SIR D. HAIG ON TRE WAR

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18357, 2 June 1917, Page 4

SIR D. HAIG ON TRE WAR

THIS YEAR'S TASK

DECISION IN THE WEST

The following fiom the London Times is the text of the statement made by Field Marshal Haig.to tho French Press, which caused a. considerable amount of comment at th», time.

'You tell me," said Sir Douglas H.dg, ''tUat you have been deeply impressed by all that you have seen in the zone of our operations. I could have wished tfiait the impression of strength which we have presented had been deeper still; fpT, even though our effort has been enormous 3 there still remains much for us to do } and so it will always be during a WtW of material like this. •

"Our chief effort*—and it has been a considerable one in England—in the past has been., and to-day \still is, to ensure that the Army in the rear shall be eqin.l in power to the Army in front.

"Already as regards the production of munitions we have cwmplete security. What we still need in larger quantity are guns and railways.

"We snail never have too many guns. These are things that cannot be created in a day, and 'they are things that wear out. Bat. I must say that, as regards tho wear-and-teax of our guns, we have had pleasant surprises. Lelb us not, however, rely on chance to help vs s and let us' go on making guns. ,

"Similiarly with regard to railways— that invaluable auxiliary of armies in the field. A few weeks ago our railway system behind the lines was notoriously inadequate. The disproportion between the tonnage landed at our bases and the carrying capacity of our railways was calculated to prejudice our operations. "At my request the managers of British railway companies came over here to see for' themselves our requirements, and £1 of them said to me: 'What d<>

you need.7 We shall give it you.' 1. got a:l I asked for and even more;. for tho companies carried -their patriotism so far as to tear up from their tracks the rails that w« needed-''

Replying to a question as to what Great Britain was doing for her Allies, Sir Douglas Haig said: —

"Yes, we are supplying our friends, especially Russia, Italy, and Rumania, with all kinds of material. This is an obligation which we 'cannot evade, for the single front of the Allies must not be weak at any point. Unity and solidify of front are our principle.

"Yet another, principle which must not be lost sight of is that the 'Western fronib is and will remain the principal front of the operations.''

In reply to a question as'to whether he believed that the decision, of the-.••■u-y.r would fall on the Western front, Sir Douglas Haig' replied:—

"I am convinced of it, and that is why we must devote all our. efforts 1 v making the Western front defensively and offensively the best,'' ,

"Do, you think." the correspondent asked, "tliat the decision can be reached by breaking the German front:"

"That is just how I conceive the decision as coming about," Sir Douglas Haig replied. "This war of trenches muat make way for a war of movement which alone will secure for us the great advantages upon which we reckon. The German front in the West will undoubted'y be broken by the Franco-British Armies.'• "And that, you think, might happen this year?'' "This year will be decisive Tn the sense that the decision of the Avar on the field of "bittt'e will be witnessed; that

is to say that we shall see the event after which Germany will appear a& beaten in the military sense 1. It is possible that the year of decision will also be the year of peace. Of course we all hope it may be so; and we shall do all we can to bring it about.

"At the same time I should like to say as frankly as possible to my own country and to its Allies: If Germany, which is a great nation—that is to say numerically—canno'b be completely beaten this year, let us not hesitate to< continue the war. For the sake of our own tranquil) ty and for the security of the world, there must be no peace without victofy, without compfete victory; for an incomplete victory, v.< lame and premature peace, would leave military Germany the possibility of preparing a terrible revenge, in the very near future. After having attacked England, you would see her back again on your frontiers^ more greedy than ever of blow! and of conquest., Let us beware of the suspicious manoeuvres of an enemy who feels that he is lost, whether he speaks of peace or whether he seeks to divide us."

In reply to« a, question as to whether Sir Douglas Haig felt that ne could count upon the British Armies to the last, the Field-Marshal replied: —

''I can rely entirely upon them. Their moral is above all suspicion. We have aJI of us witTi regard to peace a square jaw; that is to say, the invincible will to tight to the end.

"I am unquestionably in agreement with my Government, with, my country, with my troops, and with the soldiers o*' France, when I assert that the necessity to conquer and our faith in victory are one and fhe same thing."