BATTLE OF WORDS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

BATTLE OF WORDS.

Passchendaele Controversy Continues. LONDON, November 26. The controversy as to whether the late Earl Haig, who commanded the British Army in France, was responsible for the Passchendaele tragedy continues. / General Davidson, M.P., quotes a communication from Haig in 1917 that the mere suggestion of a cessation of attacks brought Petain begging to put in another effort at Passchendaele without delay. Mr Lloyd George, replying, Sir Henry Wilson’s diary showing that Petain, in May, 1917, opposed Ilaig’s plans. Foch, in June asked, “ Who ordered Haig to go on a duck's march towards Ostend and Zeebrugge.” Lloyd George added that Wilson was then the liaison between Foch, Petain and Haig. “ Moreover,” he says, “ when I pressed General Robertson, Chief of the General Staff to end this ghastly operation, he had not been informed that the French War Cabinet was urging a corn tinuance. Sir Frederick Maurice, who, on Armistice Day accused Lloyd Georgs of “ dastardly lying ” against Haig, says that Wilson on those dates had ceased to be a liaison, and therefore was not in a position authoritatively to give the French views. Brigadier-General Spears, formerly head of the British Mission in Paris, points out that at the conference in Paris after the failure of the Nivelle offensive, Lloyd George agreed that the Allies must wear out the Germans by incessant attacks, and limited objectives were to be exploited as far as possible. lie adds that far from disapproving of Haig’s plans at Nivelle, Petain agreed to the Belgian offensive.