The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1918. THE MAURICE AFFAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1918. THE MAURICE AFFAIR.

Xow that the Army Council lias decided that General Maurice be placed .forthwith on retired pay, there are phases of the incident that can propecrly he the subject of comment- The London rimes lias stated that the «-tmviction is gradually strengthening in the public r.vn;) that the issues at stake in this affair go far beyond personalities—'now fsir, ivc propose to show. Instead, of bc'.ng a personal 7:i;i 1 ir-r it. has been tl*> fi.l'iiiiiaJon of a <1 elibe ■:i J . eiv plnnnnc campaign i f ntalrnctlos. »i wh.eh the winning of ilv> war v.-p-; -aite overa'lr.do'A'i: I by t!:c o- lositioa of •■'■rtain military officers U, iaterfer< nee

by the War Cabinet in the conduct oj | tile war, although the Government is I responsible for the war and for finding the wherewithal for carrying it on. Resentment al. official meddlesomeness is understandable, but when it comes to direct opposition to a principle such as that involved in the appointment of a Generalissimo, in order to secure perfect unity" amongst the Allied forces, then opposition becomes dangerously near the definition of a revolt against constituted authority. Had the matter in dispute j merely been that of a question of the accuracy or otherwise of Mr. Lloyd George's statements, it could have been dismissed as a trivial charge not worthy of investigation in the light of the splendid services rendered by the British Premier to the Empire in its hour of supreme need. As we have already started there is a grave issue at the back of these unpatriotic attacks on the Government under cover of eminent soldier® and sailors, and, as Viscount Curzon rigihtly remarked, the moment tlhe country allowed the military administration to assume the upper hand, it would he on the path to disaster. It is necessary, in order to duly appreciate the gravity of the issue, to note some of the main factors that culminated in General Maurice's speedy relegation to the retired list. The existence of antagonism between the War Ckbinet and a section of military opinion has been known to exist for some time past, on the subject of the appointment of a Generalissimo. The War Oatrinet strongly pressed this appointment being made, but a section of the military, headed "by Sir Wm. Robertson, and including General Maurice, strongly opposed it, and for some time succeeded in blocking the project, so the weak compromise of the Versailles -War Council was agreed upon", though General Robertson would not ba any party even to that, and went so far as to resign. The disadvantages of war councils are many, though there are certain advantages connected with the collection of data and other important matters that ibear on the success of military movements, the outstanding blot being that every general is primarily concerned about his own particular sector and compromises—sometimes fatal to success, if not pregnant with disaster —are all too frequent. It was owing to the Versailles Council that the British line was extended, apparently against the judgment of the British generals. A local disaster resulted, and the initial blame, therefore, must rest with those who resisted the appointment of a Generalissimo and created the council. General Maurice was one of these opponents, and Sir Wm. Robertson's successor ((Sir Henry Wilson) replaced General Mauriofj by a soldier more m sympathy with the present policy. At once General Maurice had a grievance and it is evident he has been nursing it instead of trampling on it. ProbaJbly had the suggestion for a Generalissimo oome from tihe British Staff all would have Ibeen well, but it was intolerable to the conservative tenets of the army Ito have any interference by civilians, although the latter were specially entrusted with tie duty of carrying on and winndng the war. It is important also to'note that the same charges as those made by General Maurice had already been made by Colonel Repington, and as he was the representative of the Robert-son-Maurice party in the press the source of his information was obvious. It is only necessary to carefully weigh the various press comments in order to arrive at the conclusion that the Maurice fiasco was but an unpleasant and unsavory incident in a campaign of "Sniping down" the strong resourceful men who are revolutionising antiquated methods in face of a crisis which demands above all things, unity—among the Allies, among the high command, among the officers and men, as well as among the Government arid the people of all classes. Under the old system the Allies suffered reverses—the inevitable result of irresponsibility and compromises. We may well ask whether it is a coincidence or a natural sequence, that the appointment of a GeneraJiesimo has been followed by a remarkable recovery, under circumstances which prove satisfactorily that the new departure in General Fot'h's appointment was only just in time to avoid what might Lave ibeen a severe disaster. It is, moreover, the irony of fate that the charges in question should have been based on statements made while defending the Versailles Council. Mr. Lloyd George emerges from the painful ordeal completely vindicated, while those who have been opposing necessary changes may well feel abashed at the mischief that has resulted from their action. It is to be hoped that this is the last that will be heard of the "Sniping down" campaign.