The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-05-10
GEORGE
IS INDICATED
Asquith Loses Commons Vote
293 TO 1O6.
PREMIER TELLS WAR SECRETS
British Line Extended Despite Haig's
Reluctance en- French Pressure, He
Says.

Reluctance en- French Pressure, He
Says.
London, May l0.-The Lloyd George
goverimen; was v.na:cafed when the
house OF commons. voting on Herbert
ASIuith's motion for the appointment
Of a parliamentary committee To in
vestigate General Matrices charges
against the premier. defeated the
measure. o93 to 1O6
In letter to the press Tuesday
General Maurice accused the premier,
David Lloyd George, and the chan
cellor of the pXcheluer, Andrew Bon
ar Law, with having made misState-
mentS TO the house of commons on
military matters.
In the debate that followed Mr.. As
qrith'S motion, the premier, who was
cheered loudly when he arose 10 speak
said he had been treated unfairly.
If the motion was carried, he as
serted. Mr.. ASquith would again be
re ;ponSible for the conduct of the
war.
Such controversies as the present
ona We're detracting and paralyzing
Mr.. Lloyd George said.
II beg they may come to an end
he added National unity and the
army are threatened. The Germans
are preparing the biggest blow of the
war and I beg and implore that there
shall he an end to this sniping.H
Replying directly to the charges.
he said it was the business of Cen
eral Maurice 10 come to the cabinet
and point out where the ministers had
made mistakes.
Denying the strength Of the British
fighting forces had been miSrepresent-
ed, as stated by General Maurice, Mr..
Lloyd George asserted the figures
which he had given were taken from
official records at the war office. Since
that time he had made inquiries on
this point. and the figures were not in
accurate.
In regard TO the comparison be-
tween the enemy and the allied forces,
public, but all the figures on which
his statements was based came from
General Mauriee's department.
The statement that three British
divisions We're present in Egypt, was
made at cabinet meeting when Cen
eral Maurice was present, and he
never had corrected it,
Regarding the extension of the Brit
ish front General Maurice was at YER
sailles. but was not in the council
chamber. He was in a building out
side with others, assisting the council
Then extension of the front of General
Coughs army, the premier declared,
was never discussed at that. council,
and the extension was an accomplish
ed fact before the council met.
L. Eield Marshal Sir DOUGLAS Haig:
was reluctant TO extend his line and
so was the war cabinet. The extern
sion was in response to great pressure
from France.
He quoted documents from General
Maurice's department, dated nine days
after the premier's speech in which
the statement regarding the relative
sizes of the allied and enemy forces
had been made, the quotation being
to the effect that the combatant
strength of the British army was
greater in January, 1918, than in
January, 1917.
The premier in explaining the ex-
tension of the British front said the
French defense had to be assisted
1t was agreed to leave the time and
the extension to the commandment.
chief. At no time has the cabinet
swerved an iota from the principle
laid down by Sir William Robertson,
then chief of staff There was an &C
tual notification to the French author
tiles the question could not be dis
cussed in the absence of Field Mar
shall Haig.
A judicial tribunal would have been
the best for an examination of the
facts. 1t would have been short and
sharp, and have given a decision i'm
mediately Lloyd George added here ::
"Since l have thrown myself into
the vigorous prosecution of the war,
I have been drenched with cocoa
press slop."