WAR CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18035, 8 September 1920, Page 5

WAR CRISIS

GERMAN'S' RACE FOR AMIENS. VICTORY NARROWLY MISSED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. n i ■ -p. September 6. Oaptaan P. Wright", late assistant secretary to the Supreme War Council, is publishing a series of articles in Blackwood's Magazine disclosing the innermost history of the most critical days of the war. says: ' The exact distance within ' "which Germany came may be put in yards. There were 12,000 yards separating them from Amiens in 1918. When they were racing from the St. Quontin-Amiens road, with their artillery and supplies left far behind, suffering from hunger and with little strength left, they had - victory within their grasp. The Supreme War council, held at Doullens (Haig'a headquarters, between Arras and "Amiens)was not sanguine of saving the position. Marshal_ Foch outlined plans for abandoning Paris, and Earl Haig outlined plans in the event of the British armies being driven towards the coast." Captain Wright gives grett credit to Marshal Foch for humedlv organising reserves on a wooded hill 'in Compiepne He also quotes a letter written by Earl llaig on March 3 refusing to contribute British divisions towards the Allied reserves, which might have saved General Coughs army. Another letter from Earl Haig on March 24 appealed for the appointment of Generalissimo of the Allied Forces.—A. and N.Z. Cable.