The Cambrai Reverse.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 December 1917, Page 3

The Cambrai Reverse.

ENGLISH PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, Dec. 11. The majority of tlie papers recognise the seriousness of the setback at cambrai. The "Daily, Graphic" says:— "No purpose can be served by pretending to gloss over the loss of practically all we so brilliantly won, so far as military value is concerned." The '' Daily Chronicle'' regards it as "the most considerable setback we have sustained on the western front in two and a-half years. We had better face it frankly. Apparently we were short of mobile troops to rush ahead in the initial advance. The impression derived from the correspondents is that our troops in a narrow salient have been since heavily and increasingly outgunned and out-manned. Practically the whole drain of Anglo-French reinforcements to Italy seems to have been a drain on Haig's reserves, for Haig has taken over a large piece of the French' front, apparently to enable-the. Kri'mOt n];Mi Hi —acncl—*tt—large army to Italy. Comprehensive policies must be adopted to restore Haig's superiority in men and guns." The "Daily News" says:— "The causes of the unprecedented winter battles on the western and Italian' fronts are twofold. The weather has given ITindenburg the opportunity and Russia has given him men. It is a question for Germany whether she can win this winter before the advenjt of the American armies. It is for the Allies a question of holding oil not merely till the Americans are in line, but till the fury of the new German offensives is spent. The decisive factor will be endurance. In Germany must ultimately fail." "The Times," reviewing the whole situation, says: — "The latest developments make a 1 prompt decision on the question of manpower most imperative. Wholly deprived of the active assistance of one ally, and compelled to help another, we and France, and especially we, must bear the chief brunt of the war." The "Times'? continues: — "We mast husband and develop our military resources to the utmost, and stand in tlie breach, that civilisation and freedom may be saved. Never has the salvation of the world depended more' upon the fortitude, iron resolution, and sacrifices of Great Britain and the British Dominions than now. The nation has already firmly answered that the cause for which so many have fought and died shall not be abandoned .or impaired, but if the national will is to be translated into action, the Government must quickly take further steps to see that its man-power will bo more wisely and prudently utilised. We have reached a stage in the war when no man or woman is justified in remaining in unessential occupations." The "Morning Post" and "Daily Mail " are more optimistic. The former says:—'' Haig deliberately abandoned the salient not because he could not have kept it, but-because the salient was too costly to hold. Our gains are threefold. We have broken the Hindenburg line, inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, and established ourselves on the" Hindenburg line. If Byng's operation be viewed in its proper perspective as a raid on a great scale, it was a brilliant success. ~ The enemy built a fortress, and we occupy it."