The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-05-10
MAURICE AFFAIR
ENDEDBYVCTORY
OFLLOYD GEORGE

LONDON. May 1O.-With Premier
Lloyd Georges victory the General
Maurice AFFAIR is seemingly closed,
in so far as it affects the government,
adding another to the string Of pre-
mier's political triumph. The chief
feature outstanding is the evident
appearance for the first time during
the war OF organized opposition to
the government
Some OF the newspapers support
ing Lloyd George declare it marks
the turning point in the war re-
lations Of the parties. They think
an open political war has been de-
clared and see the whole affair as
political plot to GUST the government.
Rout for Asqulth.
They regard the vote on Herbert
Asquith's motion for the appointment
OF a parliamentary committee to in
vestigate the charges against the pre-
mier and the chancellor OF the ex-
chequer as a rout for the former pre-
mler. The same note ran through
Lloyd Georges defense Of himself and
his ministry.
The opposition press asserts that
Lloyd George evaded the issue. side
stepped an inquiry by withdrawal Of
judicial investigating board and won
a parliamentary victory by legerde-
main on the floor OF the house. The
public is greatly Interested in Amcri-
80
affair. Long quotations from the
American press are published in the
London papers.
Premier Lloyd George was chcered
loudly yesterday when he arose to
speak He said he had been treated
unfairly. II was the business OF
General Maurice to come % the cabi-
net and point out where the minis
tiers had made mistakes. he declared.
Mr.. Lloyd George said that II the
motion was carried Mr.. Asquith
would again be responsible for the
conduct fthe war The premier de-
clared such controversies as the
present one were distracting and
paralyzing.
Never Spoke to Chief.
The premier, discussing General
Maurice's action, said he had ascer-
tanned that Maurice had never made
representations to the chief Of staff
on the subject.
Yet" the premier continued, sar-
castically, this is so important that
"A select committee must be set up to
inquire into IT: so important as to
Justify General Maurice trampling on
the Kings regulations and setting
up an example OF indiscipline TO the
whole army"
Both he and Bonar Law were
anxious for an examination OF their
statements by a perfectly impartial
tribunal
With reference to tho strength Of
the army, the premier said:
There is absolutely no doubt that
there was a very considerable add |
ton TO the man power II The army at
the beginning OF 1918. a. compared !
with the man power at the beginning
Of 1917. in France There was :
great increase I'm the man power OF
The army throughout the world
IN 1918. as compared with 1917. But
the increase In France was greater
than the average throughout the .
whole area.
Fine Distinction.
Il do not know whether General /
MdNI i'e Hdu lIdi IN MIND when ne
talked about hghting strength. He
must draw a distinction between the .
rombataHt and the uuncumbataut. Let
me say at once ihaJ / do not accept +
that distinction when he talks about
hCnting strength. a To who are com /
batants and who are noncumbatants. /.
tCries Of oh, OH Are those men 4
who stopped the Advance Of the Ger
mans at AmIens the other day com .
batants. They are not. II YOU begin
To make distinctions"
Reading from document which he i
said came from General Mauricr's de .
partment nine days after the pre-
mier's speech, the sentence. Prom
the statement included ii will be seen
that the combatant strength OF the /
British army was greater on January
!. 1918, than on January 1. 1917 the
premier continued.