The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-20
PR EMIER GEORGE
ADMITS ACTION
W AS SUGGESTED
Believed Much Waste in Men and
Effort Has Resulted From
Lack of Harmony
WAR MIGHT BE OVER NOW
Claimed That With Proper Sup
port Italian Drive Would
Have Ended Struggle
WAR MIGHT BE OVER NOW

London, Feb. 20. -Premiel
Lloyd George yesterday made IL
the house Of commons his eagerly
awaited statement regarding the
recent army changes. lie said the
government was anxious to retain
the services of Sir General Will.
liam Robertson as chief Of staff
SO long as it was compatible upon
the policy decided upon in COM
mon with Great Britain s allies
The premier said the policy of
the government was based upon
the assumption that the. allies had
suffered in the past through lack
of concerted and coordinated ef-
forts. 1t had been decided to set
up a central authority to coordi-
nate the strategy of the allies.
The general principles laid down
at the recent session in Versailles
Of the supreme war council were
agreed to by all, the premier told
the house. 1t was also agreed that
there should be an inter-allied au-
thority with executive powers.
The only difference which arose
was as to it's constitution. The
first proposal at Versailles, he
continued, was that the central
authority should consist Of a coun-
Gil Of chiefs Of staff but this was
abandoned inasmuch as it was re-
garded as unavoidable.
Quotes American View
The American representatives
at the Versailles war council de-
clared with irresistible power
and logic for the plan for expan
sion of the supreme councils
power, the premier said.
The premier announced that
General Sir Henry Seymour Raw
linson had been appointed to rep
resent Great Britain or the SUI
prcme war council at Versailles.
WILSON TOOK THE LEAD
Washington, D. c., Feb. 20-Frank
admission by Premier Lloyd George
today that the convincing demand for
unified military effort under a single
directing body had come from the
United States, confirmed the impress
sion that has prevailed here since the
proposal to send the mission headed
by Colonel House to Europe first be-
came known. 1t was known unOffi-
cially at that time that President Viii
son had become convinced that the
allied cause stood in grave DANCE
unless, central body could be erected
with authority to initiate vigorous
warfare based on we'll digested plan
of strategy that covered all fronts.
The president was determined that
the United States should not waste
its strength in the war, but should,
with the co-belligerents, wage an Of.
fensive battle of the most vigorous
character. His military and navy ad.
visers had strongly urged upon him
the ACCESSIBILITY of seeking to unite
all the forces opposed to Germany in.
to q single unit of military power,
striking every blow for it's relations
to a grand scheme of campaign and
wasting no strength in minor engage
ments or disrelated offensives on the
several fronts.
THE ITALIAN DISASTER
The Italian disaster has been cited
as q striking example of what the lack
Of complete cooperation among the
allies might bring about. When the
AustroG German drive into Italy began,
the italian armies were threatening
the very heart of the whole German
military fabric. The mighty German
defenses on the western front were
threatened from the rear for Austria
was crumbling under the punishment
administered by the forces Of General
Cadorna There are officers here who
believe that the war would have been
virtually over now had ,Cadorna's
great effort been made with the full
support Of the British and French be-
hind it. Failing that, it was swept
back and the enemy given the bes
military position he had occupied
since the defeat of his drive at Paris
in 1914.
Army officers here profess com
plete Ignorance of the plan of cam
paign mapped out by the Versailles
supreme war council and upon which
Lloyd George unhesitatingly staked
the survival of his government In
boldly challenging parliament, it was
pointed out, the premier knew beyond
question that the defeat of his min
istry and the consequent withdrawal
OF Great Britain from adherence to
the full purpose Of the Versailles
council meant that no highly organ
lied allied offensive could be looked
forward to this year.
A1-AyrY~A ARYY -