The Somme

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30858, 17 September 1965, Page 10

The Somme

I Sir, —“In Flanders fields . the poppies grow, row upon , row.” Yes, and the hopes and i dreams of as many women are buried there also. Press ’ on, U Thant, in your striv- ' ings for a world where the ’ law of reason and sanity rules, and may the humble gratitude and prayers of all women be with you.—Yours, etc AMELIA JACKSON. September 14, 1965.

Sir, —In his book, “World Crisis 1914-1918,” Winston Churchill wrote of the Somme: “The extent of the catastrophe was concealed by the censorship. In five days we lost 100,000 of our best troops.” Against advice from Lloyd George and Winston Churchill the secret tanks were used on September 15, 1916, and in a manner disapproved by their organiser, General Swinton. A secret of war which, well used, would have produced a worldshaking victory in 1917 had been ruthlessly revealed to the enemy. No strategic advantage of any kind had been obtained. The military history of every country contains a record of muddles, retreats, and disasters, often claimed as glorious victories. Our liberty was not won by the military, but often in spite of them, largely by reformers, engineers, and visionaries. Liberty is far too precious Io stake on the unpredictable hazard of military adventure. —Yours etc., SETH NEWELL.

September 16, 1965. [This correspondence may now cease.—Ed., “The Press.”]