BRITISH ARMY'S PART

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 29, 10 June 1927, Page 6

BRITISH ARMY'S PART

IN GREAT WAR. Press Association—Copyright, Australian and N.Z. C'afiJe Assn. LONDON,, June 8. "I doubt if it is yet fully realised in Great Britain the immensity of the British Ar'mies' contribution to the war," said Earl Haig, when presiding at the Service League conference. Tremendous cheering broker out as Earl Haig proceeded to break his diplomatic post-war silence. He said the national tendency to belittle our achievements was often fostered by political considerations and allowed us fo ascribe our victory to various causes, as for example, "the military senilis of our allies," "our enemies' mistakes," and "the intervention of America." Anything, in fact, but the true cause, namely, the inherent fighting qualities of the British armies, and the endurance, loyalty, and discipline-, of British people throughout the world. Though the American reserves did bring the war to what, many politicians as an unexpectedly sudden end, the British Empire during the last eighteen months of the war carried* the burden victoriously almost solely on its own shouldersIt mobilised, equipped and trained the finest fighting force the world has ever seen in the greatest war of history. The direction o'f that instrument mainly rested with himself, and so far as ho was personally concerned he was prepared to leave that to the judgment of history. At present he was concerned in securing a fair measure of credit for all the ranks which composed the Empire's armies, •' Jt. was of the utmost importance for the future that the people of Great Britain and the LV>nuhions should accept a true version of sie part they played in Empire, service. . '

: This league will hove justified 'itself if it keeps alive in the hearts of its members a ust pride.in. their achievements in war time. ;<.