The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1918-05-23
Premier Lloyd George Again Is
Winner in Crisis Brought on
by General Maurice.
GIVEN VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
German Attack South of Ypres Smash.
ed, While Allies Improve Their Po-
sitions at Many Points-lnvestiaa-
ton Of American Aircraft Produc.
ton Collapse Started.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD.

Premier Lloyd George and his cabi-
net successfully weathered another
storm last week when the house of
commons, by a vote of 293 to LOG, re-
jccted Herbert Asquith's motion pro
viding for the appointment Of q spe-
cial committee to investigate charges
made against the premier by Mai. Gen.
Frederick B. Maurice. Having de-
clarcd that he would considered the
action OF the M as a test of
confidence, Mr.. Lloyd George would
have resigned and turned the conduct
OF the war over to Mr.. Asquith had the
latter been sustained. AS it Is he has
won another great personal victory
largely by means of the statement he
made in The house-an ex parte state
mcnt, to be sure, but one that i'm
pressed his hearers with his evident
honesty and franliness.
The charges made by General Mau.
rice, formerly director of military op-
erGtions, were that the premier and
OIher officials had deceived the people
by false statements concerning the
army. The accusations were fully re-
futed by Lloyd George, who showed
that his statements were made on in
formation obtained from General Maui
rice's department. He protested Wig
orously against such ~distracting and
paralyZiDg controversies and implored
that there should be an end to "Snip-
ing" He called Maurice's action a
fragrant breach Of discipline, especial
~ pcrnicious In It's effect on a new
army ard not understandable to the nj.
lies Of Great Britain.
There Is no reason to question the
patriotism Of General Maurice's mo.
tivcs in prccipitating the crisis, but II
is evident that he was made the tool
Of the political opponents Of the pre-.
micr who hoped to ride into Office on
the resulting storm. Presumably the
offending officer will be court mar.
tailed.
-n-
Last week passed with only one i'm
portnnt Infantry acton on the west
front but neither array has been idle.
The heavy artillery Of the allies has
been continually %hammering the Ger,
man positions and especially devoting
itself to smashing the cncmy's lines OF
communications and munition depots
and to hampering the bringing up of
re-enforccmcnts and supplies. In this
the aviatOrs have given invaluable aid
and the work has been SO well done
that he renewal Of the offensive was
pcrforce delayed. Heavy and frequent
rains also handicapped the Germans
and they found great difficulty In NOV
ing their DOulerOuS tanks md largest
guns across the devastated country,
the roads being consistently broken up
by shell fire and their repair made al
most impossible.
Meantime the allies took every OPP
portunity to improve their positions
and in many local operations advanced
their lines and strengthened their hold
on the commanding heights both in
Plcardy and in Flanders. In these
fights the Australians and Canadians
had q prominent part, the former be-
tween the Ancre and the SOmme and
the latter south Of Arras, both contin-
gents making considerable and very
valuable gains. All along the line the
British, French and Americans re-
pulsed all the enemy raids until
Wednesday night, when, after heavy
artillery preparation, the Germans at
tackled in the sector Of Ypres, between
La Clytte md Voormezecle. 1t was
their apparent intention to outfank
the important heights Of Scherpenberg
and Mont Rouge from the northeast
md they succeeded in forcing the Brit