WHY HAIG WAITED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10110, 18 October 1917, Page 6

WHY HAIG WAITED.

JUSTIFIED BY RESULTS; HOLDS KEY TO SITUATION. LONDON, Oct, 3. General Maurice (Director of Military Operations on the "General Staff), reviewing the military 'situation,' says: "The, - pause in Iho v?Hgfcbfh. operaijofr.; winch has just been biolcon was due.to rain and mud in August* roriclerinff'the bringing up of guns a most formidable task.' On trio' contrary, they afforded-the-enemy time to reinforce ids artillery, and. infuijlry, which necessitated more deliberate pfeji'ifatfon'S for- the resumption of tho offensive. Tho results atnplv justified »3r Douglas rlaig'"The present operations are part of tho battjo,which was--'begun on July 31, for possession of-the ridge front'tho '.Monin road to which is tho'key to the situation. ])<\-pite counterattacks more despbnl'te than ever, we have'never-gained our wholo objectives so completely as wo have in the Inst' two- fights. "Owing to the German plan to lightly hold-tho front lino, rqlying on pillboxes and densely-formed-' counfer-ii't tacks,' there has been no slaughter of Germans comparable with that of September 20 since' the first battle of- Ypres. "Tho most important aspect of the future is tliis terrible wastage of German reserves. When we have seemed the plafcsatt we shall have, achieved a definite victory, because there io nothing but plains bdyond. Moreover,'from the plateau guns can dominate the coast. ..-'■'' "Since July 31 the Germans have, employed 75 per cent more divisions than ourselves. "As regards the Italian front, whence General Maurice has just returhed, he, says': "We must, not expect an early dramatic success, but the situation frh'es groat promise for tho future. The passage of Isonzo >vas one of the greatest;'feats of'the whole war."

ANZA'CS ATTACK LAST RIDGE.

M, Tudesq writes in the Petit Parisian: "Pasjchbii'datrle riflgb is the height vo. mairiirfg in the hands of the ihyad.or. The A'rizac.H ha'vb already curry it, Without, u doubt they will ttiafc'e.'thb German:; fall back arid their rotreat will load thein further from Mriiin. What a crushing chock ! No doubt the- enbmy will stubbornly resist, but." tlio English, occupy oommandhnr lioig'hl's- aridi will win further successes." Af. Tudesq applauds tlio dash of the Anzncr.. ]fo says that 'the whole British operation was a crushing blow and a masterpiece 'oi precision. The French prc3l continue to eulogise tho

British and feature the performances of the Australians. Tho correspondent of Lo ] Matin, referring to tho Australians, says. that a wounded man jumped from a stretch- j or, threw up Ins hat, and with blood trick-' ling down his face, danced wildly with joy.Another, blinded by a grenadb, continued i to fight, despite his suu'oring. and the night of pain that closed over him still kept him; in a dream of glory, lie proudly declared:"I am pleased today. 1 havo finished' my ]>b." j PALLOR OF THE BADLY FED. "Tho ghastly pallor of the German prisoner appears to indicate that tho shortage of rations'is having it-; effect on the German army. Tho demeanor of practically all the officers who have been taken prisoner I strikingly illustrates the strange spirit of the enemy. Their attitude i:: that of men' who have lost, all confidence in tho future. "As usual, the prisoners belonging_ to different anus indulge in mutual recrimina-.i .lions-, while all unite in defending tho work J .of the Gorman airmen."