WEST FRONT.

Evening Star, Issue 16627, 9 January 1918, Page 4

WEST FRONT.

REVIEW OF 1917. BRITISH BADLY HANOICAPPED BY RUSSIA AND WEATHER. GENERAL ALLIED OFFENSIVE ABANDONED. LOCAL OPERATIONS SUBSTITUTED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association and Reuter. •LONDON, January 8. (Received January 9, at 11,20 ajn.) The latest issue of the 'Gazette' contains, a despatch by Sir D. Haig covering his operations for 1917, except those round Cambrai late in tho year. Tho despatch explains that a conference of the military heads of the Allies in November, 1916, arranged a plan for last year, comprising offensives on all tho fronts. The British offensive in April was to be preparatory for a more decisive subsequent French operation, in the later stages of which the British were to cooperate ; but events in Russia, and the fact that the French offensive in the Champagne met with obstinate resistance, necessarily modified this plan. Sir D. Haig emphasises the immense handicap upon the British in the battle at Arras by rain and snow. He says that the effects of the weather in the- matter of bringing up guns before the enemy were able to assemble their reserves was incalculable. Nevertheless, by May 9 23 German divisions had to be withdrawn. The despatch explains that it was in order to assist the Fronch that the operations around Arras were continued. This necessarily greatly interfered with the British preparations for an attack on the. Flanders front. Speaking of tho unprecedented magnitude of the subterranean warfare at Messines, Sir D. Haig mentions that it was known that the enemy were driving a gallery iinder Hill 60, but by careful listening it was judged that, if bur offensive began on the date arranged, the enemy's gallery would just fail to reach us. This proved correct. He points out that the enemy did their utmost to prevent our advance in Flanders, using no fewer than 78 divisions for that purpose. Nevertheless, it was tho immense natural difficulties, accentuated by abnormally wet weather, rather than the magnitude of tho enemy's resistance, which prevented onr complete capturo of the Passchendaele Ridge. Time after time rain enforced lulls, enabling a practically beaien enemy to reorganise and bring up reinforcoments behind tho sea of mud constituting tho Germans' main protection. Sir D. Haig emphasises the fact that owing to ihe necessity for taking over additional lines from the French we were very definitely handicapped in the battle of Arras. Tliis handicap was subsequently increased by the difficulty of obtaining adequate drafts a sufficiently long time prior to each division's participation in the battles to enable the drafts to be assimilated into the divisions and the divisions to be trained. Jn general the continuous struggle throughout 1917 was very different from the operations contemplated by the aforementioned allied military conference. The great general simultaneous offensive- then agreed upon did not materialise. Events in Russia enabled the Germans to bring 40 fresh divisions to the western front! This and events in Italy imposed a far heavier tax on the Anglo-French than was anticipated. However, tho British armies maintained vigorous and continuous offensives from April to November, except for short intervals due to the weather or to incomplete preparations. It was the longest and most successfully sustained offensive of the war, yielding 59,000 prisoners, nearly 4CO guns, and 3,000 machine £ uns : . .Therefore, without reckoning the possibilities which open up by tho gains in Flanders, and without considering their effects in other theatres, there is every reason, says Sir D. Haig, to be satisfied with tho results achieved. The additional strength which tho enemy have obtained, or may obtain, by reason 'of events in Russia have already been largely discounted, and tho ultimate destruction of tho enemy's forces is brought appreciably nearer. In • the operations at Arras, Mcssines, Lens, and Ypres 130 Gorman divisions wero defeated by less than half that number of British divisions.. Paying a tribute to tho artillery, Sir Douglas points out that in the battle" of Ypres our batteries operated practically unprotected for month after month until thero was a continuous -bombardment of gas and high.explosive shells. Ho says instaacc% could, bo multiplied of cases "when a signal from tho infantry for urgent artillery support and a warning that gas was coming were received simultaneously, and the gunners discarded their gas masks and obeyed the. infantry's call, with full knowledge of the consequences. Recording the work of the Flying Corps, he mentions that long-distance raiding has become a recognised part of preparations for infantry attacks. The botnbincr of aerodromes at great distances hehind the enemy lines has become intensified, and in several cases the enemy were by these means compelled to abandon particular aerodromes.. Reprisal raids on German towns wero carried out whenever tho weather permitted. Sir D. Haig emphasises, however, that the enemy show no signs of relaxing their aerial efforts, hence ho stresses tao need for a liberal supply of machines. Ho mentions that carrier pigeons have proved extremely useful in eouveyinc information from the different units to Headquarters. J . His reports show that the British are i making increasing use of gas, which is almost nightly discharged, along tho onliro j front. WASHINGTON, 'January 8. (Received January 9, at 1.50 p.m.) President Wilson, continuing his or.tline of our war aims, says that,tho Dardanelles must bo permanently opened, and tho independence of Poland secured. An association of nations must be formed for the purpose of enforcing all covenants.. America will continue the fight till a just and stable peace is assured. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL REDMOND B. NEILL. News- has been received by cable that Lieutenant-colonel R. B. Neill, third of Mr P. C. Neill, of this City, is in the list of New Year\s Honors, having been awarded, the D.S.O. . Colonel Neill had retired from the Imperial Army with the rank of captain some time before the outbreak of the war, having acquired a •sheep, station in Canterbury. On declaration of war Colonel Neill immediately offered to the War Office his .services, which'were promptly accepted, and he accompanied the first New Zealand war contingent to Samoa as adjutant. Being recalled to New Zealand, he was given the command of the 4th Pieinforcements, which he took to Egypt. He was then ordered to England to rejoin his old regiment, the Royal Irish Fusiliers, with which he had served in the Boer War and for .11 years in India. Subsequently Colonel Neill was in command of the West Yorks, and was severely wounded in action with them on the' Somme. On recovery from his wounds he was given the command of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Munsters.