Troop numbers queried

LONDON: Majorgeneral Maurice, Director of Military Operations, Imperial General Staff, has written an astonishing letter to the Daily Chronicle accusing Messrs Lloyd George and Bonar Law of making misleading statements in the House of Commons regarding the extension of the British front in France and the number of white divisions in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Palestine. The letter has created a sensation.

The Daily Chronicle and the Morning Post support Majorgeneral Maurice’s demand for a

parliamentary inquiry. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law announced that the Government was inviting two judges to investigate Majorgeneral Maurice’s charges, while the Army Council was dealing with the matter from a disciplinary standpoint.

General Maurice’s letter stated: ‘‘Mr Lloyd George on April 9 said that, notwithstanding our heavy casualties in 1917, our army in France was considerably stronger on January 1, 1918, than in January, 1917. That implies that Sir D. Haig’s fighting strength on the eve of the great battle which began on March 21, 1918, was not diminished. This is not correct. Again, Mr Lloyd George said there was only one white infantry division in Mesopotamia and there were only three white divisions in Palestine and Egypt. This is not correct.’’

General Maurice adds: ‘‘This letter is not the result of a military conspiracy. I am as sincere a democrat as the Prime Minister, and

the last thing I desire to see is the Government in the hands of soldiers.’’