was done was not done In response to pressure from tin war cabinet. It vias done In response to very great pressme vie could not resist We are not suggesting that our French allies are acting unfairly. That U certalnl not in Intention "There was considerable ferment In France on the subject of the length of the line held b the Trench army as compared with our army. The French los.es Ind been enormous They had virtually born the brunt of the fighting for three ears There was a laiger proportion of their joung manhood put Into the line than In any belligerent country In the world. (Cheers ) They held 336 miles We held a front of 100 miles That is not the whole statement be cause the Germans were muth more densely massed In fre.nt of ourselves Xot only that, but the line we held was much more vulnerable Virtually the defense of Paris wai left to us, nnd the defense of some of the most Important centers, but there wns the fact that you had this enormous front held by the French arm) as compared with what looked like the comparatively small front of ours Trench on DritMi Front "In addition to that, the Trench army at that time was holding, I think, a two-dlvlslon front em our line In order to enable us to accumulate the necessary reserve for the purposes of the attack tn Flanders, That was part of the line which, I believe, was held before by the British and French. 'The French were pressing In order to withdraw men from the army for purposes of agriculture I ought to ex. plain that their agricultural output had fallen enormously, owing to the fact that they had withdrawn a very large pro. portion of their men from the cultivation of the fields and they felt It essential that they should withdraw part of their army for the purpose of cultivating the roll, and they were pressing us upon these topics. "The chief of the Imperial Oeneral Staff. Sir William Robertson, and the cabinet felt that It was Inevitable that during the winter months there should be some extension, and we acknowledged ,. Mm.lhtnr had tn he dona to meet ' the French demands, and to that extent 1 we accepted the principle that there ' must be some extension of the line. There was no doubt In the mind of any ope that we would have to take over that part of the line from uenerai Antoine, and how fa- beyond that and what further extension should be made was a matter which was In doubt I give the principle which was laid down by Gen eral Sir William Robertson and accepted teytbeoab.net. jSL&il!! a Mtotssawasslos there ' ' ! . r ; i tin had the full views, and In raking up what had hap pened over the whole twelve months In the war cabinet, nnd this nt this mo ineiit! (Cheers) 'I have Just come back from Trance. I have visited some of the generals, and they were telling me how now the Ger mans nre silently preparing pcrlnps the b grest blow of tho war, under a shroud of inster. They asked me for certain help I have brought home a list of the things which the wanted done, I want to attend to them nnd 1 beg, 1 leally beg for our common rnuse, the fate of which Is In the balance, now In the next few weeks I beg nnd Implore that Miero I.oud ASQUITH DENIES PLAN FOR VOTE OF CENSURE mi, i r, irr.sr.w.4-4 AeV-Kvit ("-atar iKia( -wr-itk-n -s1 IIF.nBE.IT AfiQUlTII Former Premier, who sought in vestigation of Maurke iliargc;. no i xtenslon was possible until the of fensive wns over, nnd tint the line to be taken over must depend upon the mllltar) pnllcv for Ills and upon the role assigned to each nrniv '1 hee were peifecth sound pilmiples imil the cabinet neeiptid them without am de mure I 'sav without hfsltatloii Hut the extension approval of the British Cabinet, having regard to tne pressure or tne i-rencn Government nnd military authorities. Sir Douglas llnlg had no option ex cept to make the extension He was In our Judgment absolutely right In the course he took. Naturally, he would have preferred not to have done It. hut tho British Government fully approved of the action he took. I am sorry that this opportunity has been given, to read out the actual con clusions of the war cabinet 111 order to disperse onre and for all the rumors ..l.l.l. Lm. Ii..ti nlrr.iltile.l hi nersnns. for purposes of their own (cheers), by should be an end to this sniping." men who. for one reason or another l"rd prolonged eheers ) do not like the present chief of staff i or the piesent chief of the British ministry ( I essnn on Unit r The. real lesson for the discussion Is the Importance of unitv of command It would never have arisen If ou hud had , that Instead of one nrmv and one comniandir responsible for ono pert of the line, and another arm and another commander responsible for the whole ninl everv part It waR the onti method of safetv. and I am glad we have It at .last (Cheers). It was not so much n question of .the length of the line held bv ono force or the length held by another "It wns a question of reserves massed I behind I 'Before I sit down there nre one or two considerations should like to shv 1 something nhout The llrst Is the effect that such action as that of (leneril Mnlirlce must have upon the discipline "f 'the army (Cheers) It was n flagrtnt lire h of armv discipline Mv right .honorable filcnd opposite admitted It, and I wlh li had deprccnted It (Cheer- ) I s.is niof respcctfull I ihlt.lt he miclit tn Inve done It He lias the cabinet never swerveil mte lotn from the principle laid down b Mr William ,,.. ,cspn,ble for the conduct nt the "t the same time the Ticld Murthal was under the Impicnsjoii tint the cabinet hid taken a decision without his onent The chief of the lmperlil suifT upon tint sent the following memo randum to the wai cabinet 1 will rend I. but first with reference to the Boulogne conference, 1 mav, t rluii-, nv tint that was the first time we hid n discussion with the Ti pitch ministers Itobrrlson's l.vplHiintlon 'The fact that Mi William Itoherlson had evpl lined and Mr Dougl )s H ilg had silted that the explanation threw new light his never been repeated That Is how iiiischlif Is done (Chceis ) 'On October 21 this question was (list form illv (discussed bv the war ihlnet There was furthei pressure fiom tin Trench Government and v,r William Ilobrrtson give ,ils views as In the time which the British Government ought to take, and this conclusion Is molded In the minutes of the wm cabinet ns fol lows The war cabinet approves of the suggestion of the ehlef of the lmperlil staff that he should replv to Field Mar sh il Mi- Douglas Halg In the following sense Ihe war i iblnet In nf Hi. ni.ii.imi tint In deciding to what extent th Hrlt isn iroops the Ire necessii or giving them a reason ible opportunltv of Wit tebt a, tialnlng during the winter months and to the plan or operations for th,. im wi.- nnd further, while the present offensive Sipeia Cnbtr to l.ieiilng I'ubtic l.edgrr Copurliht. tlir, I,. iht Yen' l'oi7. 7"(na Co. I nndon, Ma' 10 Ju presenting his motion In the House nf Commons for the appointment of a select commlttre to investigate th charges made b General Maurice, ex Premier Asqulth said that ho thought It was not the business of I'arll iment to Inquire constantly into tho conduct of successive phases of the wir The House of Commons, he added, had more than enough of such Inquiries ulready, Mr Asquith denied thnt his motion was designed to obtain n vote of con sure of the Government. sa)lug that It was absurd to describe It as euch sihould he find It his duty to censure the (jovernmrnt, he salii, he hoped that he would have the courage to do so In a direct nnd unequivocal form Ml Asqulth sild that when he put down his motion he thought that It would he accepted bv the Government Ho had ntvtr vet given an adverse vote on an proposal made bv the Govern ment Ho had endeivored to help tho Government In the niospcutloii of tho wnr and In defining the great purposes war for two vears ,""""'"',''''"".';, of (he wai and the pence for which the carried he will again be responsible for Anc, .(cr(, btrut the i ondui t of the win ' .Make no mistake about It This Is a vote of unsure upon the Government If this motion Is carried, we could not posslbb, continue operation and the light honorable gentlennn, as the one responsible for the motion, would have lo taki the responsllilllt for tho Gov ernment 'it Is e"entlal having regard to tint position that he should deprecate the in tlon taken b General Maurice. ' What does it mean-' it Is not merely a flagrint breach of the Kings regula tions, but ho avows it He sivs 'I know what I am doing' He Is n gen eral In i high position (suppose ii regl ment il olllter or ordinary soldier did a thing like this' "Aftei all. the hue got their own views about their superiors bometlmes they aie right and sometimes they are wiong but the disagree as to the wis dom of tertaln actions A soldlei might even chillcnge the accuracy of st ite ipents made b his superiors He inlijit also wilte to the pipers ond say that gr iv e statements 1 ave been made by in sup-rlois, and It Is ni dut not lis a soldier but as n citizen to say to It is mi dut bic.iuse I nm a Democrat and n ,.,, (i .. -. .t. ,t i uecause my granaratuer was a aemocrai noirr,,;;;:,;;,;!!'-!1''!:',,,!:''!!;-'" itiuh r iihuiuuuiisi uim uiavi'iiiib nun write this I ' I wonder what would have been sild If a pool, ordinary soldier did this soil j oi tiling: Anu tnis is a new army, i nit rXelther he nor his lolleaintes Mr As. oulth asserted, had been concerned in the tompn'ltinu or publication of (icn- era .viaurces etier ir. as lie taw the Government Intended to slate the facts It would be anticipating the con elusions of am tribunal and would he onlv an ex parte statement The former Premier said that he knew man of his friends had thought he had been f ilnthearted In this matter, nnd that there were persons other than his friends who thought of hlni an being de voured by impatience to resume office. Mr Asqulth concluded ' I suggest to tho House that In the common Interest of the Government themselves, the army, the Mate, the Allies, nnd of unhampered prosecution of tint wnr. a tribunal of Inquiry be set up which from Its constitution nnd power would be nblo to glvo prompt, decisive and authotttatlve judgment. 1 hope that In regard to some of these matters there has ben a genuine nnd honest misunderstanding." Sir IMward Carson deprecated nn In qulr either by two Judges or a special committee, but would, if compelled to choose between them, prefer the latter He besought the House to take stock of where they stood and ask themselves whether the wero 'elng of Bcrvlce to the country or t -e Allies by n continu ance of the debate Ho appealed to Mr ArciultV who he said, 'has alnajs acted in a patilotlc wa em everv occasion, not to proceed with the motion. In the Interest of the counti, of the dlgnltv of the House. nost rfreCtlip debiting ctToit. but as and the relations between the civil find I contribution to determining the facts ""'"'i 1.U..1-1-, ui ..c.i ..- on CJ.....M.-- us value wa inovuabi rt-strlrteu one to the people of the eountrv. who are aiiiiot establish a disputed Issue f fact going through a very trlng time jby px parte statement fiom one side. Lord Hugh Cecil, memner of the Privv however effective, nnd the neeotit docu Council, said that the Premier had made , inentary evidence could not be adduced n brilliant speech that was more effec- for reasons of secrecv " live ns an attack on General Maurice n h,rP la irrtuin faction whose motto ban as n defense of the Government. He i. . ,... ,h ,. . .,. .i-..-,,. i.Pe,ier mn.ii.,i i ii,. n.....n n. , .n. ." "in tne war nut upsiro 1'remier tJL (M v.... ..v.... ... c .i.n. .i.r V l.lovd George at any cost." said the hate written such a letter. It Is bardlv less amazing that Asqulth should have swallowed It with such greedy In credulltv " The Dally Telegraph spenks of 'The Ignomlnous collapse" of this latest at tack on the Government, and sas: "If It comes to comparing fiascos, this Inst imy bo considered the most futile." Tho Dally News sayH! "1 he fact that still remains In th mind of the public lifter this displav of political p)rotechnlcs la that I.lovd Giorge has burked an Inquiry Into chnrges affecting his own honor and the honor of Parliament The chnrges con tained In Maurice's, letter remain un affected bv vesterdnv melodrama. A nliln nciusatlon has been splilted away by n trick of legerdemain ' The Chronicle tas The Prime Ministers speech was to office, but when convinced that thev could not command a great bodv of the national support, without which nnv Government Is useless In lime of war, they should resign and so enable It to ho seen whether a stronger Government could not be formed Immediately after Mr Asqulth's mo tion wbb rejected the Premier left the House, being loud iheered PRESS GENERALLY FRIENDLY TO PREMIER I ondon. Ml 10 hlle the press comment on l.lojd Georges reply to the Maurice clnrges Is somewhat diversified, the consensus of opinion ev pressed bv the leading newspapers Is distinctly favuiable to tho Preinlei The Times savs 'We shill still believe In the pa triotism of Gcreinl Maurices methods, but It bcems charltahlo now to assume that he his been mule the Instrument of abler and less honorable men s for the question of fact the Prime Min ister n rise was overwhelming and we retain nil our old conviction that he Is not the best exponent of nn over whelming ease " I ho Dally Mill ras "If It Is amazing that Maurice thould Dally l.xprcss. "An general Is good ci ougli to beat tho Government with." It continued 'Today It Is General Maurice, tomorrow It might be General Million " The Morning Post said. " Because the House of Commons Is satisfied with Picmler I.lod George's statement. It dorsn t follow that the people nre In this matter Commons tins ceased to re present tho nation We tan conceive ot nothing worse for the urniv morale than that tho Premier, as In his Paris speech, thould condemn the strntegs of ccn- cials a w I Platinum Rings $150 to $525 W Dlaatnondsi of uprlor qua H In till platinum mount Uk Net mur nt TirMMit rrke lompirlion tnrltrd. C. R. Smith & Son Market St. at 18th W i Mid-Month List continues It will not be possible to coin- ! must not be forgotten It Is an arm nil-nee tailing over moro line "'Under these clnumsiince, the war ua , ,'.Cl m?" "1,t mu" thu l""cv Is set. lied it will he premature to decide flnalls whether the British front Is to be ex tended bv four divisions or to greater or lesser extent ' Tint rCSOlUtintl W tie rnmn.i..t..l.J to Mr Douglas Hnlg bv sir William Bob. prison, nnd we never depirtcd from It nn,l"thJ'', n""10,,"" mbrul Incident f..i , " "",',' " "1'lch neeessl tnted our sending troops to Itnlv 'The subject of discussion was a lathei Important foreign office It wns not summoned In the least to discus, an extension of the lines We never knew tint was to be laired Kir Wil liam Bobertson nnd I represented the British Government, and M P.Unleve. the Prime Mlnistn, nrid General Toch represented the Trench Government. srnt Memorandum 'When Sir William Robertson discov ered that the Held Marshal was under the Impression that we had coma to a decision without his consent he sent the wir cabinet a memorandum. In i.jiiiu ne says; At the recent Boulogne conference the question of extending our front was raised b the 1 rench representatives The repl given was that while In prin ciple we were of course, readv to do whatever Is to bo done, this matter was one which could not be discussed n the absence of Sir Douglas Halg or during tho contlnuauc e nf the present opera tions, and that due legard must also be had to the plan of operations for next ear "'It was suggested that It would be best for the Tleld Marshal to come to nn arrangement with General Petaln when this Is to be done So farlas I am aware no formil discussion has 1 taken place, and the matter cannot be legarded as decided Further I feel I sure that the war cabinet would not llilllii ei ueciuiiiK sucn a question vvun out first obtaining Sir Douglas Halgs views I am rcpling to him in the above reuse.' "That, I think, was on the lflth of October Tho war cabinet fully ap proved of the communication Sir Doug las Halg communicated, and said that It threw a new light on tho Boulogne position 1 think that we have a right I to complain of tho way In which It has been rumored about that b'lr Douglas Halg protested. 'They made It difficult for the field I mai eh.il to carry out the promise he made to General Petaln for certain extension I of the front Then the present French Prime Minister came In. and he Is not a j very easy gentleman to refuse. (Laugh ter ) He was very Insistent that the British army should take over the line huggeit Compromise We stood by the position that that was a matter to be discussed by the two commanders-in-chief. We never swerved from that position. At Ust M. Clemen ceau suggested that the question should be discussed by the military representa tives at Versailles, and that the Ver sailles council should decide If there was any difference of opinion, -The mili tary representatives discussed the ques. tlon, and the only Interference of the war cabinet was to this extent. We communicated with the chief of staff, who was then In France, and with Sir Douglas Halg to urge on them the Im portance of preparing their case for the other side, so as to make the strongest possible case fcr the British view. 'The military representatives at Ver sailles suggested a compromise, but coupled with It recommendations as to steps which ought to be taken by the French army to assist the British If they were attacked, and by the British tt assist the French If they were attacked, which vvas even a more Important ques tion than tha extension ot the front (Cheers ) 'That recommendation came up for discussion at the Versailles council of February 1. Before that meeting Sir Douglas Halg and Uenerai Petaln met and entered Into an agreement as to the extension of the front to Brlssy, and Sir Douglas Hals; reported that to the Ver sailles council. When the discussion took place there no further extension pf the Mm waa taken' at all aa a result of the takea'aJt all aa a result of v here ou cannot possibly give the time, as hi the case of n regul ir urniv, to harden their fibers In discipline It Is to an army of this kind tint a high distinguished office sets an ixiniple b salng, 'Although t am a soldier, I nm first of all a citizen, and therefore, I am going to bieak the King's regulations' ' That means that It Is for him to Judge the importance of the occasion that Is fatal to discipline (rheers ) "Tach mm naturally thinks his own grievance far mere Important than aii thlng else That Is human nature, and every foot soldier, evil regimental officer will sa : 'My ease Is a much stronger one thin General Muurlee's, and we live In a democratic countr.' in General Maurice i.iing, 'I am a good democrat,' vve have got before ua an example of the democracy which U being humiliated and trampled upon be cause It Ins forgotten discipline in the army (Cheers ) Is this the time to show such an example bj a distinguish ed officer who has had some of the most confidential positions in the arm ? At any rale, he ought lo have tried ever thing before he did this (Cheers ) Did he? (Cries of 'no.') Did he first come to tho person to whom he wanted to correct? Never. 'lie was it filend of mine, and he was In this House tho very day when I made the tpeeeh I was seeing lilm contlnuall ever week and almost every aay SUrev beforo setting an example of Indiscipline he might llrst of all have tried to correct me nnd said 'Would vou mind putting this right?" He might, If 1 were obdurate, have slid' 'Heio am I sitting at the war cabinet, and In splto of tho fact that It Is ,not iny position to do so I will talk here' There would not have been mueli mischief In that, but he ought at least to have asked his chief to do It beforo trampling upon discipline, which Is the life of the arm. He ought to have exhausted ever thlng else first. Xot a word of deprecia tion of that fiom in right honorable friend opposite (Cheers ) I have had communications from the army, from officers ami soldiers I have had com munications from the Australian sol diers today on the subject, who met In formally and who repudiated in the strongest manner this sort of action (Cheers ) When we talk about the army, the army Is not two or three men The army Is five millions of men, and It is vitally Important that discipline should be maintained "There Is a letter which appeared In one of the papers today, not it letter. but a quotation from a Trench iiews- paper, which I will read to the house This paper sas: "'France Is mote than any other a democratic country. Well, we declare roundly that no one In Trance will un derstand General Maurice's action." " Mr. Snowder "What paper t" Mr. Llod George "I .a Liberie (Loud laughter). Tho quotation pro ceeded: " 'So more on the Left than on the night, still less on tho Left than on the Right, no Trench party would admit that In the midst of war u general on active service should permit himself to raise his voice in public to contradict the Government. With alt respect to this General, what U calculated to diminish the morale of the troops is not that ministers should In good faith have the extension of the British front, but stated what Is not the fact In regard to that a chief hitherto respected should have thought It his duty to commit an act of Indiscipline so glaring that even In our democratic country It would have been considered a scandal. "'It Is not for sn officer to seek him self to place his duty as a citizen before his duty as a soldier.' " Hueh la French , lew "That Is the view of a democratic country like France. May I say that I wonder whether It is worth my while m&klnr another appeal to all sections of thla House, to all sections of the country. These rontroveisles are distracting, (Cheers ) They are 'paralyzing, they are rending, and I do beg that they should come to an end. (Cheers), It Is diffi cult enough for ministers to do their work. "This Is really a sort, of remnant of the controversy over Individual com mand, which lasted virtually for months, AJBKy of nommand. the national Columbia Records "s ' h N Every thin'Ai Jolson's The latest Jolson joy song in Jolson's jolliest vein. Wait till you hear him sing "We'll raise a lot of cows an' chickens an' ducks 'n' everything!" Then you'll know why this song was the hit of "Sin bad," Jolson's great Winter Garden suc cess. Whatever else you buy, don't miss this record A2519 75c tan J ' VI Van and Schenck Joi ine oiumoia. ramuyg Now you can enjoy the clever harmo nies of these popular vaudeville stars in your own home. They start with two splendid numbers on one record. "My mind's made up to marry Carolina," and " In the Land O' Yamo Yamo." A2521 75c m- m Am Gr ! AvrfkVWa a!MUftaVsV slSsft IP aB W QlWll , In. nm m-JE ,, siaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanlsffAuv '' w Levinsky's Made A . New "Wedding Record ! Here's the new Levinsky wedding record that everyone's been waiting for. And it's well worth the waiting. A whirlwind of laughter, from whim sical start to the farcical finish when Levinsky bests the fighting Irishman by a strategic retreat over the furniture. A2366 75c Lafayette (We Hear You Calling) All Aboard for Home, Sweet Home Stn4 stmt rtctrat tt jturttU'ttr. Thiri't Columbia Grqfintla in Mi K M. C.A.tf Knight f Celumbui hut. Reed Miller Arthur Fields AUmm A2526 ' jft A2523 gm $m I 75o - rTTTB vlfj Prince's Orchestra f?? H . , ' R p- . a t JA6037 H :r'.$Bk Prince's Band $l2S fcjrPT5 Sweet Emalina, My Gal Graveyard Blues One-step Fcx-trot Earl Fuller's Rector Novelty Orchestra Medley of Old Waltz Sonjs Part I Medley of Old Waltz Songs Part II Au Revoir, Not Good-bye One-step Just a Little Cottage Fox-trbt M hL 'i IN
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers