BRITAIN AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18725, 1 December 1922, Page 7

BRITAIN AND THE WAR

EAKL HAIG'S LEADERSHIP. [ CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 29. Two volumes entitled "Sir Douglas Haig," by Mr G. A. B. Dewar and Lieu-tenant-colonel John H. Boraston, have been given wide attention by the London press. ... Lieutenant-colonel Repington, m the Daily Telegraph, points out frankly the controversial character of the work. _ He pays that Mr Dewar lays about him a whip composed, of barbed wire and scorpions, and he does not let anyone off, least of all, Mr Lloyd George. Colonel Repington summarises many (juestions dealing with the j>olitical errors of war-time statesmen which the public should expert Mr Lloyd George to answer on the first possible occasion. Thus, why the War Cabinet early in 1917 accepted General Nivelle's crack-brained plan of campaign and subordinated Sir Douglas Haig to General NiveUe. Is it a fact that the French prediction of the German attack in March, 1918, was wrong as to place, date, and time? On the other hand, wa-s British Headquarters correct? Did the War'Cabinet send Sir Douglas Haig a warning and discouraging telegram in August, 1918, after he (and not Marshal Foch) had .planned- the final offensive in which the Australasian troops figured in the Soninie area, and which Marshal von Ludendorff admitted was Germany's day ' of doom ? Were Sir Douglas Haig's references to a shortage of men deleted from the despatches, even • after the war, in ! order to shield the War Cabinet from j criticism? j Colonel Repington likewise controverts ! Colonel Boraston's vigorous attacks on the l French command, because the French "at I no. time were able to make good the full j responsibility which they assumed during '< the German offensive of March,' 1918." Mr Sidebothnm, in the .Daily Chronicle, says that Mr Dewar points out that the "actual plans of the final victories of the war were not Marshal Foch's,' but were of British / origin. After the victory on August 8 Marshal Foch wanted Sir Douglas Haig to attack Roye, but the latter insisted on attacking further north-, and the brilliant Jfritfsh victory at Bapaiime followed. Trie-re were other instances in which the British were right and the French wrong. Is is useful, says Mr Sidebotham, to have some corrective of the disparagement of the British Army, of which many French writers are guiltv; 'hut it is not right to correct it by running down the work of the French. Mr Sidebotham also justifies the War Cabinet's telegram' to Sir Douglas Haig declaring that) the victories betweenAueust and November were' almost as costly as the defeats between March and June, 1918.—A. and N;Z. Cable.