Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-30
SOMME VICTORY GIVES A
FRESH HOPE TO ALLIES
British Commander in Detailed Report Declares Ger
mans Were Saved From Complete Collapse Only by
Protracted Period of Unfavorable Weather

further transfer OF German troops from
tho western front. and to wear down
the strength Of the forces opposed
to US
General llais sums up the result AS
follows:
Three main objects with which We
commenced the offensive IN July had
already been achieved. ~ spite OF the
sa:t that heavy autumn rains pre-
vented full advantage being taken OF
tho Favorable situation created hy our
advance 1T Il time when we had good
ground for hoping 20 achieve yc: more
important successes. Vcrluu h,d been
relieved. the main German forces had
been held OF the western front and
the cneNuy's strength had hcen con
siderably worn down. Til" attainment
of all three affords ample conlpensa-
ti"n for the splendid efforts vi the
troops and for the sacrifices made.
They have brought us :. 'onc step
forward toward tho final victory OF
the allied cause.
MAIN ENEMY FonCEs TIED
no THE WESTERN FRONT
Information obtained. both iUr'rr
tho progress of the Son,,nc battle and
tions has fully established ;hc effect
Of our offensive in Keeping the crcnys
uain forces tied to the western
front. 1t is. therefore. justifia bic
10 conclude that tho Somme offensive
not only relieved Ferdur. but held
large forces which would otherwise
have hecn employed against our allies
, in the east
The third great object OF the allied
operations on the Sunme WAS the
wearing down Of tho cncmy's powers
Of resistance. There is sufficient
evidence 10 place beyond doub, that
the cnomy's losses in mon mnd ma
tcrial were very considerably heavier
than those OF the allies. while morally
the balance OF advantage on our side
~ Stll greater. During the period
undcr review steady deterioration
took place in The morale Of large m.m-
bcrs of the cnemy's troops Many OF
them. II is true, fought with the
greatest determination even in til.
latest encounters, but tho resistant. of
even larger numbers became latt..!y
| decidedly more feeble ,han in the carly
stages Of the battle
Aided by the great depth Of ms
defcnses and ny frequent r"iiefs. whici,
his resources Of II cuabled him -
effect. discipline and training held III.
ina chine together Sufficiently 10 enable
th, enemy to rally and reorsnnizc his
troops utter each frcah defeat. Bat
toward the end OF the operations. when
the weather unfortunately broke there
~ II" doubt that his power Of resist
ancc very steadily diminished"
RESISTANCE or ENEMY
SERIOUSLY wEkKENED
"ln mid October came The allies
great chanc" TO break through the
German lines. We had ut last writes
. General l'aiR. reached a stage where
successful attack might reasonably
he expected 90 yield much greater re-
suits than anything We had as yc- at
'a'ncd. The resistance Of the troops
opposed 10 us had seriously weakened
III tho course % recent operations. ard
there il no reason 20 suppose that the
effort required was not within our
movers. Unfortunately. AT this
iuncture Very unIavorablc weather set
in. and continued with scarcely a break
during tho remainder OF October and
The early part Of Move, nber
'pooh visibility seriously intcrfvred
with the work OF The artillery, and
constant rain turned IN. mass Of
>"''' we tiS'eh's INTO cHanlic OF
deep mud. The county roads. broken
by countless Shell craterS rapidly nc
came impossible, ma king the suppiy
u food stores and ammunition n a.-
rioms problem.
These conditions multiplied the
difficulties Of attack 10 such an tx.
tent That IL was Impossible TO exploit
!hc situation with the rapidly neccs-
SaTy 10 enable Us 20 rear 10 tn., nm
The advantage W. had gained
hcinn"N have become indispensable
weapons FOR The intantry, opened the
ro"d 10 The advancing dctachnents