LIGHT ON THE WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1919, Page 5

LIGHT ON THE WAR.

STORY OF A FRENCH FAILURE. VALUE OF ONE COMMAND. By Teleeraph —Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 12, 11.30 p.m. Paris, Oct. 11. M. (Painleve, in the Chamber, attributed the disastrous failure of General Nivelle's offensive in April, 1917, to the overwhelming number of German guns and also to the Germans previously finding the plan on a French officer taken prisoner. Thirty-four thousand French were killed, and 30,000 wounded in the first ten days. General Nivelle was recalled, whereupon the whole question of command arose. He eulogised M. Briand's and Mr. Lloyd George's efforts towards instituting, unity of command. M. Briand here intervened and made the sensational statement that all tiie operations for the spring of 1917 were settled at headquarters under General Neville and in pursuance of the policy of united action on a united front. All the headquarters staffs were represented, and thanks to this co-operation the Allies took the offensive and were successful everywhere. M. Briand added that the offensive in the spring was to be general with a unity of command on the French front for the duration of the operations and on the authority of the two Governments General Nivelle took command of the Franco-British armies. M. Painleve, during the debate, took pride in the appointment of Foch as chief of the general staff, and Petain tn com-mander-in-chief. They were the creators of the Army of Victory by their waiting tactics in shielding men and materials necessary for the operations of July, 1918. M. Eclair, in referring to M. Pain, leve's statement that M. Briand ootained Mr. Lloyd George's consent that General Neville should give instructions to Field Marshal Haig in the great offensive of 1917, publishes M. Briand's letter to Mr. Lloyd George compraining of a tendency on the part of Ilaig to evade instructions and question the whole offensive and plan of operations., M. Briand proposed, on behalf of the French War Committee, that President Wilson should be selected as an intermediary between General Neville and the British armies with a view to ascertaining the capacities of the latter in giving instructions in pursuance of unity of com-mand.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.