The Washington herald., 1918-04-29
LLOYD George in Peril?


the fall OF LLOYD George. There is abundant evil
dence that a heavy reverse for British in the
pitched struggle on the Flanders front will force
a ministerial crisis in Great Britain The lines al
ready are drawn. The factions lining up.
The war offce-or at least that section OF the
war office represented by Sir William Robertson
and his adherents-is preparing to lay the blame
for the deficiency in power squarely on the
shoulders OF the premier. Political cowardce is
the cry; cowardice in evading the issue OF Irish
CONSUMPTION and kindred difficulties until the
my not only was at the gate, but had almost en-
tered the Threshold.
1t is lamcntablc that these old fires should
break out anew at this time, but, perhaps, IN
evitable. Whether Lloyd George and his ministry
are in any way to blame for the present parlous
position of the British armies is question to
which only time disclose the answer. Doubt
less, Irish conscription should have been met
squareLy before this time, although it is doubt
ful whether it could have been forced in normal
times without cvokng dangerous political reactions
from all parts OF the empre-and especially III
the United States, where every ant-BrltlSh and
professionally Irish and Sim Fen agitator would
have taken the opportunity to stimulate disloyal
and enemy propaganda. Certainly, looked at dis
professional Irish and Sim Fen agitator would
a peril threatening the very lfc OF the empire,
to JUSTIFY a Liberal ministry in throwing the
whole Irish question into the crucible in
times. In fact, it is doubtful whether England
would have sanctioned measure involving the
threat OF civil in Ireland, and worse unless
the vital need of additional man power was mani
fest every eye.
British spokesmen in the United States have
succinCtly told in the past few weeks the reasons
- for the deficiency in their power. One OF the
reasons should be etched in acid the mind
OF every American who has adjusted himself a
half- he HING
OF American troops abroad. 1t is that the British
dead in the constitute toll considerably
above the 100000 mark; that the crippled and
wounded run into the millions In addition Britons
are fighting the Boche in Mcsopotamia, in Paes-
tine, in SomaEand German Fast Africa, the Cam
eroons and at Saloniki-not mention the i'll
lated Galpoli expedition which purely a
British project
Whether these far-fung fronts in the hinterland
o. the war have been worth while as flank attacks
Austro- German power is a question about
which men will debate for generations to come
But there is no doubt that for the immediate pur
pose the "Westerners" have all the better OF the
argument. The "Westerners" have always been
in favor OF the concentration of British forces in
France to the exclusion OF cxtrancous fronts
Kitchener, with a reputation built upon colonial
victories, had policy OF much wider scope. He
shaped the British military program in the first
eighteen months OF the basis which now
seems foolish and fundamentally mistaken. He
planned a defense OF the empire, rather than con-
ccntratng the fight upon the vital front where
the future of civilization is to be determined
Sir William Robertson, recently dcposed as
CHIEF OF the British general staff because lie op-
posed unity OF command the Western 'front.'
10 which Lloyd George had committed himself
and which strongly urged by the American
military authorities, is a "Wcsterncr," and prac-
ticaly every British leader of note is committed
to the same policy in varying degrees.
The acid test OF Lloyd George will comc-and
also that OF Sir Douglas Haig-when British
strategy in the present offensive faces the final
German thrust ior the Channel ports. There is no
doubt that the British themselves now perceive
certain shortcomings OF their military leaders
So lar as these leaders appointces OF Lloyd
George, he will suffer from their failure if at the
end of the present chapter they be shown to have
failed
In the meantime it bchoovcs Great Britain to
hold tight" Brtons always do when the bat
tie IS thckest, and the peril is greatest and not
to weaken the hand of the present ministry at a
time when it needs every ounce OF public support
it can command