CAMBRAI REVERSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 110, 26 January 1918, Page 7

CAMBRAI REVERSE

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS HIGHER COMMAND NOT TO BLAME CRITICISM OF SIR DOUGLAS HAIG London, January 24. Speaking in the House of Commons on a motion for adjournment, Major Davies said that in view of the vigorous Press campaign the Government should make a statement in regard to the Cambrai affair, in order to reassure the country. Disquieting rumours and the stories of officers from the. front were causing misapprehension in the country and in the Army. Nothing could be gained oy a policy of secrecy. They had been toH conflicting stories; that tho sector was thinly held at the timo of the surprise attack; that it was manned by entire divisions recently engaged on the Ypres front; that the Higher Command disregarded repeated warnings frem units holding the front; that I'lere had been no preparations against attacks; that French reinforcements from nearby inigli; probably have been awj'able if they had been asked for. Ms-j(.r Davies said he opposed an inquiry. The Commander-in-Cliief ilo.no was r'espciisiblo for any military disaster in Franco.

M-. J, King criticised Sir I'tuglas Haig, and. urged the appointment of a new Commander-in-Chief. y> t. Kennedy Jones remanded a clear statement that the, Government was satisfied that .Sir Doughs llfig was the best possible commnnJler. r> e staitied the House by declaring that eyeryono knew there was the gravu-G dissatisfaction with tho Coninuuder-in-('hio? after tho Somme campa'gri in l<ll6. He had not obtained hVobiretives, and had sacrificed more men than wouH be necessary to obtain success. Sir Douglas Haig's serrices were retained in the beginning of 1917 lecr.isn Cabinet was afraid his removal would lead to great newspaper opposition, oil' Douglas Haig had promised that if ht was left alone and given nen he could guarantee certain results by Octoner, 1917. Ho had not -nbtaned them. •

Mr. J. I. Macphersou, Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office, replying, said that nothing could be crueller than attacks of this sort upon h man who was probably the most distinguished general of his. time, when he had no opportunity of defending himself, and while ho was leading one of the greatest armies of the world, and coping with the greatest difficulties in the world. He unhesitatingly said that Sir Douglas Haig has never lost confidence of the Army Council or of tho .War Office.

Mr. Macpherson admitted that there was a breakdown at Cambrai. The General Staff knew on November 28 that the enemy contemplated an attack on November 30. He could not go beyond Mr. Bonar Law's statement, if Sir Douglas Haig had not initiated an inquiry. The breakdown, he continued, was not the fault of the General Staff The dispositions of the troops were good, and reinforcements were also ready and m perfect disposition. If they were not, if it wasn't for Sir Douglas Hni» what would the result have been? The War Cabinet had decided that no <y < in the Higher Command was to blanm. The reverse could not have been avoided. There was a breakdown at a particular point of tho line. There was inequality of forces at that particular part, in spite of the fact that the General Staff took all the necessary precautions. The Government d 'd not intend to publish the report. _ The motion for adjournment was car-ried.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. '