BRITISH FIFTH ARMY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12738, 6 September 1919, Page 9

BRITISH FIFTH ARMY.

* GENERAL GOUGH DEFENDED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. By Telegraph—Pres* Association —Copyright (Received September 6, 9.15 a.m-) LONDON, September 4. Sir A. Conan Doyle, in his latest volume of the war history, defends General Gough, commander of the Fifth Army, who was sacrificed without an inquiry regarding the forces he had to face, or the method whereby ho mitigated what might have been a crushing disaster. Many in the host position to know affirm that nothing conld militarily have been bettered and that General Gough left nothing undone. Ho was compelled to extend his front at the express wish of the French. Although roads and bridges were blown up, General Gough had no power to destroy railway bridges, and his reserves were too far to the rear. Man power was the primary weakness. The country owes a debt* of gratitude to General Gough, for had ho hesitated to withdraw Ids army it might have been isolated and destroyed, and the whole war might well have taken a sinister turn.