THE WAR.
(Continued from Page 5.)
Generali
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
THE POLITICAL SENSATION,
MR. ASQUITH'S MOTION DEFEATED.
LONDON, May Sib.
Mr. Asquith, continuing his speech in
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, MONDAY, MAY 18TH, 1918.
statement, and never asked Mr. Lloyd George to correct it. General Maurice also attended a meeting of the Cabinet on the following day, but did not call attention to the fact that the statements were inaccurate. He (the Prime Minis ter) was in daily contact with General Maurice on the business of the war, and they ware constantly discussing this question of figures, because General Maurice was an authority as Director of Military Operations. (Cheers.)
Mr. Lloyd George asked whether it was not General Maurice's business to co
to come
The Prime Minister (continuing) Are those men who stopped the advance at Amiens the other day combatants? are the men under fire daily making and repairing roads, tramways and railwaye, who suffer severe casualties, combatants or non-combatants? Does anyone say they are not part of the fighting strength of the Army?
than half supported Mri first assault on the Ministry.
denar. They had never departed from Versailles Council should decide if of the Liberais them during the whole of ide negotin-- difference of opinion arose.
ites. Apparently fions. There was a meeting last year at
Mr. Lloyd George, continuing his Hon. Mr. Aubrey Boulogne between himself, Sir William speech, said the Military representatives Somerset), voted for Robertson. M. Painleve and General at Versailles examined the question and significant that out of Foch, which was summoned to discuse a the Cabinet communicated with Sir question affecting the Foreign Office at William Robertson and Field Marshal which M. Painleve raised the question of Sir Douglas Haig, urging the importance the extension of the front. He (Mr of making a very strong British case for Lloyd George) was unprepared.
presentation at Versailles. . That was the
LONDON, May oth only interference as far as
as the British In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar Cabinet was concerned. The Military Law announced that owing to the diffi-
There
THE
HOME
Mr. Lloyd George read an extract from a document from General Maurice's defore, he told Sir William Robertson that partment initialled by General Maurice's it was a matter with which he must deal, deputy : "From the statements includ. and the whole matter was handled by od it will be seen that the combatant Sir William Robertson, and he laid downresentatives at Versailles suggested a culty of the question and the Government compromise between the British and being occupied with other matters, it those principles, which were heartily Frensh views, compling with them there would be impossible to introduce the on January 1st, 1918, then on January 1st, 1017.” -
of the matter being discussed at this ought to be taken by the French to assist which would be from May 16th to May conference, Sir Douglas Haig got, the im. 11, the British were attacked, and vice 19th.
verse. This recommendation; was to be
the House of Commons in the Maurio to him specially if he thought that it strength of the British Army was greater roved by the Cabinet. In consequence commendation as regards the steps which Home Rule Bill prior to the adjournment,
debate, said that some people thought thet ho was hungrily impatient to restime office, hul he was content to let
that was 80.
was so important that he must break the King's Regulations and set an example of indiscipline to the whole Army. (Cheers.) It was General Maurice's duty to go, firstly, to the Cabinet or Minister impugned and point out the mistake and ask him to correct it, but never a syliable was said until the Prime Minister saw the letter in the newspapers.
ghat came from General Maurice's department nine days after my speech. (Loud cheers.) As regards General Maur ice's second statement dealing with the comparison between the Allied and enemy forces, I have been charged with mislead ing the public by leading the public to believe that at the time the attack occurred the Allied position on the Western Front was that we had a slight superiority in infantry, a considerable superiority in cavalry and a superiority in artillery. The whole of these figures were based on statements made by General Maurice."
the House and country judge whether If he felt it his duty to censure the Government he hoped that he would have the courage to do so unequivo. cally, but when he put down his motion he honestly thought that the Government
I have been treated unfairly," de would have accepted it.
Referring to General Maurice's letter,clared Mr. Lloyd George, amid loud Mr. Asquith said that General Maurice cheers. General Maurice never made any to the Chief of Staff, representations to must have known that he was committing
although the question was so important a serious breach of the K King's Regula
that it was now proposed that a Select tions, jeopardising the whole of his Committee must be established in order career. Presumably, General Maurice to inquire into it, and it was so impor. would not have taken that course-except tant as to justify General Maurice tram- under a grave sense of responsibility of pling on the King's Regulations and his public duty. The Government had settling an example of indiscipline to admitted that it was a case for enquiry. the whole Army He (the Prime Minis. Regarding the proposal of two Judges, ter) proposed to give the whole sources experience showed that such an enquiry of information on which he and Mr. in such circumstances would be unsatis Boner Law had made their statements factory. Buch & Tribunal would be im und invite the House to judge today. potent unless it had statutory powers......
(Cheers.) He and Mr. Bonar Law were He suggested a non-party Committe bulb znxious to give an opportunity for of five members of the House of Commons, the examination of these statements by aing outside with several others who were who could probably reach a decision, perfectly impartial tribunal, because
present to assist varions Generals; but which would be respected by the House there was a mass of very confidential in-
he was not in the Council Chamber when and the country, in two or three days, formation which any Committee would
the question was discussed. The extension be entitled to demand. They wore anxi- What was the alternative 2
of the front of General Gough's Army was never discussed in the Vorsailles Council
Mr. C. B. Stanton (Labour) interjected --Get on with the war. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. Asquith replied that if we wanted to get on with the war the first thing was to remove the misconceptions and inisunderstandings, which might be with out foundation, bat, which created doubt in everybody's mind. Ang Government
ous to place these documents at the dis posal of an impartial Committee, because they knew that when that was done there would be absolutely no doubt in the minds of the tribunal regarding the veracity of the statements made.
Mr Lloyd George proceeded As re- gards the extension of front in which the
pression that some decision was reached
discussed at Versailles on March 1st, but before that Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and General Petain met and
camo
without his consent. Consequently. Si William Robertson drew up the follow
recent ing memorandum. At the Boulogne Conference between the Prima Minister, M. Painleve, General Foch and myself the question of the extension of front was raised by the French repre- to seatative"
The Prime Minister then drew atten- tion to the following words in the memo
words in randum in view of the statement that the Government overruled Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson: The The Prime Minister continued that the reply given was that while in principle statement regarding the Divisions in we wore, of course, ready to do whatever Mesopotamia and Egypt was made to the we could have done, the matter could not Whr Cabinet in the presence of General be discussed in the absence of Sir
he Maurice, who made no correction.
Douglas Haig or during the present ope. Regarding the extension of front ration, and due regard must also be had General Maurice stated he was at to the plan of operation for next year. Versailles. That was true; but the in It was suggested that it would be best plication was that he was at that meeting. for Sir Dong) - Haig to come-to-an- He was not there. He was in a build-arrangement w..à General Pettin as to when this could be donc. So far as I (Sir William Robertson) am aware, no further formal discussion courred and the matter therefore cannot be regarded as decided. Further, I am sure the War Cabinet would not think of deciding such an important question without obtaining Sir Douglas Haig's view, and I am re- plying to him in the above sense, (Cheers.)
at all. A demand was made for further extension, but the extension in question occurred before the Council met. It had been agreed upon by Sir Douglas Haig and General Petain and was reported by Sir Douglas Haig to the Council as a
A SCOTTISH BOLSHEVIST
SENTENCED.
LONDON, May 10th. John Mclean, a Scottish teacher, who
as a Bolshevist consul, has been sen- tenced at Glasgow to five years penal servitude for sedition.
THE COTTON OUTPUT.
THE SILVER MARKET.
an agreement as regards an extension to Varissy, and Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig reported Versailles. No further ex tension of the line had occurred. That was the whole story. Field-Marshal Haig, in taking over the extension of the line, had the full approval of the
LONDON, May 8th British Cabinet. Having regard to the
The Liverpool Post anticipates a fur pressure from the Government and the ther reduction in the Lancashire cation French Military Authorities
Field-
output unless the Government can pro- Marshal Sir Douglas Huig had no vide more tonnage for cotton from the option but to make the extension. Be United States. was in our judgment absolutely right in the course he took. He naturally would have preferred not to have done it, hut the Government fully approved of his action. As a result of this action there had been a pernicious rumour, full of mischief and harm to the British Army, that we, despite the remonstrances of Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and Sir William Robertson, forced them to take a risk they ought never to have-taken. Did anyone, asked the Prime Minister, imagine that Field-Marshal Haig would have accepted a responsibility of this
LONDON, May 9th. kind for a moment t
Renter's Correspondent at the French The Prime Minister proceeded to gay Headquarters, telegraphing on the Bth that he was not sorry to have had the instant, describing the work of the French opportunity of disposing once for all of troops in the defence of Scherpenberg oIN these rumours which were circulated by April 20th, says the same German troops
LONDON, May 8th. The silver market is very quiet.
Franco-Belgian Iront,
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY]
"FRENCH FRONT.
THE GALLANT LEICESTERS.
statement of facts would be ex parte and Allies were involved, it was very difficult to fait accompli. Not a single yard of front fully approved of the communication. persons. for their own purpose, but the were engaged which captured Kemmel.
made in the absence of those who had
statements.
was taken over as the result of the Versailles Council. Although General
The Prime Minister continued: That was on 18th October, and the War Cabinet
discuss it without risk of offending their
Bir Douglas Haig immediately replied real lesson of this discussion about the The same French Division still barred the way. The French Colonel, under whose impugned the accuracy of the previous susceptibilities. That was one reason whyurice did not say so, the real pointing that it threw new light on the extension of the line was the importance orders were two battalions of British in
he was exceedingly sorry the controversy
This question was of the unity of command. The discus-fantry and some British artillery, said the British infantry, who were Leicester- was this-it was put in a question by Boulegos decision. had arisen, A Select Commitice was not
Mr. Lambert namely, whether this por first formally discussed with the War sion would never have arisen but for the shire men, fought in a way that evoked
There was lack of unity of command.
the warmest praise of himself and the the best tribunal for the investigation of
Poilus. facts when passions were aroused. Thstion of the line was not taken over by Cabinet on October 24th.
order of the War Cabinet despite the ob further pressure from the French Govern- House of Commons came to a similarjections of Sir Douglas Haig and Sirment, and Sir William Robertson gave his views regarding the line which the decision, long ago as regards election petitions. Mr. Asquith had come to that
British ought to take. This conclusion conclusion as regards Mesopotamia. A
was recorded in the minutes of the War Select Committee was then suggested,
Cabinet as follows: After hearing the which Mr. Asquith deprecated for reasons
Chief of the Imperial General Staff the following conclusions were recorded: The War Cabinet approved the suggestion of the Chief of the Imperial Staff that he
following sense.”
The Prime Minister here interjected –
Mr. Asquith urged that it was in the honour and interest of the Government, the House of Commons, the Army, the nation, the Allies and the unhampered prosecution of the war to establish a tribunal of enquiry which, from its con- stitution and power, would be able to give a prompt, decisive and authoritative judgment. He hoped regarding some of
case
these matters that there had been an
which he, Mr. Lloyd George, considered honest misunderstanding, but the clearer right. Judges were accustomed to examine the
Ministers bad for proving the facts, and could give a short sharp de accuracy of the impugned statement, thecision. Since Tuesday it had become more cogent was the argument in favour clear from the pro-Asquith Press that no of an enquiry under conditions which statement, no docision of any select tri-
William Robertson. There was not a word of truth in that suggestion. Of course, Sir Douglas Haig was not aDxious to extend his line, nor was the War Cabinet, but the pressure from the French Govern. ment and the French Army was enor mons. This pressure could not to resisted,
In several instances in the recent fight- ing the Germans were using captured. British aeroplanes or their own marked like the British. thus fccuring immunity
The Prime Minister was glad that at
In recognition of the skill and courage last we had one united Army and a Com-with which the British guns were served mander responsible for the whole and French Colonel bestowed a French War under devastating enemy fire, the same
every part of the army.
Cross on a British Major, pinning on the The Prime Minister added that it was French battery fired until every gun was decoration in the midst of a fight One not so much a question of the length of disabled and the officers and half the the line as the question of reserves massed men serving the guns killed or wounded. behind. There were two general consid erations to which he must refer. Regard ing the effect of action, such as General
the French acted unfairly. There was
it was a Bagrant breach of discipline gunning them at a hundred yards' range. considerable ferment in France last year
Mr. Asquith had admitted it. The The French Division paid a heavy toll regarding the length of line held by the
opinion that Mr. Asquith ought to do the enemy offensive against the Flemish Bill since April 20th. The Germans, have French losses had been enormous. They
The Prime Minister then resumed read-precate it Mr. Asquith's motion was a scarcely stirred except in response to had sustained the great strain of the
ing the War Cabinet's minutes "The vote of censure on the Government, which French attacks. So completely were the the battle are confident that he will not
He did not suggest for a moment that should reply to Sir Douglas Haig in the Maurice's, on the discipline of the Army, on groups of French officers and machine-
"nobody could suspect of partiality or pre-bunal in the world would be accepted. French Army compared with ours. We are supposed to have overruled the Prime Minister respectfully expressed his for its victory; but it has stopped dead
judice. (Laughter, in which Mr. Honer The Government and therefore decided Law joined.)
to give the facts to the public and let Mr. Asquith, turning to Mr. Bonar the public judge. Law, asked-Did Mr. Bonar Law, think
Proceeding to examine
Commong Was not," an unsuspected tribunal?
General
a greater proportion of their saunbood
Chief of Staff."
The Prime Minister emphasised that it
for 1918, and further, that while the eral Mairice's, which was not merely a present offensive continues it will be in breach of the King's Regulations. Cen-
possible to commence taking over more front. The general military policy for next year is now being considered and will subsequently form the subject of conferences with the Allied, Governments.
cral Maurice occupied a high position. Supposing a Regimental officer or ordinary soldier acted similarly, what would have been said?
OTHER SPEECHES.
{THROUGH REVIER'S AGEROY.]
ROS
THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN."
TURKISH REPORT,
LONDON, May 7th.
A Turkish communiqué claims that British attacks on the east of the Jordan on May 3rd failed with heavy losses.
trusted to judge on a pure issue of fact. The figures gave were taken from the withdraw men from the army for put in these circumstances the War Cabinet Sir Edward Carson said it was ridicul British cavalry were beaten and dis
I leave it there. (Cheers.)
official records of the War Office. I
which involved the Prime Minister's hon-
fear that until this policy is settled itous to ask Judges to decide a question persed. will be premature to decide finally wher, but he appealed to Mr. Asquith not The Balkans.
our, ther the British front can be extended to insist on an enquiry by a Committee. by four divisions or to e greater or less Nothing more disastrous could be contem extent than this
plated.
fighting for three years. The French had War Cabinet are of opinion that in de could not possibly continue operations if themy beaten that men who went through that a Select Committee of the House of Maurice's statements the Prime Minister in the line than any other belligerent ciding the extent to which British troops it was carried, and Mr. Asquith would try a frontal attack on Scherpenberg.
can take over the line from the fronthen be responsible for the Government said that two challenges has been made re- The French then held a front of 36 regard must be had to the necessity of (Cries of No end theers, and "Wait The Near East. garding the figures: firstly, regarding miles, but the Germans were massed much giving the reasonable opportunity for and see. Mr. Bonar Law replied that every the comparison which he (the Prime more densely against our line, which, love, rest and training during the winter member of the House of Commons was Minister) made of the British forces in moreover was much more vulnerable months, and for the plan of operations was cesential to deprecate netion like Gen- either friendly or unfriendly to the France on January 1st with January than the French. Besides the line men Government, and therefore prejudiced.
1st year last, and, secondly, regarding tigned the French Army then held a two Mr. Asquith retorted--I am very sorry his (the Prime Minister's) comparison Division front on our left in order to „to bear the Leader of the House suggest of the enemy and Allied forces on the enable as to accumulate the necessary re- that he cannot get fire Members of the West Front “I said the fighting serves with a view to an attack in House of Commons who are not so steeped strength of the Army has increased Flanders. The French pressed us to ex- in party prejudice that they cannot be General Maurice says it has diminished tend our line in order that they might poses of agriculture. Their agricultural PRIME MINISTER'E REPLY,
they are incorrect General Maurice is as output bad fallen enormously, and they Mr. Lloyd George, who was received responsible as anyone else, but they are were compelled to withdraw part of their I have made enquiry army for cultivation of the soil. There with loud cheers said that, as far as he not inaccurate, knew, the demand for a Select Committee since. I am not sure what General fore, owing to the French pressure gir to inquire into statements of Ministers Maurice exactly means. There is abso William Robertson and the Cabinet felt
The Prune Minister udded that that Brigadier General H. Page Croft was absolutely unprecedented. Outlining utely no doubt there was a very con- it was inevitable during the winter that
What was communicated to Sir Douglas Haig (Unionist P. for Christchurch) accused the position, he said that a distinguished siderable addition to the man-power of there should be some extension.
and was never departed from After the Prime Minister of bluffing the House. BRITISH RAID AND SUCCESSFUL General, who, for good or bad reasons, the Army in France at the beginning of further extension should be made was s
this came the Cambrai incident and the ceased to occupy an office be had held 1918 compared with the beginning of matter in doubt.
Italian disaster, necessitating our sending for two years, had, after he had left 1917. There was a great increase in man. Proceeding, Mr. Lloyd George ont office, challenged the statements of two power of our Army throughout the world lined the principles laid down by Sir troops from France and making it dif- Ministers during the time that General in 1918 compared with 1917; but the in-William Robertson, which the Cabinet cult for Sir Douglas Haig to carry out was in office. During the time he held crease in our man-power in France was accepted, namely: Firstly, they accepted the promise given to General Petain for the office, General Maurice had never greater than the average throughout the in principle that there must be an exten a certain extension, which was not de challenged those statements (cheers) whole area. I do not know what General sion of the British line; secondly, that large as the one that subsequently oc although he bad access to official infor- Maurice has in mind when he talks of the time and extent must be left to the carred. Then M. Clemenceau came into mation and the Ministers themselves fighting strength."
two Commanders-in-Chief; thirdly, 20 General Maurice was in office for weeks Mr. Lloyd George said General extension was possible until the offensive after the Trime Minister's speech in the Maurice must have drawn a distinction was over, fourthly, the line to be taken House, and he attended a meeting of the between combatant and non-combatant over must depend upon the role assigned Commander-in-Chief, Ultimately Cabinet in the absence of the Chief of strength. I do not accept that dis to those armies. Everyone would admit that those were sound principles-(chears) Staff the day after the speech. General tinction. Maurice never called attention to that Cries of Oh
—and the Cabinet accepted them without
Lord Hugh Cecil said Mr. Lloyd George's speech was more effective as an attack on General Maurice than ass defence of the Government, which had lost the national confidence Only the fear
THROUGH REUTER AGENCY
THE SALONIKA THEATRE
BOMBINGS.
LONDO, May 9th.
A Salonika official message states: The the night of May 6th, reached all British raided trenches near Lake Doiran bombed dugouts, blew up a
of Mr. Asquith's return kept the Goveractive killed a number of Bulgars
gment in power.
office and insisted that the British Army take over the line. We maintained that it was a matter to be discussed by the NE
Clemenceau suggested that the matter should be examined by the military re- presentatives at Versailles and that the
MOTION REJECTED.
LONDON, May 9th. The rejection of Mr. Asquith's motion by 202 votes to 106, was greeted with load and prolonged cheers
in hand-to-hand fighting Five of our aeroplanes on May 1st bombed ubora aerodrome in the Vardar valley. They destroyed a large shed and hombs felf among twelve-aeroplanes on the ground. We bombed the same aerodrome on May 7th, directly hitting a workshop. Bombs close to Rixteen aeroplanes on the Mr. Lloyd George was given 20 ground. Wo bombed Drama aerodrome.
on the morning and afternoon of May 8th ovation.
causing considerable damage. All ne The majority consisted of Ministers, bombs burst, smong seroplanes. All our most of the Unionists present, & number aeroplanes returned.