New-York tribune., 1918-05-14
Political Sniping at Lloyd
George in Crisis Anglers
Soldiers
London Dispute
Amazes French
Whole Affair Having Bad
Effect in the British
Army
By Casper Whitney

Especial Ccble to The Tribune)
PARIS, May 13.--Travelling through
the Amiens region recently l found the
British officers outspoken in their con-
demnation of the context and spirit OF
General Maurices published letter
They were distressed by the exhibition
Of party politics in the House of Com
mons and they hotly resented the i'm
plication that there was any feeling
other than one of unreserved welcome
fo' the French poilus. No one admires
them more than the British, who have
fought with them and whose confidence
in General Foch is deep and wide
spread
Everywhere there is the severest
criticism of the unpatriotic impulse be-
hind the snarllng and sniping at Lloyd
George and OF the repeated veiled at
tacks on the government by the paci-
fists and weak-spiriteo.
One officer voiced his sentiments in
these words:
with the Boche spilling their blood
by bucketsful to get across that line
at our throats, how in Gods name can
any Englishman talk peace or potshot
at the men who are keeping us going ?"
Defend Lloyd George
While riding toward Polk in COM
rany with two officers we were dis
cussing the Allied position and the
next German attack. One of them, q
reticent colonel, suddenly exclaimed,
with obvious emotion:
"Why don't our men at home stop
batting Lloyd George, the man who
first put US going straight in this war
Why don't they stop washing THEN
dirty political linen in public at such
rice and others to salve the sores Of
blundering generals through seeking to
discredit the government is bad enough
at any time, but at this time it is
scandalous and full Of danger.
eve at the front are fed up with the
mud-finging at home by disgruntled
envious officials The ever recurring
debates in Parliament are reaching our
men over here, VINO are beginning to
wonder if any Of their leaders are fit
for their jobs.
Hearing first this and then that
knocking, and reading lot Of over
to make them believe that the officers
of the staff are lot Of blghers.
at is having bad effect on the
officers and Tommies. 1t is likely tc
destroy the faith in the leaders here
just as it has among the home people
just at the time when they need to
hold fast to it. By the Lord Harry!
l wish they would leave Lloyd George
alone to go on with the war. He has
been the one man we soldiers over
here feel We have at home to see that
the only fight England has now is
against the Germans"
The frequent squabbling in London
is leaving also an unhappy impression
on the French, who were shocked al
Maurice's action. and they marvel al
the miserable differences among the
people of her usually serene neighbo1
in an hour when the lives of both ma.
tions are threatened en- the West front
This and other recent spectacles in
Parliament indicate to the French. as
we'll as to every other intelligent, sym
pathetic observer, that England has
men in high position who are less con.
cerned with the winning of the wa,
than with gratifying personal am
bition or venting their spite. There
fore, the rejection Of Asquith's motion
was received in France with frank sat
isfaction.
Among both French and British Of
ficers is heard everywhere expressed
appreciation of Americas good quick
sense in realizing that the only way to
give immediate and effective help is
through the amalgamation Of our SOL
diers with the French and British and
through team spirit in adopting the
plan forthwith