WAR SECRETS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1923, Page 2

WAR SECRETS

SIR AY. ROBERTSON'S "f DISCLOSURE. J LONDON. Jail 16. Sir AY. Robertson. Chief of the Imperial General Staff. 1915 to 191 S. in a speech on AVur History at the Author’s Club last night, quoted incidents from "Sir Douglas Haig’s Command.” recently published, which if they had not appeared there he said, might have appeared nowhere. One incident showed that the Governin.mi. ell the eve of Sir Douglas Haig’s attack on tlm Hmdenburg line, sent a coiniiiuiiicaticn saying the Cabinet, would lie very anxious if be suffered many casualties, practically plating, said Sir William, "AYe think you will lost and if you do you'll have to take the consequence's.” “As a mean and cruel act I don’t think'that incident lias any parallel in our history or in the history of any other country. “In the Calais Conference in February. 1917. Sir Douglas Haig and 1. with British Ministers, met the French Ministers and soldiers in Northern France. AYe finished, and General Nice lie was asked if lie had any question to raise. He pulled out proposals for placing the British army under his command. Next morning I said to him, ‘General, I don’t understand why you put these very important proposals before the Ministers last night without having said anything to me before.’ “ ‘Did von not know about it I"' ho asked. I'said ‘No.’” General Nivelle said the matter had been before tho two Governments for some days, aud he had been told to put it before the meeting, and assumed Sir ANilliam Dad been told about it.