The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1918-05-24
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 Pc.
sltions at Many Points-InvestIua
tien Of American Aircraft Produe.
ton Collapse Started.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARp.

GO"NNS W. Ft(NAhD.
Premier Lloyd George and his cabi-
net successfully weathered another
storm last week when the house of
commons, by vote OF 293 10 lO6. re-
jected Herbert Asquith's motion pro.
viding for the appointment OF a spe-
cial committee TO investigate charges
made against the premier by Maj. Gen.
Frederick b. Maurice. Having de-
clared that he would considered the
action Of the commons as 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 Il Ia he has
won another great personal victory
largely by means of the statement he
made In the house-an ex parte state
ment, to be sure, but one that i'm.
pressed his hearers with his evident
honesty and frankness.
The charges made by General Mau.
rice, formerly director OF military op.
erG;ions, were that the premier and
other 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 Mau-
rice's department. He protested Wig.
orously against such distracting and
paralyziDs controversies and implored
that there should be an end to snip
Ing" He called Maurlce's action a
fragrant breach OF discipline. especial
ly pcrnicious Ia its effect on a new
army ard not understandable to the al
lies OF Great Britain.
There Is no reason To question the
patriotism OF General Maurice's mo-
lives In precipitatIng the crisis. but Il
Is evident that he was made the tool
Of the political opponents OF the pre-
mler who hoped TO ride into Office on
the resulting storm. Presumably the
offending officer viii be court mar
tailed
Last week passed with only one i'm
portant infantry action on the west
front, but neither army has been idle.
The heavy artillery Of the allies has
been continually hammering the Ger.
man positions aud especially devoting
itself TO smashing the enemy's lines Of
communications and muuition depots
and to hampcring the bringing ~ Of
re-cnforcemeBts and supplies. In this
the avlators have given invaluable aid
and the work has been 20 well done
a.
pcrforce delayed. Heavy and frequent
rains also handicapped the Germans
and they found great difficulty In NOV
ting their pOuderous tanks aud largest
guns across the devastated country.
the roads being consistently broken up
by she'll fire and their repair made al
most impossible
Meantime the allies took every op-
pOrtunity 10 improve their positions
and in many local operations advanced
their lines and strengthened their hold
on the commanding heights both to
Picardy and ia Flanders In these
fights the Australians and Canadians
had a prominent part. the former be
tween the Ancre and the SorBme and
the latter south Of Arras. both oontin-
gents making considerable and ven
valuable gains. All along the line the
British, French and Americans re
pulsed al the enemy raids until
Wednesday night when. after heavy
artillery preparation. the Germans at
tackled ia the sector % Ypres, between
Il TIvfta uwg E0a~rnaraafa II u.U
their apparent intention 10 ontfiaDk
the important heights Of Scherpenberg
and Mont Rouge from the northeast
and they succeeded 10 forcing the Brit