New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-01

Field. July 3l.-At tho close oil TWO
,,oars Of the war and OF the hfs'
month Of the British offensive, Gen
oral Sir Douglas Haig, commander III
chief Of the group Of British ar'nie'
in France. in speaking Of the Situa-
ton. laid particular emphasis on III,
fact that the beginning OF the th'ru
,,oor of the war saw the initiative en-
tirelv with the Allies on all irona'
while England for the first time was
exerting on land something ike
mower worthy Of her resources
"Tbe tide has turned" said Genefal
uo;o Cline has been with the Aiiies
frar, tho FIRST. II is only question
of moro time till we win deeisite
victorv. which is the one sure way "
hri,g ncacc in this as in other wars.
Until this victory is won 1t III becomes
british soldier in France 10 thihh VI
Those who had the freedom OF the
hattie lines the last four weeks hau
glimpses Of the youthful and schoIuiiy
features of Sir Douglas IN passing
automobile on dusty roads lh.eA vi
moving troops and transports anu
again Of his athletic hgure anght'ns
from his car at the headquarters Vi
one OF the army COMMANDERS TOT oon
ference. But mostly his time IS spent
in n quiet room in small chateau
which is his personal headquarters
Where Sir Douglas Works.
In the centre of this room, where
no talked to-day, was a raised map OF
tho region of the offensive, with every
detail. roads, woods, villages, trenches'
ridges and valleys. and all the con
tours. revealed at a glance. The ohly
other visible machinery OF command
were little sheets of reports whleh
came from the firing line through the
curtains Of shellhre, giving the GIT
nation at intervals in every sector OF
the front. ,,
"The problem Of the first summers
carpairn and the second for the Al
lies" he said, twas to hold the ger
mans from forcing a decision with 'helr
ready numbers of men, guns and sneils'
Whether il was the able generalshlp
ard heroism of the French on tne
Marine the logged retreat OF the niue
British expeditionary force from Mons
the stubborn resistance OF tne rrehch
and British TO the Germans effort Tor
the Channel ports, the Russian retreat
last summer. Belgium's or Serbia sac
r;fce, Italy's stonewalling against aus,
trials offensive, or Frances immortal
defence Of Verdun. the purpose was
ALWAYS 10 gain time for preparations
necessary TO take the offensive away
from the enemy"
Sir Douglas mentioned the days OF
Ynres in the fall of 1914. when the Brit
isb had no battalions where they now
bpve divisions. and fought with flesh
and blood against superior gunhre'
Since he took command of the army,
which he had TO train and form ms
favorite word has been patience 10
his subordnates and callers.
Building from the Bottom.
"Our unpreparedness at the start OF
the war. due TO its unexpectedness' IS
no secret" the general continued
"While France, which had great ma
tional army and universal service Vas
giving all her strength, we mad 10 De
gin building from the bottom
oncers had been killed or wounded in
tLe carly fighting. With the remainder
ne nucleus TO drill and organize the
volunteers, who were raw, but had the
shirt that quickeneth, we undertook 10
create an army of millions, which must
be differed largely by men OF no mill
tarv experience, TO fight the German
army. with its forty years OF prepare
ton. We had TO make uniforms before
the men who had enlisted could be
taken out of civilian garb, 70 build
nlants for the manufacture OF rlhes De
fore we could arm our recruits and TO
build guns and munition plants before
we had artillery. ,
meanwhile we had TO keep on stone
walling in France with such troops as
we had ready against that prepared
foe, whose blows were the sturcler in
his efforts for a decision owing 70 his
realization that time was against MN.
Now the new army has had its first
practical experience in attack on
large scale"
When the Advance Began
After his plans were made and the
order was given TO advance on July |,
Sir Douglas could only await news of
the results in this quiet room, with its
atmosphere Of detachment. There was
no change in his impeturbability in
the half-hour's suspense before the
first definite information arrived out
of the mantle Of shell smoke and con-
fusion into which the infantry charged
over a sixteen-mile front.
When night came he listened to the
reports Of his subordinates, made plans
for the morrow and gave directions
of customary brevity and sometimes
with pithy homily.
Characteristically Scotch, with the
hardy constitution Of the Scot, keep
,pe tcfn mt m a
fair allowance Of sleep, he seems as
fresh at the end of the months battle
and two years war as when the war
began.
Met the Supreme Test.
However well trained an army
General Haig continued, however able
its generals, however ample its artil-
lery and munitions, the supreme test
in war Of this kind is its capacity,
unit by unit, for bearing heavy losses
unflinchingly. Wherever sacrifice OF
life was necessary TO the end, these
new army men have borne 1t without
wavering and in a manner worthy the
best traditions OF the Anglo-Saxon race
when il has had to fight for principles
associated with its history the world
over.
when her navy held England safe
from invasion, it was principle which
led these men-all volunteers-to fight
on soil which is not their own. They
realized the preparedness, discipline
and autocratic organization of the en-
envy, which stood for militarism abhor-
rent to them"
Turning to the map, the general put
his finger first on Pozieres and then on
Delvlle wood where the British in
cessant struggle has gained precious
high ground.
Fought Experienced Enemy.
Here our men," said Sir Douglas.