GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1917, Page 3

GENERAL HAIG’S REPORT.

OPERATIONS FROM NOVEMBER.

THE BRITISH STRATEGY.

TAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION & BEUTFJt.] .

(Received This Day afc 9.50. a.m.) LONDON, June 19.

General Haig in. a despatch, coveting operations from I November 18th. to the commencement of the present

offensive affords a connected story and valuable historical record, elucidating much which was hitherto obscure and

revealing the strategic plans behind (the apparently isolated attacks and raids which wer© continued throughout the winter showing all fitting into a com prehensive systematic scheme in order to prepare a favourable situation for tli© spring advance. Owing to th© Somm© battle the enemy in the region ofAncro Valley had been forced into a pronounced salient botween Ancro and Scarpe V alleys. Therefore * a further short advane© would give command of the 'Beaumont Hamel spur. Accordingly an attack was delivered against the defences over-looking the vfllages of Pys and Grandecourt o n November 18th. Tlie object was to advance within assaulting distance of the Lo Transloy Loupart line- * Five thousand yards of .valuable positions were acquired in January, Iho weather then held up operations until th© end of January, when flic "hole spur was captured, and we advanced a thousand yards up Beaumont Valley with exceedingly light casualties, owing to th© close skilful co-operation ot infantry, artillery fire and aircraft work The possession of the, high ground opened up an extensive artillery held and Uuuthor suocesso on third anu fourth of February, gave us an important section o ftho German second line north of Ancre making tlie evacuation of Grnndeconrt inevitable. The next task was to drive the enemy from Beaueourt Valley, which began* on February 10th. CAPTURE OF SERB® . .

PROGRESS OF EVENTS

THE MARCH. OPERATION r>

AUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLK ASSOCIATION & reutkr.J

(Received This T)av at 11.25. a.m.) LONDON, Juno 19.

Genjeral Haig continues that the capture of fifteen hundred yards of trenches lying on tho southern foot of Sorre Hill made the village of Serre a pronounced enemy salient and fnrtheir progress in the Ancro Valley would make it untenable. Therefore the larger operation was begun with a view to acquiring the northern extremity of M'orval —Thiepval Ridge, which commanded the southern appmaehso to Pys, miramount and the upper Ancrc Valley. Simultaneously a smaller attack designed to capture a sunken road, north of Ancro, which controlled (the western approach to v Miramount, was made during tho night of tho 17th. February. . Assaults were delicVered, despite the alert enemy, who made the barrageThe troops assaulted with great gallanti y and we succeeded completely. We gained the desired observations and also command of eriomy artillery, position in Upper A-ncro Valley, and his defences of Pys and Miramoujyt Our subsequent bombardment, as anticipated forced the evacuation of Pvs and Miramount and February 24th On tho following day tho positions from north of G-u e do court to west Serre were captured.. Tho weather favoured the enemy retirement and a thaw broke up tho roads. The side trenches collapsed and tho acquired ground became the worst of quagmires. Contrarywise tho road behind the e n emy improved tho further in- withdrew and a secession of misty days prevented a rapid) pursuit. Consequently it is greatly to tho credit of all ranks that constant touch with the enemy was maintained. Our continuous systematic advance drove out the enemy from successive pos itions until on tho 2nd. March when wo reached the Le Transloy—Loupart line except at Irles wh'ich formed a salient- ■ , . Seven days were then devoted to to improving communication and bunging up” guns. On March 10th. Irles was captured!. Our casualties were less than our prisoners ,who were 280. The way was thus opened for attack ing Le Transloy—Loupart line which shelled so effectively on the 11th. and 12th. March that the enemy fell back |to parallel lines, whereupon Grevillers and Loupart Wood wore occupied and methodical operations begun for attacking the n es t line. Prior to this, there were indications that the Gorman withdrawal would be further extended). It had been ascertained that lie was preparing a new defensive system, known as the Hindlenburg lino running from Arras to Queant southea Awards thence west on to Cambrai to-wards St. Quentin, with various switches branching off this line were also constructing. Tho enemy's immediate concern appeared to bo escape from the salient between Arras and Le Transloy, which had become increasing difficult to bold.

A CLEAR EXPOSITION.

(Received This Day at 12.25. p.m.' ' LONDON, June 19.

General Haig continued that it was • also evident, however, the enemy con-j templated eventually evacuating the j greater salient between Arras and Aisne Valley. • . I The Despatch then deals detailedly with the operations between 14th to 19th April. On April 19th the advance reached stage whereat there was in- j creasing difficulty iu maintaining com- 1 muncations and it compelled slaokaning . the pace of the pursuit. | South of Peronne the lack of bridges which the enemy had destroyed presented formidable obstacles, while north of Peronne a wide holt of devastated ground whereover the Somme battle had been fought offered even greater difficulties for the passage of guns and transport. We were advancing therefore, over country wherein all means of communication was destroyed, against an enemy yyhos* army was still intact. a E 3

of launching a! vigorous offensive should a favourable opportunfy offer.

A strong detachment of his infantry and cahralry occupied vantage points along the line of our advance, keeping the enemy informed of our progress, and screening his own movements. His guns have already been withdrawn to a: previously prepared position. and s vcre available at any moment to cover and support a counter-stroke. While the conditions of the country we were moving in made the. progress of our artillery slow, the bulk of the enemy’s forces were known to lie holding a • formidable defensive system, wherefrom they could fall back should bis counter stroke miss -its aim.

Otherwise, as our troops moved forward they left all the prepared defences further behind. In such circumstances, caution was obvious.

Meanwhile despite enormous difficulties which the conditions of the ground and ingenuity of the enemy placed in our way, the work of preparing and constructing bridges, roads and railways was carried on with commendable rapidity.

GREAT PRAISE GIVEN

EVERY CONFIDENCE FOR FUTURE

(Received This Day at 12.25. p.inA LONDON, June 19.

The Despatch proceeds to describe from the enemy resistance increased as we neared the Hindenburg line empliassing the great costliness of many of his counter-attacks, particularly the attempts to recover Beaiimitz-Chmbrai. Speaking of the outstanding features of live months fighting from 18th November. General Ilaig says despite the unusual severity of the weather, the .winter campaign was conducted to a successful issue, under the most trying, arduous conditions.

Activity on our battle- front was maintained from the conclusion of last year’s offensive to the cojnmoncement of the present operations. The succssful accomplishment of this part of our general plan lias already enabled us to realise no considerable instalment of the fruits of the Somme battle and have gone for opening the road for their full achievement. The courage and endurance of thcitroops carried tli©ni triumphantly throughout periods of particularly trying fighting, wherein they, were subjected to maximum personal hardships and physical strain.

“I cannot speak too hghly of the qualities of all ranks and the ability wherewith the troops at Ancre were handled by General Gough and further south by General Rawlinson, in all respects, admirable.

The retreat whereto the enemy were driven by our continued success, rein-

troduced conditions -approximating open fighting wherein the cavalry were given an opportunity to perform special duties. The enemy’s withdrawal enabled him to choose his own ground for resistance and to employ every device to inflict losses.

Our - casualties, which tterp exceedingly moderate throughout the operations at Ancro, became. exceptionally light during tho retreat. Tho prospect of a general resumption of open fighting can be regarded with great confidence.