The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-08

more mlScdlculatlOns Inc nation mas
no confidence in the discredited and
dilatory politicians and their pacifist
hangers on who were driven from Of
flee eighteen months ago."
The Daily Graphic says: Mr..
Asquiths intervention indicates that
We must anticipate new political
struggle centering around the ques-
ton of the premier's honor"
Premier's Own Fault.
The conservative Morning Post says
that the premier's own act brought
the government to the present serious
pass. He refused, it declares. to take
the advice of soldiers the Germans
took advantage of the situation and
the premier threw the blame on the
soldiers. The Post adds:
The hand of Nemesis is now
stretched out. Lloyd George will need
all his nimbleness to avoid being
cracked on the wheel of destiny. He
has had his chance and has proved
himself unfit for work in hand. But
nobody can rejoice who considers the
alternative, at the prospect offered"
The radical Daily News which is
opposed to the premier, rejoices that
the government will not accept the i
Asquith motion, but will treat it as a
vote of censure so that parliament on
Thursday must take a decision in
volving the life of the government
WOuiO nave Two Judges.
London, May ANDREW Bonar
Law, chancellor of the exehequer, who |
is spokesman for the war cabinet in
the house of commons, since the pre-
mfer's duties in managing the war do !
not give him time for constant at
tendance in parliament, told the house
this afternoon that the cabinet had
decided to entrust to a commission of
two judges the investigation of the |
charges which Gen. Frederick B. |
Maurice, former chief director of mil |
itary operations at the British war
otfice, made that the cabinet had de-
ceived the country in parliament
about the army in France.
Asquith Is Leader.
Ex-Premier AsQuith, who is always
supporter of parliamentary tradi- |
tons. led the faction in the house
which insisted that the Investigation
be made by parliamentary commit
tee
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 |
not wish to reveal them to a commit |
tee which might mot safeguard them |
as the judges would.
There will be a debate on the ques-
ton Thursday and in meantime it |
passes into the realm of speculation |
Talk was rife about Westminster that |
a test vote on this technical phase of |
the question. OF all the remarkable |
and unexpected events which the war |
has evolved, none surpasses the situa-
ton precipitated by one of the more |
distinguished generals of the British |
army.
First Duty as Citizen.
General Maurice acted on the plea |
that my duty as citizen must over |
ride my duty as SOLDIER
This was a direct challenge to all |
rules of military discipline. No one
knows this better than General Maui |
rice, who described it in his letter as
"a very grave step and indicated his
willingness to suffer the consequences.
Mr. Bonar Law refused to give as
surances that the disciplinary meas i
ures against General Maurice would
he suspended pending the -esu'f of the
investigation.
Strong Army Support.
General 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
army what they allege have been his
mistakes and newspaper controversy
has been going on since the beginning
of the German offensive which may be
described as the army against the poll
ticians the gist of which has been that
the war cabinet has overriddeu its
military advisers in matters of STRAIT |
egg and especially in regard to the
military demands for men on the
western front.
This quarrel has come to a crisis
which now is likely to be settled and
the air cleared.
General Maurice is one of the fore
most military authorities and military
historians of the war. He was recently
relieved of his position as director of
of he
and it was understood that he was
then being transferred to an import
ant position in France. No notice of
another assignment has been issued,
however, and apparently none was
mace Reflection on Allies.
1t was rumored that when he was
relieved from the war office position
this was done because his statements
to the newspapers regarding opera
contradiction of the premier's state
ments to parliament, notably his re-
marks that British success depended
on the arrival of "Bluecher in time,
Bluecher being the French and the
possible reading between the lines that
he doubted whether "Bluecher' would
arrive.
The debate on Thursday will hinge
upon a motion by Mr.. As1uith. word
ed that select committee OF this
house be appointed to inquire into the
allegations or correctness in the state
ments of certain ministers OF the
crown to this house, contained in a
letter of Major General Maurice, late
director of military operations, pub
lished in the press May 4.
Criticised War Council.
General Maurice recalls that Mr..
Bcnar Law. while answering ques-
items in the house of commons on
April %, said the extension of the
British front in France was not dealt
with by the Versailles war council
and he asserted that the chancellor
of the exchecuer's statement is in
correct He declares:
81 was at Versailles when the ques-
ton was decided by the council to
which it had been referred"
General Maurice then traverses
Premier Lloyd Georges assertion on