Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-05-15
.LLOYD-GEORGE
is INDICATED
Commons Votes Confidence After
Premier Refutes Maurice
Charges.
WINS BY VOTE OF 2g3 TO 1O6
Declares Army Figures Were From
Records and Are True-Asqulth's
Inquiry Motion Is
Beaten.

London, Nay 10.-Ex-Premler AS
auith's motion for the appointment Oh
select committee to Investigate the
charges made by General Maurice
against Premier Lloyd-George was re-
jected in the house of commons by
vote of 293 to 1O6. Sir Edward Carson,
leader of the Irish unionists, appealed
to Mr.. Asquith not TO proceed with his
motion. Sir Edward said that If the
veracity of the ministers was not be-
lieved in the house there was not long
er any possibility of carrying on the
government.
Premier Flags Critics.
Mr.. Lloyd-George said that If the
motion was carried Mr.. Asquith would
again be responsible for the conduct
of the war.
Premier oyd-George was cheered
loudly when he arose to speak. He said
he had been treated unfairly. 1t was
the business of General Maurice to
come to the cabinet and point out
where the ministers had made mis-
takes, he declared.
Denying that the strength of the
British fighting forces had been mis-
represented as stated by General Maui
rice. Mr.. d-George asserted the fig
ures which he had given were taken
from official records at the war office.
Since that time he had made inquiries
on this point, he added, and the figures
were not inaccurate.
Maurice Furnished Figures.
Isl regard to the comparison between
the enemy and the allied forces, the
premier added, he was charged with
misleading the public, but all the fig
ures on which his statement was based
came from General Maurice's depart
ment.
The statement that three British di-
visions were present in Egypt, he ex-
planned, was made at a cabinet meet
ing when General Maurice was present
and he never had corrected 1t.
Regarding the extension of the Brit
ish front, the premier went on, General
Maurice was at Versailles, but was not
In the council chamber. He was in q
building outside with others, assisting
the council. The extension of the
front of General Coughs army the pre-
mier declared, was never discussed at
that council, and the extension was an
accomplished fact before the council
met.
France Asked Extension.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig.
Mr.. Lloyd-George said, was reluctant
TO extend his line, and so was the
war cabinet. The extension, he added.
was in response to very great pres
sure from France.
A judicial tribunal would have been
the best for an examination of the
facts, said Mr.. LloydGeorge. 1t would
have been short and sharp and have
given a decision Immediately. He
added:
"Since l have thrown myself into
the vigorous prosecution of the war
| have been drenched with cocoa
press slop.'
The cocoa press" is the Daily
News group of newspapers controlled
by Quakers, formerly the premier's
strongest supporters.
The premier declared such contro-
versies as the present one were dis
tracing and paralyzing.
Il beg that they may come 20 an
end" he added National unity and
the army are threatened. The Ger
mans are preparing the biggesa blow
of the war, and beg and implore that
there shall be an end to this shipping"
Premier Asquith denied that his
motion respecting the General Maur-
ice affair was designed to obtain a
vote of censure of the government.
saying it was absurd to describe il as
such.
get on With War; Is Cry.
The suggestion was made by Mr..
Asqu'th that an investigation be made
by no-party committee of five men,
bers, which probably would be able
to reach a decision that would be re-
spected by the house and the country
in two or three days.
"What is the alternative?" he
asked
Get on with the war; c. i. Stan
ton, labor leader, interrupted. This
was ..rbeted with loud
cheers.
Mr.. Asquith responded that the best
way to get on with the war was to
clear away misconceptions ard mis-
understandings which might have no
mind of everyone.
May Be Court-MartiaIed.
The Evening News declared that it
Gea. Maurice, former di-
rector of military operations. will be
court martialed because of his accusa-
tons against Lloyd George and Bonar
Law.
Mlnesweeper ESpIodes Mine.