Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-14
GOVERNMENT TO INQUIRE
into CAMBRIA REVERSE
Chancellor Of ExchcQuer Gives As.
surancc Of Probe to House
Of Commons.
RuMoRs MUCH EXAGGERATED
Determined to Discover Whole
Truth Of Matter and Take Ncccs.
sary ACtion-Juhn Dillon Con.
dennis Keeping OF Public In Dark.
10y Associated Press.l

tBy Associated Press.
LONDON. December I2.--The British
government will investigate the reas sons
for the British reverse on the southern
end OF Che Cambria salient This was
the assurance given by Andrew Bonar
Law. Chancellor az the ExcheQuer. IN
answering criticism 4 military opera
tions in tho House Of Commons to-day.
Bonar Law said that the govern
racnt's information was that rumors
concerning the Cambrai operations
we're exaggerated greatly. and he had
been tempted TO warn the house that
nothing in tho ahspc OF decisive re-
suit was expected from that operation.
On the night III question or early in
tho morning. Bonar Law said. the Ger
British Ca:nbrsi :orces. The smallest
oC these attacks. having regard 10 the
numbers engaged. was Oh the part OF
the 'front.' where. owing TO surprise,
;he Germans were able TO break
through. TIE o;htr two attacks b.
larger forces we're repealed With great
loss 10 tho cncmy.
TIL. md,nent the t,abine; received an
account D: she attach. The Chancellor
added. ,acy felt there was something
nccdcG ia explanation. and the nrst
thing the Cabire; did was TO send in
structions 10 Field Marshal Naig to
eivc full repor. or all tina, had hap
pened.
The idea was that The government.
IL ii Was satisfied that soldier in any
position was not capable OF fulfilling
his duties. would no: keep him in his
position.
1t is no; easy for civilian with
the best information TO judge the quail
iications of a soldier and also the gov
eminent must largely be guided by
experts.
Bonar Law said he was bound 20 de-
ciare the: with regard TO the rumors
fun inquiry Will be held. and the gov
erament would be satisfied tina; proper
action would be taken as a result OF Il.
Accidents Of this kind, lie declared.
were inevitable in war. Ever surprises
on II misty morning might happen. for
which ru blame could be attached TO
uny one. BonGr Law could only say
that the government and military au-
ihori;ies were determined to discover
the whole truth of the matter and to
;aE: niece SSarv action
JOHN DILLON CONDEMNS
ACTION OF GOVERNMENT
la ihc debate in ihe House OF Com
mon" p.icT tic statement. by Andrew
Bbn.r I.uw, ,htTc vas considerable
r!,.,!sm .: :i!litIry operations. espe-
rjnii. ;husc AT Camh-ai, in the iigh,
- the di;io.i.ti ~ ;hc Times demanding
=" Investigation, john Dillon. Iris.i
Nationalist. coiGena ned the government
for ichn.ns The public In the dark. and
said there "ere rumors that the Ger
mans got three or four miles behind
the British lines in the Cambria uf-
fair before they were discovered. He
added that in one village where trans
ports were being unloadcd. the Ger
| mans walked down tho street before
the British were aware that they had
penetrated the lines,
Iionar Law. In ra?l.. said that tn.
British movements in .IeSupu:aEnia aud
Palestine ;"erc rs II" means movement.
q" conquest. The British had to de.
fond The position in Egypt. aud otter
/ the best defense was attack. as had
able to give information OF the future
operations around Saioniki. but II wa.
absolutely certain that but for the Brit.
ish forces at Salonii!. the German.
would have been in possession Of
Greece and the whole Balkan PENN
sula. and Germany would have regarded
that as one Of the great successes O.
the war.
Regarding the Cambria operations
Bonar Law said that, according to al
Information available 10 the govern
ment. the rumors wcre greatly eSag
gcrated. and. in his opinion, part o
that exasgeration arose from exag
gerated hopes from tho British initia
success there. lie had cen tempted u
one time TO warn ,he house that moth
Ing iii the shape II 4 brcak-throuel
or o decisive rtsu,t could be expectct
from that operat.o.,. which, in a meas
ure. stood By itself.
Ponar Law eaid he would give tn
house nearly all tho information con
corning the Cambria operations in tn
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