GENERAL MAURICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 16 May 1918, Page 5

GENERAL MAURICE

APPOINTED TO THE DAILY CHRONICLE. 1 STATEMENT REGARDING HIS CHARGES. . > Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, May 15. j General Maurice has accepted the po- j Ait ion of military correspondent for the i Daily Chronicle. In his first articlo j he says he o*i!y> .did his duty, not as .a , disgruntled soldier, who was turned out of his job. He was about' to take Lm j ! portant employment in France. i In his article General Maurice savs : j "I can say without vanity that I had a promising career before me. T left the Service I Jove, and therefore made a very real sacrifice—l hope not in vain. I do not intend to indulge in recriminations and any criticisms will be constructive. I appealed ,to Parliament to inquire into my' statements. My appeal failed. My case has not "been heard. I paid th e penalty of a breach j of discipline which I deeply regret I ; felt bound to commit. There is noth- j I irig- more to be said. A newspaper con j troversy upon the facts in m.v< letter i» obviously impossible. I am prepared \ to substantiate their correctness before j a tribunal appointed by Parliament. T , feel an explanation is necessary on tw*> ; of Mr Lloyd George's comments. First, regarding my presence at Versailles, when the taking over of the line "was. discussed. I accompanied the British representatives and attended the . first meeting of the Supreme War Council. .During subsequent meetings I was in the corridor outside the Council chamber. During intervals between the meetings I was engaged in work in connection with the questions under examination. Therefore my statement that I. was at Versailles -was justified. S Regarding the second point, Mr Lloyd l George asked why I made no criticisms while in office. Mr Lloyd George made his speech on 9th April. The repprt that T was at the House of Commons on that day is incorrect. It was that day the enemyi's attack in Flanders began. Between the 9th and 20th when I handed over my duties to my successor I was much occupied with my duties and waspart of the time in France. I had not leisur e for more than a. glance at Mr Lloyd George's speecli. I .departed from the War Office on leave on 20th, and than for the first time read the full report of iMr George's speech. While on leave I learned ,of Mr Bonar Law's answers to questions on. the 23rd April. I returned to London on the 29th and saw the Hansard report of 'Mr Bonar Law's answers andi : then, and not till then, I formed a dej finite opinion that Mr Bonar Law's re? j plies and Mr Lloyd George's statements ; taken together, put upon the soldiers 1 responsibility which, according to my 1 judgment ,ought to be borne "by MiniI sters. It appeared to me a matter j of urgency to correct that impression. j I wrote on the 30th to my late Chief, j,£>ir Henry Wilson pointing out the incorrectness of these statements. : I awaited a reply until 6th May and could not wait longer because • I had been warned to expect orders to go to France o n the 10th and did' not wish to make such charges on the eve o* -leaving the country." General Maurice concludes by denying suggestions of collision with other sol- | with opponents of the government- in parliament, or with, the press and says :"I have acted entirely alone. Nothing was, further from my mind than to serve any partisan political purpose."