The sun., 1916-12-30
SOMME THRUST Big
VICTORY, SAYS HAIG
British Commander, in Review
Of Operations, Declares
Aim Was Achieved.
vERDUN LINE RELIEVED
Germans Were Prevented
From Transferring Troops
to Eastern Front.

LONDON. Dec. N.-Ths battle Of the
Somme is pictured a. a sweeping tri-
umph for allied arms in a detailed re-
port by Gen. Sir Douglas Hais which
was issued tonight and which covers
from July I to November rs.
Gen. Haig terms the battle q triumph In
which the German western armies were
from complete collapse and a de-
cisive defeat only by q protracted period
OF unfavorable weather. which prevented
the Anglo-French forces from taking full
advantage Of their successful advance.
lie declares that nevertheless II was a
triumph which proved beyond doubt the
ability Of the Allies to overthrow Ger
many when the time ZONES The Brit
ish commander Is n Arm believer In the
doctrine that the Allies can win the war
OF the western front.
II desire to add a few words .as to fu-
ture prospects, he says at the close OF
the despatch. which covers sixteen
closely printed pages. Tho enemy's
power has not yet been broken. nor In II
yet possible to form an estimate Of the
time the war may last before tho objects
for which the Allies are fighting have
been attained. but the Somme battle hes
placed beyond doubt the ability Of the
Allies 10 gain those objects. The Ger
man army 10 the mainstay Of the Gen.
trail Powers, and a full half Of that
army. despite all advantages Of the de-
fensive and supported by tho strongest
fortiications. suffered defeat on the
Sonme this year.
German Morale weakeninG.
Neither victors nor v%anquished will
forget this. and although bad weather
has given the enemy a respite there are
undoubtedly mar thousands in his
ranks who will begin the new campaign
with little confidence In their ability to
resist our assaults or overcome our de-
fence.
our new armies entered battle with
a determination to win and confidence IN
their power to do so. They have proved
to themselves. 70 the enemy and Ia the
world that this confidence Is justified"
The opening OF the despatch outline,
h origin Of the Allies decision to be
gin the Somme operations. The prin
ciple OF an offensive campaign durini
the summer OF 1915 had already heel
decided on by all the Allies" says tn,
report. Various possible alternative
on the western from had been s.udie'
and discussed by Gen. Jonrc and myscl
and we were In complete agreement a
TO h front TO be attacked by the com
bined French M British armies.
81 desired to postpone my attack a
long az possible. The British arnic
were growing In numbers and the sup
ply Of munitions was steadily increasing
but a large proportion of the officer
and men were still far from being full
| trained and the longer the attack wa
deferred the more efficient they woul
become.
Forced 10 shift Troops.
by the end Of May the pressure o
the Italian front had assumed sue
serious proportions that the Russia
campaign was opened early in June an
the successes gained against the Aus
TRANS at ONCE caused u movement q
7 German troops from the western to tn
eastern front. This, however, did ne
lessen he pressure on Nerdun and there
fore II was agreed that the combine
French and British offensive would nc
be postponed beyond the end Of June.
The object Of that offensive wa
threefold To relieve pressure on Yer
dun. to assist our allies in the othc
theatres OF war by stopping any furthe
transfer OF German troops from IN
western front. to wear down tn
strength OF the forces opposed to us
After dealing at length with the var
Gus stages Of the operations Gen. Hal
sums up the result AZ follows
Three main objects with which W
commenced the offensive In July ha
already been achieved. in spite Of IN