WAR HISTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3951, 4 June 1929, Page 3

WAR HISTORY.

FOOTS APPOINTMENT. AN ARMY CRISIS. EARL HAIG’S DECISION. A new page of war history, dealing with that tremendous month of March, 1918, and showing why Field-Marshal Earl Haig insisted that Marshal Foeli should take command of the Allied Annies on tile Western Fjtont, was revealed recently, according to the “Daily Chronicle.” Brigadier-General John Charteris, M.P., who makes the revelation in “Field-Marshal Earl Haig,” speaks with peculiar authority. Ho was with Haig in India, at Aidershot, and was on his staff for the whole of the war, 'with the exception of the last two months. (Documents passed through his hands which are now in the official archives, and, as the author says, this biography of Haig—(though not the “authorised” one) —“can be but thq forerunner of the publication of his own letters and diary,” now under lock and key at the British Museum. What stirred Haig to his great decision during the last merciless thrust by the Germans was the plan put forward by Marshal Petain, who told the British Commander-in-Chief definitely that he had instructed General Fayolle that if the enemy continued to press his attacks on Amiens the French divisions were to fall back- south-west to cover’ Paris. “This threatened the reversal of the whole strategy of the Allied Armies throughout the war,” writes Brigadier-Gcne/ral Charteris. “For the past three years the guiding principle had heen the maintenance of union between, the French and British Armies, and ITaig - realised that the scveranlce of the two forces would give the Germans the very opportunity which they sought. It was the solitary , contingency which could now crown LudendorJf’s “gambler’s throw" with success —and success of such a nature that in all hulman probability, the whole Allied cause would he lost.” PETAIN OVERRULED. To Haig it seemed that the only way to avert disaster was to place the whole of the operations on the Western Front under a French Generalissimo. His urgent message brought Lord Milner and Sir Henry Wilson 'to his headquarters, and he pleaded that immediate steps should be taken to endow Foch with authority to overrule Petain. Next da.y took place the Doullens Conference, and Foeli was made responsible for the whole Front, and “to ensure that the French and British ilauks remained united.” There reimained the bitter lighting', the famous “Backs to the wall” order, and the hammer blows that broke the Hindenjburg line and brought the Armistice. There wdre periods in the Battle of the Somme, we are told, when many of those around Haig—and indeed Haig himself —felt that the battle might develop into the final stage. “To the end of his life,” declares Brigadier-General Charteris, “Haig' maintained that if all our commitments in outside theatres had been reduced to a minimum, and all available men, guns, and ammunition bad been concentrated on the Somme, eomplejte victory might -have been within our grasp in the last months of 1916.” FIFTH ARMY DISASTER. Brigadier-General Charteris ireveals that Haig refused to remove General Gough after the Fifth Army disaster, not blaming him for what had happened. It was only when a direct order was received from Home that lie allowed Gough to give up his command. “He jHaig) went white with anger, and far a time contemplated resignation himself ra.t;her than submit to lli«

order. Only his own conviction that he himself was essential to liis country's success, and the earnest entreaties of those around him, prev ailed upon Haig to remain at his post.” Of Ilaig the man there are curious glimpses. He was never beloved by the Army as was Haig. He could not strike the personal note. Once he tried. He said to an old soldier in the ranks, ‘And where did you start the war?” The reply: “Nowhere, sir; I didn't start, the war.” BIRTH OF HAIG’S HEIR. This story is told of the birth of Haig’s son and heir during the anxious month of March, 1918. Haig- was on a brief visit home: “When the doctor allayed his fears, bringing the good news that the son and heir lie had so much desired was born, the burner behind which Haig' concealed his emotion for once broke down. Impulsively lie embraced the doctor, kissing him 011 eaicili cheek. ‘Like a damned foreigner!’ as the doctor added, in recounting the incident.” Wjliere will Haig stand in history? Brigadier-Genejral Gharteris suims up his claims and his record before pronouncing: “He will stand 011!: alone and without rival as the greatest of the great soldiers who led the armies of their country to battle in the gigantic conflict waged in France and Belgium.”