BRITISH AND VERDUN.

Waikato Times, Volume 87, Issue 13275, 2 September 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRITISH AND VERDUN.

France, both the France in the trenches and the Fiance behind the lines, fully appreciates the assistance given by the British army dining the battle oi Verdun, writes Mr 11. Waincr Allen, representative of the liiitish press with the French aimy. .Morally, it was no entail encouragement to the trench troops, who have fought so long and so heroically, to know how. by an eitoit unpieu'deutcd in the history of war. the Btiti.-h Lxpeditionarv Force had swelled in numbers to the size of a sieat Continental amiy. and that they could count on the ungrudging support of their eoiiiiades and Allies. .Materially. it was an invaluable service, that the British tioops wcie able to relieve and release for other duties an entire French army that was holding one ot the most difficult sectors of the tiont. The aid given was none the less valuable for being indirect, and it is desirable, in the interests of historical truth, that certain unfounded reports should b, contradicted. lam authorised to state that the announcement reported to have been made in the Australian < ommonwealth Parliament, to the cited that a brigade of Australian heavy artillery was actually fighting at \ erdun, is incoricet. Other rumours suggesting that Biitish guns and British troops xxvie actually taking pait in the battle are equally with out foundation. 'lhe Biitish army has given far more assistance than could possibly have been eftorded by such piecemeal aid. and the liench lorce v. hi< 1; has barred the way to the Ceiinans ha.remained entiielv homogeneous. J his Kiel

is i'n 11 v appreciated in I'laine. ami an j eloquent- testimony to the achievement i f the British army is given by tiie lollow,ng document published in the ""Bulletin des Armees. which may Ije lt-sjaided as the official organ oi the Ikiicli .solilieis in the trenches: "It is a fact, and a natural fait. th..t these Englishmen, who an- deiending at their Flench conyadcs' side the c.vili-a tion and the libeity of the woild. enj«>y games and exercise, and do not lo>e the jaste for them in their cantonment o< hind the lines, and even ill the treni lies. In the face of the enemy, the Frenchman jokes and jests, as he is aiways accustomed to. The Englishman plays tootball between the lines. 1 his is a matter of temperament, and both have given their proofs oil the held of battle. Ask the irerman infantry what they think ot the warriors of Xeuve Chapellc. Loos, or St. Eloi. The successes <if the Biitish Army are sufficient evidence. "The list of these successes is a I"iig one. They are composed of daily tights

throughout twenty months ui war. of a thousand heroic and brilliant episodes, oi victories like that of Loos, and ot triumphs like those just won on the Ypres Canal at Commines and at St. F.ioi. "The blood of Biitish soldiers —soLdievs of Great Biitaiu and soldiers <.i the colonies has mingled eveiywhero xvith the blood of the French. At eveiy opportunity the British Army has pioved its friendship, and has bad only one desue—ever to do more for the common cause. "To-day. in the trenches wrested by French courage lroin the invaders. Highlanders. Australians. < anadians, and the men of England. Wales, and lieland aie on guard, preparing themselves for battles yet to come. Would it be possible to find a more eloquent pi oof oi our union and friendship, which the Germans would <ive their souls to break ? "While the English fiiends oi Fiance ate thus fulfilling the duties of their alliance, the Fieneh tioops before \ erdun are obstinately defending the common cause against the fiercest assaults of the enemy, whose desperate efforts break against their resistance. The Bi itish At my is following the struggle xvitli interest and ♦•motion. but it is not. and never has been, inactive."