THE GERMAN ONRUSH

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 4

THE GERMAN ONRUSH

GENERAL MAURICE’S CHARGES.

PRIME MINISTER NOT DISTURBED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, July 26. The controversy between Major-general-Sir Frederick Maurice and .Air _ Lloyd George regarding the latter’s assertions at the time of the German,,advance in March, raid, has been reopened by correspondence published in the ‘Westminster Gazette.’ General Maurice asserts that Mr Lloyd George on April 9, 1918, in the Hamse of Commons quoted! figures of the alleged British strength in Franco immediately before the German offensive began. A return prepared on April 18 for the> purpose of justifying Mr Lloyd George’s statement accidentally included in the British strength in Franco the whole of tho British strength in Italy, Tho mistake was pointed out to Mr Lloyd George, who nevertheless quoted the incorrect figures in the Commons on May 9, stating that tho figures I were supplied from official sources, for which General Maurice was responsible. Tho Dulse of Northumberland, who was chief at that time of the department concerned, and whose letter was also published, confirms General Maurice’s statement that the Prime Minister was warned by the Directorate of Military Operatic,ns ■that the return was incorrect, and that-the Allied strength in France in March, 1918, was relatively weaker than a year previously. General Maurice dtemandls that Mr Lloyd® George withdraw tho imputation he made in 1918 that ho (General I Maurice) supplied him with incorrect figures; otherwise he will publish the correspondence. Mr Lloyd George's secretary replied: “ Mr Lloyd George does not thank it will bo injurious to the public interest or unI just to you if he leaves your criticism, like .much more ,of a similar character, to the unprejudiced judgmeht of posterity. As regards the threat to publish the correspondence, 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 1 .” —A. and N.Z. Cable.