The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-04-18
BEWARE THE GUN

Mr. Lloyd George British Prime Minister making state
mnt Parliament reviewing far as it is practicable and advs
able to do the great battle in Picardy, said
am referring to the whole army, generals officers and
soldiers the whole army and draw no distinction
Their conduct of incredible and great
GOODNESS under the most trying conditions do not think
that any distinction can be drawn between officers and men,
am referring to the British army, and that means all
And specially refer to what brigader general did
Some reference been made IN the ready to It,
where at point there was serious gap which might
have let the enemy into Calais
Cough Called In
Until the whole circumstances which led to the retire
nent of fifth army and its failure to hold the line OF the
CONNIE at least till the Germans brought out their and
perhaps the failure adequately to destroy the bridgs-un
all these explained would be unfair to censure the
general in command of the army, General Cough But until
those cleared up it would be equally I'M
fair to the British army retain his services in the field 1t
necessary recall him until the facts have been fully as
ceraned laid before the government by their military
advisers.
The bald sted from this diplomatic language is that at
point there serious gap in the British lines which might
Calais and this resulted from the re
trement of the fifth before the Germans brought out their guns
the line of the Somme not held the III
ference plain that fifth army under General Cough did not
make sufficient effort in the judgment of the British government
to hold line the Somme His forces Withdrawn before
they aed by the German and in their Withdrawal there
failure destroy the bridge preventing the means for the ad
of the enemy
There sufficient ground for the suspicion that the commander
the fifth army of the British withdrew his forces and left the
bridges the of the enemy thus opening Calais
to Justify thorough investigation
of General Cough The facts far they
known indicate least extraordinary degree of ncompeency
1t reasonable suppose that in command to sup
pose any command of British army lacking in the
knowledge of military operations to withdraw from critical
sector they attack 3D. and the time fail to put
the advance 1t pam from
the statements British Prime Minister that the conduct OF
this British whole the Allies and Of civilization
in the grav danger incident reminds of the arreacng
meaning of the declaration of Revolutionary Fathers that
vigilance the price of liberty If so grave danger
from such cause the seasoned British after
ly four years conflict with the British Empire unit in its deter
minaion the Hum does impress with the import
ance of the scrutiny the conduct of trust
ed with the authority activity for the prosecution
of the war?
The day following the by the British Premier
War Department at Washington announced e honorable dis
charge GermanbOrn Prlssan trained Bgadier General
of failure efficiency in the command to which he
assigned The British recalled Cough and may
his be the subject of court martial that will thoroughly
honorable discharge Gemaborn after facts
pahy part with and the the power entru
him deliberate obstruction of preparations meet
the enemy.-Lexngton Herald f.
Thnk peace says Vscount French In other words
make the Germans think peaceLousvle CourierJourna