Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-08
Gen. Maurice Incident Will
Lead to Vote on Resolution
of Censure Thursday.
PREMIER WILL DEFEND
QUESTIONED VERACITY
Whole Situation Due to Feud With
Military-Politicians Accused of
Using It to Further Aims.

BY the Associated Press
LONDON, May s.-The government
has issued summons to its supporters
requesting their attendance in the house
of commons on Thursday, when "Mr.
Asquith will move resolution, which, if
carried, will be vote of censure of the
government"
"a division is absolutely certain" saws
the call.
According to the Press Association.
the proposal to refer the Maurice affair
to two judges may be regarded as with
drawn, as the suggestion did not appeal
to the house, and its rejection by Mr..
Asquith and his followers rendered it
worthless.
On the other hand. it is added, it Is
doubtful whether any other form of in
quiry will be held and 1t is likely the
premier will give the house the fullest
possible Information consistent with
public safety. citing figures in proof
of his statement of the relative strength
of the army in January. 1917. and jan
involved in the statement of Gen. Mau-
rice it is understood an explanation
perfectly consistent with both versions
will be made.
Asquith Opposes Proposal.
LONDON. May ANDREW Bonar Law.
chancellor of the exchequer. who is
spokesman for the war cabinet in the
house of commons. since the premier's
duties in managing the war do not give
him time for constant attendance in
parliament, told the house this after
noon that the cabinet had decided to
intrust to a commission Of two judges
the investigation of the charges which
Gen. Frederick B. Maurice. former chief
director of military operations at the
British war office, made that the cabinet
had deceived the country and parliament
about the army in France Ex-frem:er
Asquith, who is always supporter Of
parliamentary traditions, led the fac-Ion
in the house which insisted that the in
vestigation be made by d parliamentary
committee.
Mr. Bonar Law stood firm for a judicial
inquiry, on the ground that the deepest
secrets Of the conduct of the war were
involved and the cabinet did net wish to
not safeguard them as the judges would.
Government Faces Overthrow.
There will be debate on the question
Thursday. and in the meantime il passes
into the realm Of speculation. Talk was
rife about Westminster that the gov
ernment may be overthrown on a test
vote on this technical phase of the Ques-
tion. OF all the remarkable and unexpect-
ed events which the war has evolved none
surpasses the situation precipitated by ono
of the most distinguished generals of the
British army. Gen. Maurice acted on the
plea that my duty as a citizen must
override my duty as soldier"
1t is needless to say that this was a di-
rect challenge to all rules of military dis
cipline, and technically a more fragrant
offense in time of war than in peace
times. No one knows this better than
Gen. Maurice, who described il in his
letter as "a very grave STEP" and indi-
Gated his willingness to surfer the con-
sequences.
Mr. Bonar Law refused to give as
surance that the disciplinary measures
against Gen. Maurice would be sus-
pended pending the result of the in
vestigation.
Strong Support in Army.
Gen. Maurice has strong support
from the portion of the Army behind
him; how strong remains to be seen.
Critics of the premier have accused
him of trying to shoulder upon the
his mistakes, and newspaper con-
troversy has been going on since the
beginning of the German offensive
which may be described as the Army
against the Plains. the gist of which
has been that the war cabinet has
overridden its military advisers in mat
ters of strategy. and especially in re-
gard to the military demand for
men on the western front. This
quarrel has come to crisis. which
he lad nd hA
air cleared.
Leading Military Authority.
Gen. Maurice is one of the fore
most military authorities and military
historians of the war. He was recent
ly relieved of his position as director
of military operations at the war Of
fee and it was understood that he was
then being transferred to an impor-
tant position in France. No notice of
another assignment has been is
sued. however, and apparently none
was made.
relieved from the war Office position
this was done because his statements
to the newspapers regarding opera
tions in France were substantially a
of the premier's state
ments to parliament, notably his re-
marks that British success depended
OIL the arrival of 'Blucher in time"
Blucher being the French, and the pos
sible reading between the lines that he
whether "Blucher" would ar
rive.
The debate on Thursday will hinge
On a motion by Mr.. Asquith worded
that select committee of this house
be appointed to inquire into the allega-
lions or correctness in certain state
nents of ministers of the crown to
his house contained in letter of
Maj. Gen. Maurice. late director of
military operations. published in the
press Of May T."
Gen. Maurice's Letter.