FOCH’S TRIBUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1928, Page 3

FOCH’S TRIBUTE

PARIS, Fell. 1. In Field-Marshal Earl Haig we have lost one of the outstanding figures ol . the Great AVar. He knew the task he had to accomplish, anil lie knew how Lo make his soldiers carry it out. Haig and 1 did not have many very personal or intimate conversations. He did not speak French and I did not speak English. Our conversations, which dealt solely with questions tela--ting to the conduct of the war, were carried on through the medium ol tin interpreter. But I can give Ihe greatest tribute to bis magnificent soldierly qualities. ,Douglas Haig began to distinguish himself with the Ist British Corps on October 12, 1014. At the Battle of A’pres, as a result of the most violent attacks launched by the German troops, lie was almost compelled to retreat. Two of Ins generals were stricken down, one of them killed, the other wounded. It was then that General French, fearing that a withdrawal was inevitable, told me of his intense anxiety. I advised him token’the Ist British Corps on position at all costs, while I on my part attacked on their left and on their right. (>„ October 30 and 31 Sir Douglas Haig’s army was still holding ds ground. Every day we asked ourselves could it hold on longer.' On November H>th (and this is the amazing phenomenon) Haig’s Ist Army Corps was still holding out. It was not relieved until five days later Douglas Haig in this way saved tlie strategic point of Ypres and barred the r „ad to Boulogne. Calais, and the Channel ports to the German army. Haig in this dramatic crisis ol the v.-er showed himself a great loader possessed of indomitable energy and te-h----nical qualities of the first order. let us turn over a page ot history. AVe come to 1918. at the time uhen I met Field-Marshal Sir Douglas IL.i; every Tuesday at the Chateau do a,,,,'11,,-, w. our combined efforts. He b.u t ■neatest confidence in ».y ‘^ :ls aml the progress of the operations. A that moment Haig was fighting Ld continuously. His army was doalni,r blows of the greatest violent immtner blows which were breaking oil ,aree sections of tbe German I rout But the British commander-m-ohiel - Jtlrv value was particularly (lemon,l„“lc „t Vilbr. ‘J” head of Ins most pliant - and of Debeney’s army ht 1 ■ most glorious role m tbe 'tattle marltrf the turniiiß-P™"* '’ (