LATE EARL HAIG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21961, 19 November 1934, Page 10

LATE EARL HAIG

CONDUCT OF THE WAR SOULIER'S SEVERE ATTACK LONDON, Nov. 12 "A phenomenally unimaginative military monk, wra,pped in freezing war ritual —a metallic myth who drove 400,0C0 men to agony and doom." Addressing the Empire Crnsaders, Major-General C. G. Fuller, who had a command in France, made this startling indictment against the late Earl Haig, who was the British Commander-in-Chief.

"Instinctively Earl Haig disliked tanks because they were modern weapons," said Major-General Fuller. "He definitely was not a modern soldier. He would have been a good general in the days of Wellington. "When Haig rose to the supreme command he could only do what he firmly believed in. All his faith was pinned to cavalry. He considered that all actions should be woven around the cavalry as thß decisive arm. A battle without cavaliry in pursuit was not a battle.

"Passchendaele was the most terrible war experience in British history. Haig had not realised that Flanders was a defensive and not an offensive area. Though he fought there in 1914 he had not learned that mud was Britain's greatest ally in repelling the German advance. It should surely have been obvious that if we attacked in 1917 the mud would change sides." Simultaneously with Major-General Fuller's address Major-General SollyFlooci issued a statement refuting attacks on Earl Haig. He claimed that the diplomatic and not the tactical situation rendered the Passchendaele offensive necessary, and that Marshal Petain supported the plan.'

LLOYD GEORGE PRAISED PREDICTION OF WAR WARNING TO BRITAIN LONDON, Nov. 12 Britain owes Mr. Lloyd George a double debt of gratitude, says the Daily Mail. In the first place, he has issued a warning that war is very near, and that the most strenuous efforts and the wisest counsels are needed to avert a European conflict. In tho second place he has told the nation the full story of Passchendaele, in which the British command came so near to destroying the British Army's heart.

COMMENT ON GERMANS SIR lAN HAMILTON "TIGER SHOOTING" IN EUROPE LONDON, Nov. 12 "I am perfectly sure that if any tiger shooting is indulged in in Europe I would rather go shooting with Germans than with any of the others," said Sir lan Hamilton, addressing the Publicity Club at Glasgow. Sir lan explained that a few days ago he would not have referred to war, but he had received a mysterious message, alleged to be from'the late President Hindenburg, which a former British officer said was given him at a seance. Sir lan read the message, in which Hindenburg appealed for peace. "I do not care two hoots how the Germans govern themselves/' said Sir lan, "but, speaking purely Irom a professional point of view, I say that, while nobody wants to shoot any more tigers, if they have got to be shot let us be on the side or those who can hold a gun steady and shoot straight."