The sun., 1918-05-11
LLOYD GEORGE
FIRMER IN SEAT
British Premicr's Speech Shows
Alternative Ministry Is
Not in Sight.
CURZON DEFENDS CHIEF
Asserts All Britain RcjOices in
= Strong Man ut Head Of
Government.
CURZON DEFENDS CHIEF
spcc,1i Cable nespdtch TO THE sr>.
Soovviobf 1919. 0il Vfohfs resevy "a

spcct1i Cable nesrdtch TO THE sr>.
Copyright 1913; oil vf1hb veserred
LONDON. May l0.--David Lloyd George
Is more firmly fixed in his seat as Prime
Minister as a result Of last nights
vote Of confidence by the House OF
Commons and the preceding debate
growing out OF the letter of Mator-Gen.
f. r. Maurice. who charged that the
Ministers had deceived the public as to
front.
This is the opinion generally cs.
pressed in political circles. even among
those who have been outspoken As
auth supporters. The former Premier's
speech indicated clearly that there is no
alternative Ministry in sight. and the
sober Judgment Of responsible men In
and out Of Parliament Is that the ma
,ional interests require support or the
presen, Government in Its task OF car
rying on tho war
1T would ne criminal madness to d.
vert the Prime Minister'S attention from
the direction Of the war by a public In
v,
bate. This statement correctly inter-
prets the sentiment Of the great bulk
, Of the people, except Of course that sec
ton Of the press and group OF poIit'-
! clans which seized upon the recent
changes In high posts in the army and
navy to exploit them for their own po-
liucal advantage.
: That there Is no real. soiidiacd oppo'
sition In Parliament to the Government
OF
wood, who declared In the debate he
could get no guidance from tho oppost'
ton leaders how to act. The vote Of
aga against the Asauith motion was ~
more than wss expected IN Liberal civ
Giles would be cast for the Government
The tremendous cheer that arose wher
Premier Lloyd George left the House u
also significant Of the Governments
strength and approval Of its stand.
/ Curson Lands Premier.
Lord Curzon. who Is member o
the War Cabinet, addressing the Pr!m
rose Club this afternoon. voiced TIT
prevailing newspaper and individua
sentiment on tho outcome OF the vot
IN the House Of Commons yesterda!
when he said
Twill say this. the country at I'M
moment would rather have the prcsen
Prime Minister at the helm than an
other statesman in the empire. Tina
is the view held by the Allies and IN
empire as whole. because Lloy
George typifes the ineShaustihle energ
and the unabated resolution OF the Gov
ernment to carry on the war TO sue
cessful conclusion
Defending the reforms In the nav!
and army which have been largely III
nrlru hn
ernnent, Lord Curzon said
"In war even more than in peace IN
military ought TO be subordinate to tn
civil government. on whom the sol
blame is thrown II the military effort
fail. II the government considers II
, duty to remove any important com
,nander. II Is a right and RESPONSE
: blity. The moment they allow III
military to have the upper hand in sue
, matters they are liable TO disaster.
Surprised at Suggestion.
u am astonished at the suggestio
that Generals and Admrals should L
placed in the Cabinet, a suggestion tina
!, came from the very persons VINO al
+, strong in condemnation OF the Prussia
methods Of Gen. Ludendorn and F1el
Marshal Won Hindenburg.'
w
I crs to desist from their attacks upon Il
= Government with which methods II
House OF Commons has no sympath.
. Lord Curzon declared:
/, "If our men have been protecte
: against poisonous gas abroad do not II
Z our administrators >be assaied by po
= sonous gas here If the attack ycste
= day on the Ministry had succeeded Il
= rejoicing would not have been in l<ondo
y and Paris. but the fags would be wa
e ing in Berlin.
I IF you expect us in the Ministry
= do your work as your servants, give
y your confidence: IL you expect US
e conduct the war abroad. for Gods sal
V give us peace at home. The soldi
n rightly Ia free from political CRITICS
= and should therefore not take part
e such controversies.
.It il utterly unconstitutional and +
It tai to military discipline. II great sc
dier Is free to attack the civil admin
tration. so is the subaltern or the pi
vate soldier at liberty to crticise h
superior officer. 1t is a serious al
insidiOus doctrine
There has been no announcement
to what action the War Council W
take ON Gen. Maurice's violation of mi
tary discipline. but II Is assumed that
court martial will be held and Mauri
will be charged with a breach OF mi
tary regulations in writing lett
criticising members OF the civil Cover
ment without attempting to pass on t
truth or falsity Of his allegations.
Two Intereating Points.
There are two points which /, will
| interesting to clear up--whether the {
| t!mates made by the Premier from I
figures furnished by Gen. Maurice's 4
partment as to the strength OF the arr
Of Field Marshal Ila!g were based
the number OF divisions. without ref'
ence to what has been stated to be
fact. that the infantry brigades ha
been reduced by 25 per cent: a
whether In regard to Gen Maurice's
t!mation that the prolongation OF
British line was responsible for
disastrous retreat OF March 81 OF
Fifth Army there had heen any conn
rootsnuad GeG0Sd pd00