The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-12-13
RECENT DEFEAT
ST|RS BR|T0NS
BONAR LAW TALKS OF THAT SUR
PRISE AND ROUT OF THE
ENGLISH TROOPS.
JOHN DILLON ANGRY
Irish Nationalist Reports Rumor That
Germans Were Marching Through
Streets Of Town Occupied BY Eng.
llsh Before Brit0ns Knew.

London. Dec. 13.-The British govern
ment viii investigate the reasons for
the British reverse several days age
on the south end of the Cambria front
This was the assurance given today by
Andrew. Bonar Law, chancellor OF the
exchequer. to answering criticisms OF
military operations In the house OF com
mons.
Mr. Bonar Law said that the govern
ment's information was that rumors
concerning the Cambria operations were
exaggerated greatly, and he had been
tempted to warn the public that nothing
in the shape OF a decisive result was
expected from that part Of the front
The night in question. or early in the
morning. Mr.. Bonar Law said, the Ger
mans made three different attacks
upon the British Cambrai forces. The
smallest of these. In regard to the
numbers engaged. was on the part OF
the front where. owing to surprise. the
British were unable to break through.
The two other attacks by larger forces
were repelled with great loss to the
enemy.
Quick Investigation Made.
The moment the cabinet members re-
ceiyed an account of the attack, the
chancellor added, they felt some expla'
nation was needed. and the first thing
the cabinet did was to send instructions
to Field Marshal Haig to give a full
report on all that happened. The idea
was that the government, II II was sat
isfied that a soldier in any position was
not capable of fulfilling his duties.
would not keep him in his position. 1t
is not easy for a civilian with the best
to judge the qualifications
of soldier, and also the government
must largely be guided by experts.
Mr.. Bonar Law said he was bound TO
declare that. with regard to the ru-
mors, a full inquiry would be held. and
the government would be satisfied that
proper action would be taken as a re-
suit of 1t. Accidents of this kind. he
declared, were inevitable in war. Even
surprises on a misty morning might
happen. for which no blame could be
attached to any one.
John Dillon Criticises Severely.
After the statement by Mr.. Bonar
Law, there was considerable criticism
of military operations. especially those
at Cambrai in the light of the editorial
in the Times demanding an investiga-
tion. John Dillon, Irish nationalist,
the government for keep
ing the public in the dark, said there
were rumors that the Germans got
three or four miles back of the British
in the Cambria district before they We're
discovered. He added that in one vii
lage where transports were being
loaded. the Germans walked down the
street before the British were aware
that they had penetrated the lines.
BOnar Law Denies.
Mr.. Bohar Law said that, according
to all information available to the gov
ernment. the rumors were greatly ex-
and, in his opinion, part of
that exaggeration arose from exagger;
ated hopes from the British initial sue
cess there.
Mr.. Bonar Law said the movements
in Mesopotamia and Palestine were by
no means movements of conquest. The
British had TO defend the position in
Egypt, and often the best defense was
to attack, as had been shown in this
case.
He was unable to give information OF
the future operations around Saloniki,
Greece. but it was absolutely certain
that but for the British forces at Sa-
loniki the Germans would have been in
possession of Greece and the Balkan
upnfnS Sula