New-York tribune., 1918-05-09
British Press
Is Diuided Oper
Maurice CHARGES

LONDON, May 8.-The action of Cen
eral. Maurice, former chief director OF
military operations at the War Office.
in impugning the veracity of ministers
OF the government has created a most
serious political situation. and one
which is Of vital Importance to the
Cabinets existence, according to the
views expressed by several of the
morning newspapers.
Papers which have consistently sup
ported the present administration rallv
to its side, and insinuate or assert
openly that former Premier Asouith
and his followers are back of General
Maurice. and that the affair is q
maneuvre to oust the Lloyd George
Cabinet and put in it's place a Cabinet
headed by Mr.. Asquith, Viscount Grey
and the Marquis of Lansdowne.
Thursdays debate, "The Daily Tele-
graph" thinks, will be the most serious
that the government has had to face,
involving the question of its continu.
ance in power. The paper is convinced
that the ministers acted in perfect good
faith when they made tbs statements
which General Maurice contradicts, and
believes they merely repeated informas-
visers. "The Daily Telegraph" believes
the country has complete and justifi-
able confidence in the government, but
adds:
Opposition Believes Time Ripe
"There is no doubt that the opposi-
ton, led by Mr.. Asquith, regards the
time as ripe for it to accept the re-
sponsibility of office. 1t is for the
House of Commons to choose. The al
tentative government would be exclu
sively Radical one"
"The Daily Mall" which strongly
supports Premier Lloyd George and is
as strongly inimical to former Premier
Asquith, says the debate on Mr.. As
quith's motion will afford him the
needed opportunity for an attempt to
bring about Parliamentary crisis. 1t
remarks that when General Maurice
said that no soldier had seen his letter
he did not say that no politician had
seen it.
adds, coupled with Mr.. E Asquith's
man@uvres in Parliament on Tuesday,
suggests that the old gang believes it
has found weapon which will destroy
the government We believe these in.
fatuated partisans have made one more
miscalculation. The nation has
dilatory politicians and their pacifst
hangers-on who We're driven from Office
eighteen months ago."
''The Daily Graphic" says: "Mr. As
quith's intervention indicates chat the
political truce is now at an end. We
must anticipate new political strug-
gle centring around the question of the
Premier's, honor"
Anxious to Meet Charges
"The Evening News" which is cred
tied with being in very close touch
with Premier Lloyd George, says of
the letter written by General Maurice:
1--WE understand that both Mr.. Bonar
Law and Mr.. Lloyd George are anxious
and consider they have a very good
answer indeed to them. The Prime
Minister, when he made his statement
as to the strength of the forces in
France and. Flanders at the beginning
of this year and as to the number of
white divisions in Palestine and Meso-
potamia, was basing it on figures sup
piled to him by the War Office authori-
ties. 1t is stated that he has had no
reason since to doubt the correctness
of the figures"
"The Central News" makes this an
nouncement:
owe understand the government re-
CARDS Mr.. AsQuith's motion for a Sc
lect committee to inquire into General
Maurice's allegations in the light of a
vote of censure, and, in the event of it
being carried, will consider whether it
is possible for them to continue in
Office"
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