Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-05-31
British Commander Paws
High Tribute to Defense
Of Fighting Allies.
HOLD THEIR OWN
British, He Says, Have
Only Been Held in Readi-
hess to Cooperate.

LONDON, May 800 p. ny
Gen. Sir Douglas Haig commander Of
the British forces in France ana Bel
gium in a dispatch covering the op-
erations of the British army in that
territory from December 10 last,
when he took over the command. un-
III May l9, pays high tribute to the
French defense of Nerdun and re-
views in detail the actions in which
the British have taken part.
During this period" he says. the
only offensive effort made by the
enemy on a great scale was directed
against our French allies near Yer
dun. The fighting in that area has
been prolonged and severe. The re-
suits have been worthy of the traoi-
tions of the French army and OF
great service to the cause of the al
lies.
Enemy Loses Heavy.
"The efforts made by the enemy
have caused him heavy losses both In
men and in prestige and he has made
these sacrifices without gaining any
advantage to counterbalance them.
During this struggle my troops
pave been in readiness to cooperate
as they might be needed but the only
assistance asked for by our allies was
OF an indirect nature, namely the re-
lief of the French troops on por-
tiOn Of their defensive front This re-
lief | was glad to be able to afford.
It's execution on considerable front
everywhere in close touch with the
enemy was a somewhat delicate op
GRAFTON, but it was carried out with
complete success, thanks to the cor
dial cooperation and good will of all
ranks concerned and to the lack or
enterprise shown by the enemy DUR
ing the relief"
Many SharD Actions.
While no action comparable with
that at Verdun has been fought on
the British front General Haig says
the British struggle has been contin-
uous and there have been many snarp
local actions. Their maintenance and
repair of the trenches alone entailed
constant and heavy work. He speaks
of the continual activity of the artil-
lery. infantry. airmen and sappers and
miners and adds
Ever present threats cause more
constant strain than any other form
of warfare"
There were sixty local actions dur
ing the period under review, some of
which says General Haig, although
individually insignificant in a war on
such an immense scale would have
been considered worthy of a separate
dispatch under different conditions"
The British commander makes spe.
cia. mention of raids or cutting out"
parties which have been made al
least two or three times week
against the enemy lines.
They consist" he says, "of brief
attack with some special object. on a
section Of the opposing trenches ana
are usually carried out at night by
small body of men. The character of
these operations, the preparation OF
the road through our own and the
ground, the unseen penetration of the
enemy's trenches, hand to hand
fighting in the darkness and the un-
certainty as to the strength of the op-
posing force give peculiar scope u
gallantry, dash and quickness of de-
cision of the troops engaged in much
skill and daring are frequently dis
played in these operations.
Germans Driven Back.
THE initiative in these minor op-
erations have been taken and on the
whole has been held by us but the
Germans recently have attempted
some bold and well-conceived raids
against our lines many of which nave
been driven back, although some sue
ceeded in penetrating"
General Haig mentions the arrival
OF the AnZacs and South Africans and
additional Canadian forces in France
and says that this made possible the
taking over of a greater extent of
front. He then tells of the improve
ment in the different branches of the