Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-11
Victory for Whole Allied Cause

| \ LMOST from the beginning Of the war,
n even before he was called to the head
OF the government, the burden of organizing
British resources Of strength for effective
participation in the great struggle has rested
on the shoulders Of David Lloyd George. In
the midst Of the confusion and palsied effort
of the Asquith ministry to reconcile conflict
ing public opinion and divergent interests
Overwhelming public sentiment with singular
unanmty and prescience, instinctively turned
TO Lloyd George for leadership In the ma
tional crisis In him alone was dscerned
those qualities of profound craftsmanship,
combined with clarity and resolution Of pur-
pose, which commanded public confidence suf-
fciently to inspire British effort to its best
in mobizng the Kingdoms resources for the
stupendous undertaking Of defeating the Ger
man menace.
But as Lloyd George planned and labored
and went among the people inspiring them
for their tasks. disgruntled partisanship,
jealous of its traditions and loss of prestige
and power, secretly and covertly intrigued
against him. 1t sought by every means 1t
could command to hamper him in his efforts
and undermine the strength of his magnificent
leadership 1t challenged the wisdom OF
every reform he instituted in the govern
ment and every change he made in Office to
improve its personnel. Lacking the support
of public opinion. always patriotic when
not misguided. it has not dared openly and
directly to attempt to dispace him from
power But in studied Misrepresentation and
imputation OF Interior motives, it has sought
by piecemeal effort to lay the foundation for
successful appeal for his overthrow.
Selling upon the charges of General
Maurice, who had been removed from the
position OF director of operations OF the Brit
ish War Office for fragrant breach of mill
tary discipline, and sought revenge by going
into public DrlQt with a statement at
George and Andrew Bonar Law had made
misstatemen:s to Parliament regarding the
British army. Mr.. Asquith moved a vote of
inquiry into the charges. The Premier
promptly accepted the implied challenge, and
announced the government would stand or
fall on the result of the motion Asquith
endeavored to wrlggle from under the plain
meaning Of his motion, but Lloyd George lie
ma7Ged that the issue in full be accepted
here and now. In his statement before
Parliament, the I'remer threw his accuser
completely on the defensive, and proved by
the records of the War Office, previously in
the keeping of Maurice, the falsity of the
latter's charge. The vote on the motion
overwhelmingly sustained the government,
amounting TO the greatest triumph in the
whole political career of Lloyd George
Not only is the result triumph over in
trigue and malign partisanship that haZarded
+ grave consequences to British effort in the
war. but 1t is victory for the whole allied
cause; for back OF the motive to accomplish
the downfall of Lloyd George was the more
sinister one of bringing about the disintegra-
ton Of supreme allied control of military
direction in the hands Of general com
mander on all fronts, and the reinstatement
OF the unthinkahle former conditions of in
dependent action dear to the traditional
pride OF British military insists.