THE BRITISH FRONT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8462, 30 May 1916, Page 5

THE BRITISH FRONT.

SIR DOUGLAS HAJG'S DESPATCH

IiONDON. May 29

Sir Douglas Haig's first despatch coaoiv the. five months of operations since December 19. Ho says there has boon bo incident of historic importance, but- a steady, continuous struggle has been maintained above and below ground. There have been many sharp local actions.

The period covered by his despatch has seen the British initiation of "cut-ting-out raids," in which the British, on the whole, still hold tho initiative. Sir Douglas Haig alludes to the extension of the British front in order to release French troops for the operations in the vicinity of Vordun. [lo describes the .French evacuation on a considerable front, where they were everywhere in touch with the enemy, as a delicate operation, but one which was completely successful. lie clears up the confusion relating to tho British attack at St. Eloi (south of Ypros) on March 27. The object was to straighten the line. Fighting for the mine craters lasted for a work. The British then secured the whole of their original objective, but the wet state of the ground and an intense oncmj' bombardment prevented the consolidation of the captured positions. The Germans recaptured two mine craters. It was erroneously reported to Sir Douglas Ifaig on April 11 that tho British had gained all erasers, whereas the old craters were mistaken Eor the new. The latter were rendered untenable, and have since been abandoned. Tho British line is, roughly, the same as it was before the first attack.

"My forces." says .Sir Douglas Tt'aig, " have been considerably augmented by the arrival of new formations from Home, and tho transfer of others released from .service in. the Near East. This increase enabled us to relieve one

- ' French army at th.> time or the Verdun , battle. j " Among the newly-arrived troops are {tho Anzac^ Corps. 'With the Anzsu-s, • tho Canadians, tincl a port ion of tho Kou'J) African oversea troops, the • i y-i of the Dominions are now a valu."U-; part of t)i<> [u':pr-ri;ii Forces in l''r:ince. " Tho appearance of tho Fokkers in' December obliged the British to send ; escorts with their reconnoitring aeri- ' planes. Consequently air fights which wore previously exceptional arc now as everyday o":;iirrcncc. " There has bo(:n no serious epidemic disease. The sick rate is low. Enteric, the bane of tho armies of yore, has almost disappeared owing to the adoption of energetic preventive measures. "The Graves Registration Commission has marked ovor 00.000 British graves. The despatch concludes with a tribute to tho work of Lord I'Yonch, who starting with tlio small Expeditionary J<orce, iacod the cnciny in far superior numbers and fully prepared for this great campaign. During the long and anxious time needed for tho improvisation of the comjHirativo.lv large forc<^ now at the front. Lord "French overcan™ all difficulties. and-hoforo relinquishing his responsibilities he had the satisfaction of seeing the balance of ad-' vantage swing steadily in\our favour "