THE CAMBRAI BLUNDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 44, Issue 134045, 12 January 1918, Page 4

THE CAMBRAI BLUNDER.

The statement made by the London "Daily Express" concerning tho blunder at"Cambrai will deceive nobody except those who desire to be humbugged, The "Daily .Express" is obviously on a white-washing expedition, and its statements do not. coincide with previous messages forwarded from London on the subject. One of the worst blunders ever perpetrated in the history of the British arms in this war was recorded at Cambrai. The totally unreliable and inconsistent "Daily Express" admits the seriousness of the blunder by stating that the section of front where the disaster occurred was loosely held. Even it' 10,000 Germans were killed it would not justify the loss of several thousand British who were taken prisoner, a largo number of guns, and nearly all the ground which Byng had previously won. Thou again it was officially reported that Field-Marshal Haig was holding an enquiry into the Cambrai reverse, and on January ,'!rd it. was cabled from London that:—"The enquiry into tlie Cambrai. reverse has been completed, and several officers have been retired from responsible position." The "Daily Express," iv its misleading statements, does not refer to the retirement of these ofiieers from responsible positions, but draws a red herring across the scent by saying that no officers were sent home. As a matter of fact there has been such scathing comment in the responsible press of England over the Cambrai blunder that apparently the "Daily Express,'-' which has a, large military following, has been driven to desperation, and made the comment it has —comment which will cause only amusement among intelligent readers.