The Sentinel=record., 1916-12-30
PROVED ABILITY OF ALLIES
 TO OVERTHROW GERMANY
Admits the Power of the German Army is Not Yet Broken and That It Is Impossible to Form an Estimate of the Time the War Will Last.

London Dec 29-The battle of the Somme is pictured as a sweeping tri- umph for entente allied arms in a de- tailed report by General Sir Douglas Haig, which was issued tonight and which covers operations from July 1 10 November IS. General Haig terms the battle a triumph in which the German western armies were only saved from complete collapse and @ decisive defeat by protracted period of unfavorable weather that prevent ed the Anglo-French forces from talk ing 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.
 I desire t0 ado a few words as to future prospects" he says at the close of the dispatch, which covers sixteen closely printed pages. "The enemy's 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 battle has placed beyond doubt the ability of the allies to gain those objects. The German army is the mainstay of tho central powers, and full half of that army, despite all advantages of the defensive and supported by the strongest fortifica- tions suffered defeat on the Somme this year. Neither victors nor van quished will forget this and although bad weather has given the enemy respite. there are undoubtedly many thousands in his ranks who will begin the new campaign with little confi- dence in their ability to resist our assaults or overcome our defence.
 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
 After dealing at length with the VI rious stages of the operations Gen eral Haig sums up the result as fol lows:
 "Three main objects with which we commenced the offensive in July had already been achieved, in spite of the fact that heavy autumn rains prevent ed full advantage being taken of the favorable situation created by our ad- vance at a time when we had good ground for hoping to achieve yet more important successes. Verdun had been relieved. the main German forces had been held on the western front and the enemys strength had been considerably worn down. Any one of these three results is in itself sufficient to justify the Somme battle. The attainment of all three affords ample compensation for the splendid efforts of the troops and for the sac rifices made. They have brought us a long step forward toward the final victory of the allied causes
 "The desperate struggle for the possession of Verdun had invested that place with a moral and political importance out of all proportion to it's military value. It's fall would un. doubtedly have been proclaimed a great victory for our enemies and would have shaken the faith of many in our ultimate success. The failure of the enemy to capture it, despite great efforts and heavy losses, was a severe blow 10 his prestige,
 "lnformation obtained both during the progress of the Somme battle and since the suspension of active opera tions has fully established the effect of our offensive in keeping the enc my's main forces tied to the western front. In November the strength of the enemy in the western theater was ltgreater than in July notwithstanding the abandonment Of the offensive at Verdun. It is therefore Justifiable to