CRISIS OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1922, Page 5

CRISIS OF WAR.

CONTROVERSY RENEWED, THE ADVANCE OF 1918. STRENGTH OF THE BRITISH. By Telegraph-—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received July 26, 10.20 p.m. London, July 26. The controversy between General Sir Frederick Maurice and Mr. Lloyd George regarding the latter’s assertions at the time of the German advance in March, 1918, has been re-opened by correspondence published in the Westminster Gazette. General Maurice asserts that Mr. Lloyd George, on April 9, 1918, in the House of Commons, quoted figures of the alleged British strength in France immediately before the German offensive began. A return prepared on April 18 for the purpose of justifying Mr. Lloyd George’s statement, accidently included in the British strength in France the whole of the British strength in Italy. The mistake was pointed out to Mr. Lloyd George, who, nevertheless, quoted the incorrect figures in the House of Commons on May 9, stating the figures were from official sources, for which General Maurice was responsible. The Duke of Northumberland, then chief of the department concerned, whose letter is also published, confirms ■ General Maurice’s statement that the Prime Minister was warned by the directorate of military operations that the return was incorrect and that the Allied strength in France in March, 1918, was relatively weaker than a year previously. General Maurice demands that Mr. Lloyd George should withdraw the imputation he made in 1918, that General Maurice supplied him with incorrect figures, otherwise he will publish the correspondence. Mr. Lloyd George’s secretary replied: “Mr. Lloyd George does not think it will.bg injurious to the public interest or unjust to you if he leaves your criticism, like much more of a similar character, to the unprejudiced judgment of posterity. As regards the threat to publish, Mr. Lloyd George would refer you with courtesy to the answer made in similar circumstances by the Duke of Wellington.” Mr. Lloyd George evidently refers to Wellington’s famous remark in a certain episode: “Dear Fanny, publish and be damned.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.