Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-10
CRISIS THREATENS
LLOYD GEORGE ANDs
,BRITAIN,S CABINET

\ q
| London, May 8.-As d conseq,fenc,
of the political situation brought abou'
by General Frederick Maurice's letter
Premier Lloyd George, according <
the lobby correspondent Of the Daily
Telegraph, considers 1t unavoidable tc
disclose facts which have been with
/ held up to this time for military rea
SONS. The premier, it's added, in
tends to give facts and figures when
| he speaks on the Asquith motion
ON Thursday This motion proposes
a parlam entary rather than judicial
investigation, the government having
proposed judicial inquiry.
The government has issued sum.
mons to It's supporters requesting their
attendance in the house of commons
on Thursday when "Mr. Asquith will
move a resolution which, il carried.
will be = vote Of censure Of the gov.
eminent"
"a division is absolutely certain, "
says the call.
/ According to the Press association
the proposal to refer the Maurice at.
fair to two judges may be regarded as
withdrawn. as the suggestion did not
appeal to the house and it's rejection
by Mr.. Asquith and his followers rem
dered 1t worthless.
|. On the other hand, it Is added, It is
doubtful whether any other form Of in.
quiry will be held and 1t is likely the
premier will give the house the fullest
possible information consistent with
public safety, citing figures in proof
of his statement of the relative
strength Of the army in January, 1917,
and January, 1918. AS regard other
matters involved in the statement of
General Maurice 1t is understood an
explanation perfectly consistent with
both versions WIN be made III
lMPUGNs HIGH OFFICIALS.
The Maurice letter, which was pub
lished in London newspapers yester-
day, charges Bonar Law and Pre-
mier Lloyd George with having made
misstatements in the house Of COM
mons with reference to military
matters, and says they are, the latest
in series recently made by the gov
eminent in parliament.
General Maurice recalls that Mr..
Bonar Law, while answering questions
in the house Of commons on April %,
said the extension Of the British front
in France was not dealt With By the
Versailles war council, and he asserts
that the chancellor of the exchequer's
statement IL incorrect. 90
II was at Versailles" he declares,
when the question was decided by
the council, to which it had been re-
ferred."
PREMIER. UNDER FiRa.
General Maurice then traversss Pres
mier Lloyd Georges assertion on April
9 that the British army In France was
considerably stronger on Jan. /, 1918,
than it was ID Jan. 1917, adding:
"That statement implies that Haig's
fighting strength on the even Of the
battle beginning March 81 had not
been diminished. That is not correct"
General Maurice also denied the
truth Of Premier Lloyd Georges as
sertiOn that there was only one white
division In Mes0potamia and only
three white divisions in Egypt and
Palestine.
The former director Of military OPP
erations forestalls the possible charge
that he y engaged in military conspir-
aoy, and says he has not the least de-
sire to sec the government In, the
hands of soldiers.
my reasons for taking the very
grave step OF writing this letter." he
says, "are that the statements referred
to are known by a large number OF
soldiers to be incorrect, and that this
IL breeding such dlatrust
of the government as can only end in
the splendid morale OF our
troops at time when everything pos
sible should be done to raise it.
II have therefore decided, fully