THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS REVIEWED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 91, 10 January 1918, Page 5

THE YEAR'S OPERATIONS REVIEWED

DISPATCH FROM SIR DOUGLAS HAIG

"EVERY REASON TO BE SATISFIED WITH RESULTS"

By Telegraph—Press ABSocietion-Oopyright. London, January S. The Gazette contains a, dispatch from Sir Douglas Haig, covering the operations in 1917 except the Battle of Cambrai. Sir Douglas Haig explains Iliat the conference cf the military heads of the Allies in November, 1916, arranged a plan for last year, comprising offensives on all fronts. A British offensive in April was to be preparatory to a more decisive French operation, in the latter stages of which the British wero to co-operate. But events in Russia, and the fact that tho French offensive in the Champagne met a very obstinate resistance, necessarily modified the plan. The dispatch emphasises the immense handicap upon the British in tho Battle of Arras caused by rain r.nd snow, and sa-ys that the effect of these conditions, in the matter of bringing up guns before tho euemy was able to assemble his reserves, were incalculable. Nevertheless, by May 9, twenty-three German divisions had been withdrawn. Sir Douglas Haig explains that it was in order to assist the French that tho operations at Arras were continued. This necessarily interfered greatly with the preparation for tho attack in Flanders. Speaking of the unprecedented magnitude of the subterranean warfare at Messines, Sir Douglas Haig mentions that it was lenown that tho enemy was driving a gallery under Hill 60, but by careful listening it was judged that, if our offensive lxjgan on the date'arranged , , the enemy's gallery would just fail to reach us. This proved correct. Enemy's Efforts to Prevent the Flanders Advance. The dispatch points out that the enemy did his utmost to prevent the advance in Flanders, using up no fewer than eeventy-eight divisions. Nevertheless, it was the immense natural difficulties, accentuated by abnormally wet weather, rather than the magnitude of the onemy's resistance, which prevented the complete capture of the Passehendaele Ridge. Time after time rain enforced_ lulls in the offensive, and enabled the practically beaten enemy tn reorganise and briiig uj> reinforcements behind tho sea of mud which' constituted his main'protection. S : r Douglas Haig emphasises that, owing to the necessity of talcing over an additional part of the lino from tho French, wo were very definitely handicapped in the Battle of Arras. This handicap was subsequently increased by the difficulty of obtaining adequate drafts a. sufficiently long time prior to the divisions being sent into tho battles, so as to enable the drafts to be assimilated into tho divisions, and the divisions to to trained. The Continuous Struggle Not What Was Contemplated. Tho general, continuous struggle of 1917 was very different from what was contemplated by the previously-mentioned Allied military conference. The great General and simultaneous offensive then agreed unon did not materialise. Events in Russia enabled the Germans to bring forty fresh divisions to the Western front. This, and the events in Italy, imposed a far heavier task on th<a British and French than was anticipated. However, the British armies maintained vigorous and continuous offensives from April to Novomber, except for short intervals due to tho weather or to the necessity of completing preparations. It was the longest and most successfuly sustained offensive of tho war, and yielded 59,000 prisoners, nearly '100 guns, and 3000 machine-guns. Therefore, without reckoning the possibilities which wero opened up by the gains in Flanders, and without considering its effects on the other theatres, therm was every reason to be satisfied with the icsults achieved. Tho additional strength which the pnemy had obtained, or may obtain, from thn events in Russia and Italy had already been largely discounted, and the ultimate destruction of the enemy's forces was brought appreciably nearer. In tho operations at Arras, Messines, Lens, and Ypree, 131 divisions wero defeated by less than half that number of British. Brave Deeds of the Gunners. Referring in eulogistic terms to the artillery, .Sir Douglas Haig points put that in the Battle of Ypres the batteries operated practically unprotected fnr month after month, under a continuous bombardment with gas and high explosives. "Instances could be multiplied when a signal from the infantry for ur--gent artillery support and a warning of 'gas coming' were received simultaneously. The gunners discarded their masks and obeyed the infantry's call, with the full knowledge of the consequences." Work of the Flying Corps. Regarding the Flying Corps, the Commander-in-Chief mentions that longdistance raiding has become a. recognised part of the preparations for infantry attack. The bombing by aeroplanes great distances behind tho enemy lines has been intensified. In several cases the pnemy was thus comnelled to abandon particular aerodromes. Reprisal raids on German towns have been carried out whenever the weather permitted. The dispatch emphasises, however, that the enemy shows no signs of relaxing his aerial efforts, and lays stress' on tho need for a liberal supply of machines. It also mentions that carrier pigeons havo proved extremely valuable for conveying information from units to Headquarters. Tho British are increasingly using gas, which almost every night is 'discharged along the entire front. A Tribute to the Navy. Sir Douglas Haig pays a tribute to the Navy. He says: "The debt which tho Army owes to the Navy .crows ever greater, and is deeply realised by the British armies, in France. As the result of its unceasing vigilance the enemy's hope that unrestricted submarine warfare would hamper our operations'in France and Flanders has been signally disappointed. The immense quantities of ammunition and material required by tho Army, and lnrne numbers of men, continue to reach us with unfailing regularity."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.