MAURICE’S LETTER.

Taihape Daily Times, 10 May 1918, Page 5

MAURICE’S LETTER.

disciplinary proceedings. The reference made hy Mr. Bonar Law to disciplinary proceedings in connection with General Maurice’s action probably refer to paragraph 453 of the King’s Regulations, which states: —An officer or soldier is forbidden to publish in any form whatever, or communicate, either directly or indirectly, to the press, any military information or his views on any military subject, without special authority. .... He is not to prejudge questions which are under the consideration of superior military authority by the publication anonymously -or otherwise of his opinions, and he'is not to take part in public in a discussion relating to orders, Or instructions issued by his superiors. 'Any information of a professional nature which he may acquire while trav-

elling or employed on duty is to be regarded as the property of the War Department, and is not to be published in any form without the sanction of the War Department.

Major-General F. B .Maurice is the eldest son of the late General Sir F. Maurice. He was was born in 1871, and entered the Army in 1892. He served in the Tirah campaign of 18978, and in the South African war. He was on the general staff in France from 1914 to 1915. ’When, in Decernher, Sir William'Robertson was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Maurice was made Director of Military Operations. UNIONISTS AND LIBERALS SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT. COMPREHENSIVE STATEMENT TO BE MADE. . Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, May 9. The Unionist War Committee, having discussed the Maurice affair, decided to support the Government in any division. It is understood the Liberal War Committee propose to adopt the same course. The Labour Party will await the trend of events revealed by the debate. 1 It is understood Mr. Lloyd George will make a comprehensive statement, replying seriatim to all Maurice’s points. Mr. Bonar Law ''■and' Sir E. Carson will speak later. The Government has definitely abandoned'the proposal of a tribunal of two judges , MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS ACCURATE. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 9. The Daily Chronicle’s Parliamentary correspondent hears that Mr. Lloyd George will have no difficulty in proving all ministerial statements to be thoroughly accurate, not merely technically. The baffling thing is that the two- disputed statements are based upon, data supplied by the General Staff, whereof General ..Maurice was a member. MORE EFFECTIVE .PROSECUTION OF THE WAR A SUGGESTION. Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 9; Mr. Page Croft, on behalf of the National Party, propose"? an amendment to Mr. Asquith’s motion, whereby two naval and military experts be added to the War Cabinet to insure more effective prosecution of the war. NO CENSURE MOTION INTENDED Received 9.5 a.m. LONDON, May 9. Mr. Asquith denies that he had any intention of censure in his motion in regard to the Maurice accusations. MAURICE’S ALLEGATIONS DENIED, Received 9.25 a.m. LONDON, May 9. Mr. Lloyd George, replying in the House of Commons, denied General Maurice’s allegations, asserting the figures given to Parliament were those furnished by the War Office. Investigation showed the figures to be accurate. WORKERS’ FORCIBLE RESOLUTION. FRENCH OPINION. Received 11.30 a.m. ’ LONDON, May 9. The Dally Chronicle adds: ~ May be General Maurice is thinking only of bayonet strength, while Lloyd George included artillery artillery and flying corps. Certainly, there is not a shadow of doubt that Lloyd George’s statement In the month of April was absolutely correct. The British Array this year was more powerful than in the beginning of 1917. The Daily Express says the atmosphere at Westminster has changed

since Tuesday," and the prefilature , judgment modified. Lord Haldane’s appeal in the House of Lords that the >ar situation was so critical that dangerous results would follow if an unnecessary division was raised and the Government embarrassed, was impressive'. A resolution was telegrapher xo Lloyd George from a public meeting of Woolwich Arsenal workers, saying: “The Germans want you to go, pacifists want you to go, but we, the workers, don’t want you to go. Your enemies are our enemies; damn them all! God save England!” “En Echo,” Paris, says the supporters of Sir. W. Robertson refuse to for.give f; Lloyd 11 &eorf&r■ > «Mtin£ v hnity Of; Conimahd, And. hrd 1 ’ seizing every means 1 to'Overthrow him. Public op ! - in ion iff Britain' ’will judge such l in trigtiSs'severely. 1 ' ' ' ‘ r ‘. , ■ d gefietdi'had'dohe such''things ' in* Wahce t!iete ''Would have been a veritable s’candal. It is not for an officer to place his duty as a citizen before his duty as a soldier. ASQUITH'S MOTION DEFEATED. Received 11.45 a.m. LONDON, May 9. Lloyd George said if the motion was carried Mr, Asquith must again be responsible for the management of the war. Owing to French pressure the British line had been extended south of Cambrai. Before the great oftensive the armies took over a greater length of front than they had previously held, Mr. Asquith’s motion was defeated by 293 votes against and 106 for.