"Tactical Insanity" At Passchendale.

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1949, Page 5

"Tactical Insanity" At Passchendale.

Received Thursday,. 7 p.m. LONDON, Aprii 21. In a letter in the Daily Telegraph, Major-O-eneral Sjr T, O. Tuller, who was (t.R.O. 1 fo the British Tank Corps ip the .Battle of Passchendale, alleged that the official British war Mstorian, Brig'adier Gfeneral Sir James Edmonds, has attempted to whitewash British geiieralship in the aceaunt he gives.of Passcjhendale in the pref ace to voliune 2 pf the Britisn Offi.cia.1 War History 4ea!.ing with jnilitary OPOratiOps in Franpe and Belgium.^ He says that, according to the abstract of statistics, British artillery fired over 4,250,000 shells (ahout . 110,000 tons) on to the prpspeetive battlefield, before the infantry went forward, and that this helped to convert the ground into a xnorass "like the floating b°gs of Ireland," Major-General FuiJer deeeribes this bomhardment as "tactical insanity' ' and cojitinues: "The cratefs made by the shells grew into miniature ponds which in timo melted together into a necklace-like string of lakeg, until the gteenbeek became a wide oozing moat of mud. Into this morass— a little rain had by then fallen— -the ihitial attack was launched on Juiy 31, 1917. '.'Though unfortunately much of military. history is legend, this is no reason why the truth should be shunned and particularly since tbere are still thgusands Of men alive who can vouch for it."