Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-10
B RITA s
WAR BOARD
FACES TEST
Premier Lloyd George
Opens Debate In Com
mons With Apparent Ad-
vantage Over Critics;
Scores Maurice.
ASQIJITH DENIES
DESIRE TO CENsURE

London, May 9.-Moving motion In
the house of commons this afternoon
for the appointment Of select com.
mittee to investigate the charges made
by General Maurice, former director
Of military operations at the war af1ce.
former Premier AsQuith said he
thought it was not the business Of par
lament to constantly inquire into the
conduct Of successive phases of the
war The house Of commons, he add.
ed, had more than enough OF such In
quiries already.
Mr.. Asquith denied that his motion
was designed to obtain vote Of CEN
sure of the government, saying it was
absurd to describe it as such. Should
he find it his duty to censure the gov
ernment, he saids he hoped that he
would have the courage to do so IN
direct and unequivocal form.
CHEERS FOR LLOYD GEORGE
Premier Lloyd George was cheered
loudly when he arose to speak. He
said he had been treated unfairly. 1t
was the business of General Maurice
to come to the cabinet and point out
where the ministers had made mis-
takes, he declared.
Mr.. Lloyd George said that ii the
Asquith motion should be carried Mr..
Asquith would again be responsible
for the conduct Of the war. o. s.s
TIT tas st,sngth rem h.an Of tho, the
reSfesented by the Cabinet ministers,
as charged by General Maurice. Mr..
Lloyd George asserted sthe figures
which he had given, were taken from
official records at the war office.
Since that time he had made inquiries
on this point, he added. and learned
that the figures were accurate.
DEFENDS FORMER STATEMENT
During the time General Maurice
was In office and when he had access
to information and to the ministers
themselves, Mr.. Lloyd George safd he
never challenged statements of the
ministry. y
In regard to the comparison be-,
tween the enemy and the allies forces
the premier added, he was charged
with misleading the public but all the
figures on which his statement was,
based came from General Maurice's
department.
A judicial tribunal would have been
the best for an examination Of the
facts, said Mr.. Lloyd George. 1t was
General Maurice's duty, the premier
asserted, to tell the ministers they
had erred in an important statement
of facts. He had never heard a syl-
liable OF the matter until he saw it in
the newspapers. he declared, adding
that he would ask the house to give q
judgment respecting 1t today.
INTEREST is INTENSE
The intense interest in the crisis
brought about by the letter of Major
Generol Maurice was reflected in the
morning newspapers. They gave much
prominence to the prospects of today's
events in the house of commons and
the attitude of various parties toward
the government and General Maurice
respectively. and speculated upon the
probable outcome. Editorially the pa
pers again dealt with the subject very
fully
Opinion was expressed again that il
former Premier Asquith should force
to division his motion to have a se-
lect committee investigate the charges
made against the government by Gen.
eral Maurice, the government would
obtain a majority which some COM
mentators believe will be substantial.
Continued on Page 2, Col. 2.)