Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-20
PREMIER DEFENDS
|. ARMY CHANGES IN
STIRRING SPEECH
Tells Members That Con-
certed Efforts Are Need
ed to Win War.
SAYS GENERAL ROBERTSON
WAS OFFERED COUNCIL POST
Latter Refused to Accept System,
Basing Objections on Mil
itary Grounds.
THREATENS TO QUIT OFFICE
Weak Points in. Army Organization
Pointed Ont by Field
f Marshal Haig.
SAYS GENERAL ROBERTSON
WAS OFFERED COUNCIL POST
THREATENS TO QUIT OFFICE
~ Assnciatc,l Prcss. i

iHv Associated Press
10 y y ON February 1o.--Prcmicr
Lloyd George today made in the House
ment regarding the recent army
ehanGcs. Tic said the government was
inHious 10 retain the services Of Cen
aral Sir William Robertson as chief OF
lie policy decided upon I'm common
"ith Great Hritain's allies.
The Premier said the policy OF the
government was based upon the as
sumption that the allies had suffered in
he pasi through lack of concerted and
'o-ordinatcd efforts. II had been de-
'tdcd 10 set up central authority 70
coordinate the strategy Of the allies
| The general principles laid down a,
he recent session in Versailles Of the
supreme war council were agreed to
- All. the Premier told the house. II,
ras also agreed that there should be
IN interallicd authority with executive
,owers. The only difference which
rose was aS L. It's constitution. The
irat proposal at Versailles. he con
inucd. was that tho central authority
hould consist Of "a council OF chiefs
Il stan but this MAS abandoned. inaa-
much il Was regarded as unwork-
bic.
e Lloyd George said it Was essential
hat decisions should be taken instantly
I Versailles. Meeting separately. the
iclegatcs Of the respective allies. he
. Hpiaincd, considered their own plan.
EhIch in each case was identical. This
Ian was passed without Il dissenting
oice and accepted by all the military
representatives.. the Premier said.
Being under the impression that ali
nc dfficuitics had been overcome. con-
i inucd the Premier, the government
ncred Genera! Robertson position on
he Versailles council hut he was un-
3viliinG to acquicScc in the system. OBJ
cctins TO 1t on military grounds. Cen
raj Robertson. added the Premier,
hen refused the post OF chief OF staff
9Th powers adapted TO tho position
st UP a, Versailles. It he should read
he document submitted by the Amer
ans, said Lloyd George. there would
G no need TO MAKE i speech.
PRAISES DOCUMENT OFFERED
ny AMERICAN >OFFICIALS
The case is presented with iires!s,i-
lc power and logic" ne added
What happened: We altered the
roposal here and there. There was a
ood deal OF discussion. which TOOK
One hours There was not It single
ssentins voice so far as The plan Was
oncerned
II the House OF Commons repudIatcd
he policy for which he was responsible.
i.
ountry depended. Lloyd George de-
Jared he would quit Office. His one
4eEre, would bc that he had not greater
trcnsth and ability TO place "A, the dis
osal OF his country in It's Gravest
our.
Tiy British commandey. Field Mar
nal Iiais Was prcscn, at the session
( the supreme war council. l!oyi
ieorse wcnt on. He drew attention
u two weak points in the proposal
hich were thercupon adjusted by the
difference. General Robertson was
resent when the subject was presented
=, the War Cabinet. and did not OBJ
,ct.
1t was acrocd that the principal mill
AIRY adviser az Versailles should be Il
iembtr OF the var council. 1t WAS part
HI this Arrangement that the chief OF
ne imperial STAFF WAS TO remain the
! Iprcmc military adviser TO tho govern
Tlent.
|HOINTRY NOW FACED
WITH TERRIBLE REALITIES
Lloyd George said the country was
iced with terrible realities. He begged
lc house 10 have done with all con-
'ovcrsy. adding that the government
as entitled to knuw Tonight whether
lie house and the countr: wished it
|, proceed with the policy deliberately
Brrived AT.
The Premier asserted that tho cen
Illusions reached at Versailles were the
A,sult OF very pow crful representations
bfv the delegates of other governments
y otahly the American governments
IL 81 hcsitatcd for some time" said the
t4remier in referring to tho American
kprcsentations, whether ! should not
had in the House OF Commons the very
bsent documents submitted by the
american delegation. which put the
,se for tho present proposal. 1t is
Inc Of the ablcst documents ever sub
Euittcd TO a military conference.
"The only reason why | do not read
to the house is that it is mixed up
Filth the plan of operations"
~ ANY one who examines closely the
iIkents Of 1916 and 1917, said the Pre-
Her, would find plenty OF argument for
|! !bmc change i'm tho machinery i'm order
effect a greater concentration than
lad hitherto been achieved. The allied
fkvernment had decided that It was
Necessary to set UP some central body
III coordinate the strategy OF tho al
At the last conference at Ver-
CONTINUED on Second Pagc.)