FOCH ON HAIG

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 81, 30 December 1920, Page 5

FOCH ON HAIG

"Never in history did the British Army in the offensive obtain greattr results than thoso ivhioh were the outcome ot; tlfi days of continuous attack from July ■ 18 to November 11. 1918. _ It was indeed, a complete victory, obtained thanks to | iirmy commanders and other officers commanding formations, but especially was it duo to the disinterested intelligence and loyal and energetic _ action of the British Commander-in-Chief." This H Marshal Foch'e judgment on Lord Haig,. contained in a preface by him to the French oditi<m of Lord Haig s dispatcher, just published, says, the_ Paris oorre-; epondent of the "Daily Mail.' "These dispatches," Writes Marshal Foch, "are exact in the smallest detail and marked by an incontestable breadth; of vision. If occasionally thsy dofil with, facts -without.disclosing factors or con-, sequences it is because they wete written during the war and addressed to th.d British Government. They had to avoid causing alarm and also furnishing any useful information to the enemy. In holding tho enemy in the spring Of 1918, and subsequently in attacking him with a repetition of blows such asi has never been surpassed, the British High ( Command and tlio British Staff were equal to their task." ' Marshal Foch concludes by recalling the share taken by Lord Haig in securing the unity of command, and says that subsequently he was always anxious to work in complete agreement with the allied plans. "On this point," adds Foch, "thg dispatches are silent, and they do not furnish their readers with all the, reasons for our victory. To fill in those blanks is a duty I owe to truth."