Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-10
PREMIER GEORGE
Wins A SMASHING
VICTORY IN VOTE
Proves One of the Greatest
Triumphs of His Politi-
cal Career.
PUTS HIS ACCUSER
ON THE DEFENSIVE
Then Challenges House of Com
mons to Decide Here
and Now"
is GIVEN y GREAT OVATION
Government Backs Win-thc-War
OniciaI by n Majority
Vote OF 1877.
is GIVEN 4 GREAT OVATION

NDoN, May o. David Lloyd
George won smashing victory--onc OF
the greatest triumphs of his political
carccr-in tho House Of Commons late
to-day. striking straight from inc
shoulder tho Premier threw his ac-
cuser. General Maurice. completely on
the defensive. Then he challenged the
house TO dccidc--"hcrc and now"-to
dcrnopstratc, by vote. whether il
wanted him To continue in the pre-
micrship or preferred to have the op-
position leader. cX-Premicr AsQuith. re-
sumo the rcins OF government
He stakcd tho whole question on
Asuulth's own motion for an Inquiry
into Maurice's charges. The houses
answer was: against the motion, 2e3: (:
for the motion. i06 majority against
is7.
When. not long after the votc-takinE.
The Premier left the house, trcmcn
dous cheer went up. The winthe- war
Premier passed through the long aislcs
as in a trium phai march. His wrinklcd
face was wrapped in smile such as
had no; been seen on il since the little
WeiShman toppled from power the
forces that tried hard, but Nainly, TO
toppic him to-day. lie hcamcj and
nodded approximately TO his friends.
Not until The doors had closed behind
him did tho ovation subsidc.
1t was not eIoqucncc alone. not a
purely emotional speech. that won his
victory for him. Truth. uncontroverti-
bic facts. nuns back at his accusers,
who had charged him with want OF
Neracity, formed the boomerang that
administered the Knockout TO the plot
[, oust him.
To sum up briefly: General Maurice
had charged the Prem!cr's-and Bonar
Laws figures regarding the strength
and disposition Of the British army
had been incorrect
PREMIER DECLARES FIGURES
GIVEN WE'RE FROM RECORD
The Premier declared that these fig
urcs had been supplied him by
Maurice's own department. IN The War
Office. He proved it by reading the
Gata that served him in tho speech in
question. Moreover. he added, these
figures were correct
But supposing they had been incor-
rect, he said; II was Maurlce's business
20 come and tell him so. AS I, was.
n
piece OF "sniping" of which he was sick
and tired. and which he .mplor-d :hc
house 10 put a stop TO.
General Mauricc's second charge was
that the Premier had made a miss,ate-
iaent when he said the extension Of
ihe British front had never be-h dis
ousscd at Versailles. He himself
lMauricel had been present when /;
n tnts i,a Cd
The Premier calmly IA asse1 back the
tic Maurice. he said, was not present
in The counci, chamber and. further
more. the extension matter was never
discussed at Versailles. having been
previously agreed upon between Field
Marshal Hais and General Petain.
AS for the immediate reason for the
extension. the Premier said IT WAS un-
dertaken. not 10 the degree originally
desired by the French. but in a man =
ncr decided upon by n compromise and
then only owing to great pressure from
the French.
CHARGES MAURICE WITH
BREACH OF DISCIPLINE
The Prime Minister charged the ac-
cusng general with fragrant breach
Of discipline.
The part played in the debate by ex-
Premier Asquith manifcstly was a dis
appointment even TO his most sanguire
followers. Three points were empha
sized by the opposition leader through
y cut his speech:
/. lie wanted it understood tina,
neither he nor his colleagues had in
spired the Maurice letter or were in
any way connected with IL.
=. He was extremely anxious 10 i'm
press upon the house that his motion
for an inquiry by a select parliament
airy committee was not meant as a CEN
sure OF the government. lie asserted
If lie wished to do that he would do !,
directly, not in this round about way
3..Ie insisted on a select commit.
tee because. he pointed out, a tribuna,
Of two judges had not compulsor,
powers.
The Premier called the Asnuith pro.
posal unprecedented in history" and
seized upon it to force the whole issue
= to "a show down.
The Prime Minister'S arraignmcnt OF
Maurice was crushing:
'"rhc general said nothing to me. IIc
never told me he had made Il mistake
until 7 saw ii in the papers. His act
is one OF naErant breach Of the army
| discipline. as Mr.. Asquith himself ha.
admitted.
General Maurice was friend OF
: mine. He was in the Commons when
made the statement. Surely. before
sctting an example OF indiscipl!ne, he
ought to have come to me and say:
"'I think you should correct this.
lie didn't"
1t was at this juncture that all The
Continued on Second Pagc.)