New-York tribune., 1918-05-15
Maurice Becomes
Military Critic;
Defends Himself
Retired General Becomes
Correspondent Of "The
Daily Chronicle"
r eplies to Premier
Declares Statement He Was
at Versailles Was
Justified

LONDON, May H. Major Genera
Maurice, whose retirement was ordered
sftcr the explanations made by Premier
Lloyd George in the House of Commons
! in answer to charges contained in let
ter written by General Maurice, has
accepted an offer to become the mill
tary correspondent of "1he Dali,
Chronicle"
"The Daily Chronicle" has favored
The Associated Press with Major Gen
eral Maurice's first article, which will
appear tomorrow, under the caption
"A personal Explanation"
General Maurice deals with two
points in the Premier's comments or
his conduct. Concerning the Versailles
meeting, to discuss the taking over Of
the French lines, General Maurice
says:
81 accompanied the British repre-.
sentatives to Versailles and was pres.
ent at the first meeting of this session
OF the Supreme War Council During
the meetings, after the first, | was in
the corridor outside the council cham
Der. and IN the intervals between the
meetings was engaged on work in con-
necton with the questions under ex-
animation. | hold therefore, that my
statement that was at Versailles at
the time was justified"
"Concern!ng the Premiers question
why | did not criticise ministerial
statements before | left Office" Gen.
eral Maurice says, 81 was not, as stated
IN some reports. in the House Of Com.
mons when the Premier made MS
speech on April 9. That was the day
the enemy attack in Flanders began
Between then and April 20, when
was very much occupied with my
dutles, and part of the time | was ir
France: | had no leisure todo more
than glance at the Premier's speech.
Il did notice statement about the
force in Egypt and Palestine, but that
dld not seem to me warrant my call
ing attention to it at time whcr
everybody was very much occupied
with other matters. | left the iva,
Office on April 20, on leave and ther
Tor the first time read full report
of the speech"
ut was while was on leave thai
, | heard of Mr.. Bonar Laws answers
to questions in the House of Commons
on April %. I returned to London or
April 20 and read the report of Par
ljamcntary proceedings. II was moi
until then that l formed a definite
opinion that Mr.. Bonar Laws repl,
and the Premier's statements which
questioned, taken together. put upor
soldiers responsibility which, in m,
Judgment, should be borne by Minis
tiers, and it appeared to me a matter
OF urgency to correct that impression
81 wrote the following day, April 30
after ] had left Office to my late chief
the chief of the imperial staff, point
ing out that statements made by The
Mr.. Bonar Law and were incor
rect ! made up my mind before ther
that action on my part was necessary.
81 waited for reply until May g.
General Maurice continues, "befort
sending my letter to the press, anl
that | conceived to be as long as 4
could wait because had been warned
to expect orders to go to France on OF
after May 10, and | did not wish te
make such charges on the eve of lcav
ing the country. AS the suggestion ha:
been made that worked in concert o,
collusion with other soldiers or with
opponents OF the government in Par
Lament or in the press, l wish to ado
that | acted entirely alone and tha
the responsibility for what did i!
mine alone. Nothing was further from
my mind than to serve any partisan
or political purposes"