Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-30
GEN. HA|G CLAIMS
SOMME A VICTORY
Insists Three Great Objects of
Allied Offensive Were
Achieved.
CUT SHORT BY WEATHER
CUT SHORT BY WEATHER

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, December 30-The battle of
the Somme is pictured as sweeping
triumph for entente allied arms in a
detailed report by Gen. Sir Douglas
Haig, which covers operations from
July 1 to November is. Gen. Haig
terms the battle a triumph in which
the German western armies We're only
saved from complete collapse and de-
cisive defeat by a protracted period OF
unfavorable weather that prevented the
Anglo-French forces from taking full
advantage of their successful advance
He declares that, nevertheless, it was
a triumph which proved beyond doubt
the ability of the allies to overthrow
Germany when the time comes" The
British commander shows himself a
firm believer in the doctrine that the
entente allies can win the war on the
western front.
Enemy's Power Not Broken.
Il desire to add a few words as to
future prospects" he says at the close
of the dispatch. which covers sixteen
closely printed pages. The enemy
power has not yet been broken nor is
it yet possible to form an estimate of
the time the war may last before the
objects for which the allies are fighting
have been attained, but the Somme bat
tile has placed beyond doubt the ability
Of the allies to gain those objects.
The German army is the mainstay of
the central powers and full half of
That army, despite all advantages OF
the defensive and supported by the
strongest Notifications. suffered de-
feat on the Somme this year. Neither
victors nor vanquished will forget this
and. although bad weather has given
the enemy respite, there are I'M
doubtedly many thousands in his ranks
who will begin the new campaign with
little confidence in their ability to re-
sist our assaults or overcome our de-
Tense.
Our new armies entered battle with
a determination to win and confidence
in their power to do so. They have
proved to themselves, to the enemy and
to the world that this confidence is
justified"
Decision for Somme Battle.
The opening of the dispatch outlines
the origin of the entente allies deci-
sion to begin the Somme operations.
The principle of an offensive cam
paign during the summer of 1916 had
already been decided on by all the al
lies" says the report Various possi-
BILE alternatives on the western front
had been studied and discussed by Gen.
Joffre and myself and we were in com
plete agreement as to the front 20 be
attacked by the combined French and
British armies. Preparation for the
offensive had made considerable prog
ress. but the day was dependent on
many doubtful factors.
Subject to the necessity of COM
menclng operations before the summer
was TOO far advanced and with due re-
safd 10 the general situation, l desire d
10 postpone my attack as long as nos
slble. The British armies were grow
ing IN numbers and the supply of mu-
nitions was steadily increasing, but a
large proportion of the officers and
men were still far from being fully
trained and the longer the attack was
deferred the more efficient they would
become
on the other hand. the Germans were
continuing TO press their attacks at
kerduh. and both there and on the
Italian front, where the Austrian of-
IehslFe was gaining, it was evident that
,he strain might become too great un-
Tess timely action was taken Accord
Tx ~, agreed that the attack should
pc launched whenever the general situ-
atlon REQUIRED it, with as great a force
as might then be available
by the end of May the pressure on
the Italian front had assumed such
serious proportions that the Russian
campaign was opened early in June and
the successes gained against the Aus
triahs at once caused a movement of
German troops from the western to
the eastern front. This. however did
not lessen the pressure on Verdun. and.
therefore, II was agreed that the com
b1hed French and British offensive
would not be postponed beyond the end
of June.