The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-10
House Vindicates Leader;
Following Charges by
Gen. Maurice.
CRITICS ASKED TO HALT
Attacks From Rear Are In.
juring Men in Field,
Minister Says.
MAN POWER INCREASED
Wisdom Dictated No Exten-
sion Of Line in France
During Offensive.
CRITICS ASKED TO HALT
MAN POWER INCREASED

LONDON, May Sine House OF Com
mons voted 2s3 to l0S to-day to sus.
tain the Lloyd George Ministry. Al.
though cx-Premier Asquith. who
moved for an investigation of tho ves
racity Of the Premier's statements re-
ssrding the conduct OF the war, said
curing the spirited debate that no had
TO intention Of making a political issue
G. the matter. Lloyd George gave no.
,ice that he had interpreted 1t as SUCH
Iie said that II the motion were car.
lied Mr.. Asquith would again be re.
sponsible for the conduct Of the war.
AS the debate was closing the Pre-
i1':r directed caustic shaft at the
;'.fmbers Of the House who have re-
r.atedly criticised the conduct Of the
var.
leg that they may come to an
end" he said. National unity and the
army are threatened. The Germans
s-e preparing the biggest blow Of the
war. and beg and implore that there
shall be an end to this sniping."
Premier ExDlains Charges.
The Premier made a full explanation
Of the charges made against him by
Major-Gen. f. B. Maurice. who is now
at the front and was formerly Direc.
tor Of Military Operations. It was In
this capacity that he sat with the Cab
inot and gained the information upon
which he based his allegations Of mis-.
representation by the Premier.
Stirred by the imminencs OF q Cabi.
let crisis. the people Of London
crowded the public -ealaeries long be:
fore the debate opened. The dIplo.
matte and peers galleries also were
thronged.
sir Edward Carson. leader Of the
Irish Cnionists. early In the debate ap-
Dealed 10 Mr. Asauith not to proceed
with his motion. Sir Edward said that
II the veracity Of tho Ministers vas not
believed In the House there was no
longer any possibility Of carrying on the
Government.
The motion was for the appointment
OF special committee Of five members
- Investigate the truth Of Gen. Maui
r'cas charges. Mr.. Asquith denied that
!. vas designed to obtain vote OF cen.
sure Of the Government. saying 1t was
absurd TO describe II as such. Should
re find IL his duty to censure the Gov
ernmert he hoped that he would have
the courage TO do so In direct and un-
,auivocal form
TIC former Premier continued with
tle statement that neither he nor his
colleagues had been concerned In the
composition or PUBLICATION OF Gen
aIaurice's letter. II. d he says. the
Government intended to state the facts
II would be anticipating the conclusions
ot any tribunal and would be only an
eN parte statement. He averred that
hH rad never yet given an adverse vote
on any proposal made by the Govern
rent. and insisted that he had en-
GHa"ored to help the Government in the
p.osetu,ion Of the war at all times.
AsguIth Disclaims Ambition.
iIr. Asquith then said that many OF
tis friends had thought nc had been
irt hearted In the matter, and that
We're we're others than his friends who
fought Of him as being devoured by i'm.
Jr'ience TO resume Office.
| am quite content to leave 3udgmen,
a. that kind to the House and to my
fellow countrymen." he said.
Tac Premier was greeted BY tre-
n,endous applause when he rose to speak
IN answer to Mr.. Asquith. He reiterated
Questioned at all IL should be by a
!adIc!aI tribunal that would dispose OF
's matter quickly and not delay the
rrosccution Of the war. Tho demand
r7ade by Mr.. AsQuith for select COM
itiee was without precedent In the
story OF the House. he said.
During Mr.. Asquith's speech Mr.. Car
-" interrupted to ask him not TO press
'He motion. A few moments later he
delivered a rhetorical question intending
to ask what would be the consequences
o: a refusal to make the proposed in.
~stigation.
What is the alternative? he asked.
Get on with the war I" shouted c. D.
Stanton. a labor leader. The interjec-
Ton was greeted with loud cheers.
Mr.. Asauith then said that the best
VaN 10 ret on with the war Was to clear
away misconceptions and misunder.
standings which might have no founda-
ton but created doubt in the public
mind.
Declares Army Larger.
with reference to the strength Of the
eFmy the Premier said:
There Is absolutely no doubt that
Were Vas very considerable addition
- the man power of the army at the
lightning OF 1918 as compared with the
inhn power at the beginning of 1917 In
france. There WAS a great increase In
The man power OF the army throughout
We world In 1918 as compared with
1'l7 But tho increase In France was
Greater than the average throughout the
Whole area.
y do not know whether Gen, Maurice
-. hat In mind when he talked about
'SI'in: strength. lie must draw dis
NA'non between the combatant and tht
o. l'eombatant. Let me say at once
mat do not accept that distinction
"h"n he talks about lighting strength
as - VINO are combat ants and who arr
''A'oomha'an,s. tCries OF "Oh, oh"
~ ho'c men who stopped the advanct
"' ule Germans at Amiens the other dal