Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 2

Tirrc “tremendous cheering” that went up when Lord Haig “proceeded to break his diplomatic post-war .silence” at the conference of the Empire Service League will have echoes in other parts of the Empire, says a North Island paper Many Britons, like Lord Haig himself, resent the undervaluation of the British Army’s contribution to victory in the Great AVar, and in the British Army we include the troops from overseas. Lord Haig is a very reserved man. Like Lord Asquith. lie can keep silent under or fuel.sin, and hitherto lie has said nothing directly in answer to disparagements of his handling of the army in France and Flanders. In one respect at least his reserve is a fault. Had lie been less reserved be might have made a stronger appeal to. the imagination of the army and the Empire. As it is, though lie i.s respected and admired, ho remains rather a shadowy personage. His concern now, however, ie not his own reputation, but tlio credit of the army He~commanded. “Bur national tendency to belittle our achievements is often fostered by political considerations,’’ be said to the Service League, and he went on to eulogise the work of the British Army in the war, and to appeal to the League (<» help to spread the truth” about Britain's share in victory. What exactly fxird Haig meant when he referred lo “political considerations’’ can only ho surmised. In the war ho had a good deal of experience of political interference. His joint plans with the French for 1917 were set aside; he was left weak to face the German onslaught of 1918, and he entered liis own last magnificent offensive with a warning from his Government that he attacked at his own risk. Statesmen expected the war to last till 1919, and that it was over in 1918 was

largely the result of that prolonged and irresistible British offensive. Lord Haig may also have Air Churchill in mind. Mr Churchll is still a convinced “Easterner”,! and regards the .policy of attrition in t-Tte West as wrong. Our own losses, lie says, were far higher than the German. But just as ATr Churchill’s views on Jutland have been promptly challenged, so his casualty figures in favour of the Germans have been seriously questioned.