New-York tribune., 1918-02-21
But General Maurice Doubt.
if Teutons Would Keen
Promise
British Fumes Excel
Enemy Ask Change in War.
fare Only After Being Hope
lessly Outclassed

LONDON, Feb. 20.-Major General
Frederick B. Maurice, chief director of
military operations at the British W.,
Office, said to-day there had been M
developments on the West front dur;no
the past fortnight to indicate tbs, .ho
German offensive was near. One of tbo
most satisfactory features of the wort
OF the two weeks in the West had beo,
the continued British successes in ,ho
air, which had great Importance as thu
preliminary to any battle. General
Maurice added that the British air
prcdomnancc hamperod the enemy
tremendously in gainiag information
which was required by him before tba
commencement of any important ba.+la
with regard to Palestine. General
Maurice said the DEVELOPMENTS Of ~
past. week offered a promising field for
further development. vi
General Allenby,' he added "ha,
advanced IN the direction of Jer;cbo
and now stands on the last main rid.s
GHerIooklng the valley of the Riysr
Since January /. General Maur;c.
9i"' vi. HetinahS nave carried out five
AR ralds on England. OF which t,ro
we're aoortlve During the same ns-
ROD the British carried out tb;r+eer
[alas INTO Germany. all of which had
definite results. -'v
Discussing the efforts Of the Ger]
mans TO have the Geneva Conven+;o,
arrange for a discontinuance Of ~
use Of poisonous gas. General Naur;ne
asserted that the Entente would he
glad to give up this gas if It we're pos
slble TO get any guarantee that Ger
many would be bound by any promise
or agreement to do likewise.
Germans First to Use Gas
General Maurice. speaking OF the use
OF poisonous gases. said:
II he Germans have recently been OK.
ercising great pressure on the Geneva
Hed Cross to put out protest against
the use OF poison gas. The Allies are
ready at any time to give I'D the uss s
OF poison gas. But | ask you to remen-
Der the circumstances under which
poison gas was introduced into warfare
at was in April, 1915. that the Ger
mans made q surprise attack on the
Franco British at Ypres with gas. which
hitherto was a prohibited weapon in
war. Naturally, we had no defence
ready against 1t. The French had to
retire. and a Canadian division ,nly'
saved fpres by desperately costly fgett-,
ing.
"Afterward the Germans repeated
their gas attack at various times. butt
our defensive measures were rapidly'
developed, and these attacks were less
effective.
Excelled Teuton Casing
Meanwhile We began to develop the
use OF gas on our side as counter
measure. Our chemists got TO work
and did so we'll that to-day we have
attained distinct superiority over the
Germans both in the deadliness of our
gas on the offensive and in its eaec
tuainess in our defensive measures. Il
vas rot until we won this superiort
that they started propaganda. for he
dIscontinuance o. gas.
You know the Allies position with
respect TO German agreements and
promises. If we agree 10 abstain from
the use OF gas have we any guarantee
can we have any guarantee, upon which
the commanders who are responsible
for the lives Of their men could rsy
that Germany will not again try TO
spring a surprise on US az she did in
1852